Children must respect their teachers and regard them as an authority in the school, contends a large majority of Danish parents (97 percent) according to a new Gallup poll.
However, the reality in the classrooms paints a different picture, as nearly every fourth parent admits their children don’t actually respect their teachers.
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Parents have a great responsibility
According to the newly-appointed education minister, Ellen Trane Nørby, parents play a big part in how their children view the teachers.
“Parents play a very big role. If they talk about the school and teachers in a demeaning way in front of their children, they affect the children’s views of the teacher as an authority figure,” Nørby told Berlingske.
Nørby pointed out it may severely compromise the children’s schooling if the teacher does not have the necessary authority.
Teacher’s authority is vital
Meanwhile, Lars Qvortrup, a professor at the Department of Learning and Philosophy at Aalborg University, emphasises that the teacher’s authority is crucial in the classroom.
“The teacher’s authority is one of the crucial factors in enabling children to possibly learn something, and it is a vital prerequisite for public schools,” he told Berlingske.
