School Proposal Seeks a Measure of Respect

School board president Katherine Smith wants to turn back the clock in the Anaheim Union High School District. Back to the 1940s and ‘50s, when children jumped to their feet in respect whenever an adult entered a classroom, and according to Smith, the United States “was a civil, compassionate and caring country.”

The school board tonight will discuss Smith’s proposal to have its 22 middle and high schools “encourage” teenagers to spring out of their seats in silent respect whenever an adult comes into the room. Her proposal also calls on the district’s 37,000 students to address adults as “Sir” or “Ma’am” and teachers to address students as “Miss” and Mr.”

If approved, Smith said, the policy would be a first for the West Coast. The board member in the past has successfully pushed for school uniforms and a daily moment of silence.

“It’s just preparing them for the future,” said Smith, 60. “What I want children to understand is when you meet an adult for the first time, it’s good common decency to stand.”

Supt. Jan Billings said parents are voicing enthusiastic support via the Internet in favor of the old-fashioned idea. District officials received 15 e-mails about the proposal Tuesday; all but two of them praised the idea.

Teachers and students interviewed Wednesday were not convinced.

“I think it’s wrong,” said Addy Stenger, 18, a senior at Cypress High School. “You’re going to school to learn things, not to be militarized into an institution.”

Stenger added that she feels a great deal of respect for her teachers, and shows that respect in the way she addresses them.

“There’s other ways of referring to people besides ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’ that make you show respect,” Stenger added.

Carol Comparsi, president of the district’s teachers’ union, said many teachers are opposed to the idea because they believe it would disrupt precious class time to address a nonexistent problem. Each time students stand up, she said, the teacher must spend time having them settle down again.

The students already show respect to their teachers, Comparsi said.

“It’s just a different time now,” she said. “I don’t think standing is something that is necessary in showing respect. That is not my view of what designates respect.”

Comparsi said she will speak with representatives from the district’s schools today to find out whether teachers want her to formally oppose the proposal. When the idea was first brought to the board last year, teachers were against it, but relaxed somewhat when they learned it might be voluntary.

Smith has not yet ironed out details of the proposed program. Some ideas include allowing teachers to decide whether they want the program, or making it begin with all incoming seventh-graders, board member Harald Martin said.

Some principals also questioned whether the program would be useful.

“Respect comes in different forms,” said Susan McCance, principal of Brookhurst Junior High School. “I’m very comfortable with the respect our students show.”

But Martin, who supports the program, said even polite students can always be more respectful.

“Plenty of respect on campus doesn’t mean there can’t be more,” Martin said. Having students stand in respect when a teacher enters the room is “part and parcel of an overall structure whereby raising standards means something.”

Board member Alexandria Coronado disagreed, saying that such a program might burden administrators and teachers, and that etiquette lessons belong in the home.

Martin said school board members will probably vote on the policy later this year. The program could begin next fall.