I am a firm believer that respect is an umbrella term. It could mean many things, but one definition that comes to mind is kindness and having good manners towards others or in public places, regardless of race, gender, age, employment, or appearance. With manners, I strongly agree with the Oxford Languages definition.

What is the definition of respect? Oxford Language states that one definition of respect is “due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others,” which makes sense to a point. Now, what is the definition of manners? Oxford Languages states that a definition of manners is “a person’s outward bearing or way of behaving toward others.” When I think about both words, a lot comes to mind.

After being at Ritenour High School for the past four years, I can say with certainty that respect and manners are a foreign concept. One example I have noticed at Ritenour frequently is how the lunch room looks after all the lunches have concluded. Trays are left on tables, food wrappers are crumbled, and spilled drinks are left around. Honestly, sometimes it is sickening how comfortable the students in this school are with not cleaning up after themselves.

My biggest takeaway from this is how contradictory the students who act like this are. “We want to be treated like adults,” is a quote I have heard often. Which does not quite make sense to me. If they wanted to be treated like adults, why did they not act like one? I agree that as high schoolers we are on the path to adulthood, so we should be treated like such. Although at the end of the day, that treatment is one that should be earned, not just given.

A huge problem with this uncleanliness is how disrespectful it is towards the janitorial staff. Even if it is “their job,” there is no reason students should be purposefully making messes and leaving their trash behind just because it will be cleaned up for them. Throwing milk cartons over the balcony just for a “laugh” is immature and just outright nasty. Our janitorial staff then has to get their hands dirty cleaning up a mess that had no reason to be made.

My biggest issue is how the senior section is left. The senior section is an outside seating area for lunch that the senior (emphases on the senior) classes have earned for making it to this point. Almost every day, it is trashed.

My question is, would you leave a guest’s home or room like that? The principle of the situation is always going to be the same. As the big dogs, we should be leading by example.
At this older age, manners are something that should not have to be retaught. Seniors, grow up and start leading by example.