I’ve often heard that education is a right that should be free and accessible to all, and I agree with this. Knowledge and learning should be available to everyone. However, not everyone has the right to be in the learning environment. A classroom must be respected by all, and students who choose to be disrespectful, rude, or disruptive do not belong in that space. While attending school is a right, being in the classroom is a privilege.
Students should have the right and freedom to go to school, which provides safety, structure, and expectations that benefit everyone. However, the classroom is a more intimate space where students actively engage in learning. I view the classroom as the inner sanctum of the school—open to all, but not a right guaranteed to everyone. Those who show respect and a willingness to grow are welcome, even if they don’t always want to learn. On the other hand, students who consistently choose to disrupt the environment for others must be addressed.
The classroom is open to those who can be mindful and show respect in the learning environment. A student may not always want to learn, but if they are kind and respectful, they are welcome in the classroom. However, we know that even on days when every student enters with good intentions, some may quickly choose to act disrespectfully or disruptively. Do these students still have the right to be in the learning environment?
If the classroom is meant to be a place of respect, kindness, and growth, students who refuse to meet those expectations do not have the right to remain in that space. I don’t believe they should be immediately removed. Instead, their behavior should be addressed, giving them the chance to make better choices. If they correct their behavior, they are welcome to stay and engage in learning. However, if they continue to be disrespectful or disruptive, they should be asked to leave the classroom until they are ready to return and participate respectfully.
The teacher is the leader in the learning environment, while the administrator leads the institution. When students persist in acting disrespectfully and disruptively, it should no longer be the teacher’s sole responsibility to manage them. Their behavior disrupts the learning environment, and by refusing to meet its expectations, they forfeit their invitation to be part of the classroom.
The classroom is not a right; it is a privilege granted to those who are willing to meet the expectations of the learning space. In my classroom, students are expected to be respectful, engaged, hardworking, and disciplined. These are the standards I set for a positive learning environment. When students fall short of these standards, they are given the chance to correct their behavior. However, if they continue to ignore the expectations and disregard warnings, they are dismissed from the classroom until they choose to comply with its expectations.
Students have the right to be in the hallway for as long as they choose. They have the right to be in the school. However, what many students fail to understand is that their own choices are what hinder their success. The longer they remain in the hallway, the further behind they fall. The teacher should not, and cannot, be held responsible for the choices students make. The teacher’s responsibility is to maintain a safe and respectful learning environment where students can grow in knowledge and understanding.
Ultimately, school is a right, but the classroom is a privilege. Those who fail to meet the expectations of the learning environment forfeit their place in it. They may choose to hinder their own learning, but they do not have the right to disrupt the learning of others.
Welcome To The Classroom 