Just a Little Respect

YD Staff teach students in the local schools about respect

Article Photo Last Wednesday I walked into a classroom filled with 23 seventh graders, all of them looking at me expectantly, waiting for me to shed some light on what in the world they were doing that afternoon. It was "respect week" at the Horseshoe Bend Middle School and High School. As a part of the activities for the week, YD Adventures came to the school two afternoons with games and the portable challenge course activities to help drive home the message that respecting others is important.

The first afternoon we played "Silent Football"-which is a somewhat silly game that you have to address each other formally and speak respectfully (or else you could get penalties). The second afternoon we took groups of middle schoolers through the challenge course activities, focusing each element on respect, team work, and cooperation.

During the first activity most of the students yelled and argued. They wouldn't listen to each other. They got extremely frustrated and never accomplished their goal to complete the activity. For the second activity, all the students that were yelling in the first activity weren't allowed to speak. The second activity got accomplished in record time.

After the second activity, our group discussed the difference between the two activities. Light bulbs turned on for these kids as the students realized that respecting others in the way they communicate really made a difference.

For the rest of the afternoon the students tried to respect each other in their communication. It made a huge difference in accomplishing goals.

- By Susan Young, YD Adventures, Idaho Base