The Power of Example

            Recently during a professional development session, I watched as a group of teachers behaved boorishly, talking while the presenter struggled to give instructions and then complaining when they could not hear. Get any group of educators together and the conversation quickly swerves into the poor behavior of students. We drag out and compare stories of recalcitrant students. We spend hours sitting in professional development designed to improve our classroom management techniques. We read articles and blog posts that lay the blame for deviant behavior at the feet of cellphones, video games, and poor parents. But, perhaps we’re looking in the wrong place.

           It could be that we undo any behavioral teaching through our own poor example. Students carefully observe all the time. Perhaps, maybe, our example overpowers our words. They notice when we disparage the administration and those required administrative tasks that come our way. They see when we cut corners in order to make our own lives easier. They take note when they see us break traffic laws while on a field trip. They hear the muttered oath when our laptops fail to perform. They observe the snarky memes we surreptitiously share. These examples and many others accrue, and their weight overwhelms our spoken word. They faithfully follow our example.

            Perhaps, we need to reconsider how we walk each day. It could be that our lives shout so loudly and obnoxiously that our words are not heard above the din. We want a society that practices patience, especially toward us. Do we wait patiently when in line, or do we lean on the horn as soon as the light turns green? We long for a law abiding society, yet do we drive as if the rules of the road are actually weak suggestions? We claim to want a culture that honors and expects truth, but we elect and support public officials whose actions demean and erode truth. Our example shapes our society.

            If we want a country, a society, or a culture that reflects certain key values, we must consider our own comportment. Do we exemplify the values we claim to hold dear? Does our behavior reflect our spoken standards? Do we lend our support to those that lift up what we consider important through their lives and conduct? If we excuse boorish, uncivil, and reprehensible conduct in leaders in order to secure power for our chosen party, we mute our prophetic voice and dilute our influence because our example outweighs our words. We must act out our standards as well as cry out for their adoption.