I have posted and written briefly about the Twelve Commandments for People Who Work with People, but there can never be enough said about this material. I decided to go into more detail about the commandments after I found Ann White’s web site recently and was happy to find it because she is the author of the 12 Commandments for People Who Work with People. The commandments are a wonderful rules of how we should all behave toward each other, but, all too often, forget to do. I want to listen them here and then over the next couple of posts make some more detailed comments about each one and how they apply to education.
1. Thou shall love people.
2. Smile!
3. Fill the “buckets” of others. Talk to them in such a way as to increase their self-esteem.
4. Exhibit a spirit of caring.
5. Display a “can do” attitude.
6. Beware! The Chicken Little Syndrome is contagious.
7. Strive for quality in all that you do.
8. Help people more; hassle people less.
9. Never be afraid to try to make things better.
10. Train your ear and tame your tongue.
11. Tell the truth. It’s a lot easier to remember.
12. Practice the Golden Rule: do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
Commandment 12: Practice the Golden Rule
Back in elementary school, I remember several of my teachers having the Golden Rule posted on the wall of their classrooms. Then, around my fifth grade year, I recall most of those posters being removed. At that time in Montana there was starting to be a lot of flack over religion in education, but what is funny is that the Golden Rule doesn’t come from the Bible at all. It is one of those Biblical sounding phrases that often gets confused with real Bible verses. Another one that is often confused is the famous, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” This line is actually from Benjamin Franklin and has nothing to do with the Bible at all. I’d like to see a return of the Golden Rule to school walls; it has such a fitting meaning and place in middle school especially. Think of how simple the world be if everybody practiced this simple statement — do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Don’t be a jerk, unless you want people to treat you like one. Do be a thoughtful and kind person, especially if you want others to treat you like that. Very easy to say, not so easy to practice, but possibly it isn’t easy to do, because it isn’t on walls all over the place to remind us to follow it. Just a thought…
Tags: 12 commandments, Education, golden rule, learning, people, people who work with people
