Throughout a child’s life, there will be many influences on them. One of the biggest influences is school because they are in school usually from 3-18, and even up to 24 or 25 if that child decides to pursue college. Here are some examples of why classroom rules shape the children of the next generation and improve their lives and parents.
They Learn to Follow Rules
One of the first things that children learn, usually in a set of preschool, kindergarten, or first grade classroom rules, is to follow directions the first time. This is important because they will need to follow the rules all of their lives. For example, daily citizens need to:
- Live within the laws of society, such as:
- Obeying all traffic laws
- Obeying the rules and regulations of the workplace
Children are taught how to follow the rules and regulations to establish order in a frantic classroom of screaming six-year-olds and because these classroom rules and procedures are preparing these children for a lifetime of laws and regulations that keep society in check. Of course, classroom rules for middle school will differ from classroom rules in high school. On the other hand, kindergarten and preschool classroom rules may be similar. Every grade will have good classroom rules.
If children did not learn this, then there would be complete anarchy. If one person decides that green means stop and red means go, that person is endangering their life and those around them. This shows that every rule has its consequence if not followed.
This is why Follow the Rules seems to be on every classroom rules poster worldwide. Following the rules:
- Keeps the Peace
- Is a Safety Measure
- Teaches Discipline
- Teaches Self-Control
- Provides a Stable Environment
In the classroom specifically, following the set rules and procedures:
- Creates a conducive learning environment
- Provides students with the structure they need
- Forms responsible individuals with goal-setting skills
- Students, above all, know what is to be expected of them
They Learn Manners
Respect needs to be taught, and in school, children will learn how to behave and be polite. This is often lacking in adults today because they forget these fundamental childhood rules. These are some adult manners that many lacks:
- Excusing oneself from the table
- Opening doors for people
- Holding the elevator
- Giving up your seat for an elderly or disabled person
As children will learn in elementary classroom rules, manners involve every child’s favorite topic: sharing. Many teachers put up signs saying Sharing is Caring to help encourage students to share objects with other students.
With the teaching of manners, kindness and respect are also hot topics to teach children early to help them absorb the theme of acceptance towards their classmates. There are usually some classroom rules such as: Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated.
They Learn to Be Accountable
As the children get older, they will continue learning the basics of following the rules to avoid consequences and manners, but they will also learn responsibility. Classroom rules and consequences teach the children that they have to take responsibility.
This is the basis of middle school classroom rules. Now that the children are old enough to think for themselves, and many are going through puberty and transitioning, they will need to learn to be responsible.
The kids that are responsible will reap the benefits. Mom and Dad are no longer there to hold your hand and remind you to turn in your project since there is no parental connection at a middle school level.
If a project is due, it is all on the shoulders of the students to fulfill that assignment. Many classroom rules during this period revolve around this, usually saying something along the line of Turn In Your Work On Time.
It is up to the student to succeed or fail because they are determined to get a good grade in the class or slip by enough to the next grade. The beauty of the classroom rules in middle school is that they build upon those set in the elementary stages.
For example, the rule may be to Be Polite. The middle school version will be along the lines of, Don’t Bully or Respect Other People’s Thoughts, Feelings, and Beliefs.
During this time, the child will learn how the real-world functions.
They Will Learn Independence and Time Management
The children’s lives will become increasingly difficult to prepare them for adulthood during the high school years. At the ripe age of 18, that child can now vote and influence society. So, high school helps prepare them for what lies beyond that age.
In the high school classroom rules, there will be more detail. These children that once followed the rules will want to break them. However, there will still be dire consequences. If they fight at school, it can result in suspension or expulsion. If they do not turn in their homework and pass the class, they will not be able to graduate. Here are some classroom rules for high school:
- Arrive at class on time.
- Listen to others’ opinions and participate
- Stay on task during class
- Do your assignments!
- Bring your learning materials and have them ready
- Listen to directions!
- Cooperate. Pick up after yourself
- Leave other people’s stuff alone
Through this process, they learn how to be independent. They have to be timely and be prepared for the day’s classes. They also will continue learning not to steal and respect other people through high school.
The training wheels already came off in middle school, and now in high school, these kids are forced to decide what kind of life they will give themselves.
Parents like to think that they can push their children into success or encourage them to play this sport or join this club, but these decisions are ultimately up to the pupil. Do they want to do Debate Club, or would they rather participate in Art Club?
This level of independence teaches the kids that they will always have to face the consequences of their choices, not their parents.
They will also have to learn time management during this time since they will be balancing a full high school schedule, a first job, and maybe even a boyfriend or girlfriend. Since their schedule will be busy, they will need to learn good time management to succeed in life. There are things to be learned from classroom rules in middle school.
Their Education Affects Their Parents
Kids will learn a lot of life skills through school that even parents cannot always engrain, such as:
- Dealing with other people
- Self-esteem
- Personal success
- Winning and losing
- How to react
These kids learn these skills independently and cannot necessarily be helped to learn these skills through force. Some things have to be learned through personal experience, and being involved with the school will help teach kids that. They will learn how to react to their classmates, and they will gain or lose their self-esteem through their thoughts and image of themselves.
Many parents think that education is tedious and teaches their kids nothing that they couldn’t, but in reality, letting them learn and experience for themselves will encourage autonomy and good self-esteem. Enrolling your child in school will make your life easier, knowing that your child has now grown into a full and able adult who will contribute to society.
In turn, their schooling affects their lives as much as yours. As a parent, you will learn and grow with your child during their elementary, middle, and high school years and go up and down as often as a teenager’s emotions.
Classroom rules are required and beneficial to the students in those classes. They improve the student’s life and, consequently, the life of the parent who gets to experience school all over again. These rules enforce order and law and provide a safe learning environment that teaches children and teenagers to be accountable and promotes acceptance and tolerance.
Also Read: 5 Tips for Classroom Time Management
Classroom rules do indeed make your life better. They encourage self-worth, time management, and many other skills that will help develop children into high-functioning adults contributing to their society and better their community. In turn, that child will eventually be able to contribute by opening a store or doctor’s office, discovering the cure for cancer, or giving back to the community in the form of community service.
Overall, education is important and should be regarded as such. As much as children do not want to follow the rules and be respectful or learn how to be independent and manage their time, it will come full circle to be the most important life lesson they will ever learn.
