Assemblies Online Secondary

Play one of the following songs as students and staff enter the hall:

A Little Respect by Wheatus (2001). Also available on the album Wheatus (Columbia, 2001)
Respect by Aretha Franklin (1967). Available on the album Respect: The Very Best of Aretha Franklin (Atlantic, 2002)

You could also display the quotes about respect from the Respect Quotes PowerPoint as people take their places for the assembly. The PowerPoint is set up to repeatedly loop round until you stop it by hitting the 'esc' key. 

[Use the Agree or Disagree PowerPoint with this activity]

Ask the students to stand if they agree with the following statements, or remain seated if they disagree. After each statement, question a couple of people who agree with the statement to ask them why they feel that way. Alternatively, ask a few students to come out to the front, sit them down and use them to vote on the statements in the same way.

[PowerPoint Slide 1] You should treat others the way you want to be treated yourself
[PowerPoint Slide 2] Old people deserve our respect
[PowerPoint Slide 3] Respect isn't just given, it has to be earned
[PowerPoint Slide 4] Young people should be given more respect
[PowerPoint Slide 5] People only respect strength
[PowerPoint Slide 6] Respect is hard to win and easy to lose
[PowerPoint Slide 7] No one will respect you unless you respect yourself

Make the point that respect is a big issue, and we may all have a different view of what it means in practice. Today's assembly will look at what the Bible has to say about respect. 

[Use the Wipeout PowerPoint with this activity]

[PowerPoint Slide 1]
Invite two students out to the front (or two teams of 2 or 3 students, if you prefer). Explain that you are going to show them nine words, and that six of the words could be used as a partial definition of the word 'respect'. The other three are red herrings. The players take turns in attempting to choose one of the correct definitions, scoring a point each time they do so. Whichever player (or team) gets the most points is the winner.

[click] Reveal the nine words: esteem, kindness, relate, authority, empathy, courtesy, dignity, fear, honour.

For each word chosen, [click] on the word to show whether it is a correct or incorrect answer. To return to the list of possible definitions, click on the picture on the answer page. In each case, make sure that your curser is correctly placed before clicking. At the end of the game, make sure to exit the PowerPoint by clicking on 'Esc' rather than just clicking through to the end.

The three incorrect definitions are kindness (it's kind to show respect, but it's a separate virtue in its own right), empathy (this is to identify with someone else's feelings, not necessarily to respect them), and authority (to have power to enforce laws etc., which we may or may not respect).

Explain that respect can be difficult to define, and means different things to different people. Essentially though, these six words are helpful in understanding its meaning. To respect someone is to relate to them by showing esteem, courtesy, dignity or honour to them. Fear can also be an expression of respect, especially to authority figures. 

Show the following clip from Coach Carter (Paramount 2004, certificate 12).

Start time: 0:08:23 (beginning of chapter 3 of the DVD)
End time: 0:11:04
Clip length: Two minutes and 41 seconds

The clip starts with Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) entering the sports hall to be introduced to the basketball team. The first line is the old coach saying, 'I'm not saying this is not going to be a challenge". It ends just after Coach Carter says, "winning in here is the key to winning out there".

Please note that the clip does include use of the word 'bitch', which you may feel is inappropriate for use in a school context.

If you are unable to show the clip, then say the following:

Ken Carter is the new basketball coach for Richmond High School. He is a notable former player for the school, setting many records which remain unbroken by subsequent generations. On his first day as coach, he insists that the team call each other 'sir' as a mark of respect. They also have to sign contracts to demonstrate their commitment to the team and their willingness to work hard to achieve success.  

[Use the Respect Coach Carter Talk PowerPoint with this presentation]

[PowerPoint slide 1]
Who do you respect? Here is a list of people, and I wonder how easy you find it to show respect to them?

[click] Parent? How often do you listen to your parents and obey them, or do you sometimes think they don't understand you or know what they are talking about?
[click] Doctor? Would you always take a Doctor's advice, trusting in the training that they've done and believing that they want to help you?
[click] Police Officer? Do you show respect for the law?
[click] Vicar? Do you respect what they believe and their commitment to it, even if you don't agree with them?
[click] School Teacher? Do you listen to them, working hard to achieve your best in lessons?

I guess most of us would struggle with one or more of those at some point in our lives. It's not easy to show respect all the time, especially to those in authority.

We're going to watch a clip from the film Coach Carter. It is set in an American School called 'Richmond High' and the film tells the story of the basketball team. They have been terribly unsuccessful, winning only four games in last year's season. Consequently, the players are demoralised and perhaps a little low in self-respect. A new coach is appointed and we're about to see what happens when he is introduced:

[Show the following clip from Coach Carter (Paramount 2004, certificate 12).

Start time: 0:08:23 (beginning of chapter 3 of the DVD)
End time: 0:11:04
Clip length: Two minutes and 41 seconds

The clip starts with Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) entering the sports hall to be introduced to the basketball team. The first line is the old coach saying, 'I'm not saying this is not going to be a challenge". It ends just after Coach Carter says, "winning in here is the key to winning out there".

Please note that the clip does include use of the word 'bitch', which you may feel is inappropriate for use in a school context.

If you are unable to show the clip, then say the following:

Ken Carter is the new basketball coach for Richmond High School. He is a notable former player for the school, setting many records which remain unbroken by subsequent generations. On his first day as coach, he insists that the team call each other 'sir' as a mark of respect. They also have to sign contracts to demonstrate their commitment to the team and their willingness to work hard to achieve success.]

As Ken Carter was introduced, the old coach asked the team to respect him, yet initially they didn't. Instead, they wouldn't listen to him and made fun of him. However, he persevered, reminding the team of his playing record and his authority. Carter also showed respect to the players by calling them 'Sir'. By giving out contracts he also honoured the team and demonstrated how serious his intentions were. Gradually, the team begin to show some respect for their new coach.

[PowerPoint slide 2]
The Bible talks about the need to respect people in authority. In 1 Peter it says:

"For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority-whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honour those who do right.

It is God's will that your honourable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king."

1 Peter 2:13-17
New Living Translation

The Bible tells us that we should respect human authority, whether that means political leaders, parents or teachers. Peter says that we should respect authority [click] 'for the Lord's sake', because God asks us to. Out of reverence or respect for God, we should also respect those who are in charge [click] because they are there for a reason: to punish those who do wrong and to honour those who do right. Respect comes when we recognise someone's place in the world, and our place in relation to them.

This is not always easy to do, of course. As we saw in the film clip, the basketball players did not respect their new coach at first. They thought that he knew nothing about their lives, and they wouldn't listen to him. It became clear that Carter was going to have to work very hard to earn their respect.

[PowerPoint slide 3]
Carter proves himself to be worthy of their respect, yet the Bible encourages us to respect those in authority, even if they don't deserve it. When this Bible passage was written, the authority that Peter was referring to was the Roman Empire under the leadership of Nero - a notoriously cruel tyrant who tortured and killed Christians because of their faith. Yet Peter insisted that Christians should not stop paying their taxes or start fights with Roman soldiers, and continue to respect their rulers. Peter encouraged the Christians to live an honourable life, following the laws of the land and living out their faith. This must have been incredibly difficult to do.

[PowerPoint slide 4]
The passage goes on to say that we should respect everyone whether they are in authority or not. We've already said that respect comes from recognising somebody's place in the world. Whether or not someone has a big, important job with lots of authority, they still deserve to be respected. [click] Christians believe that all human beings are made in God's image, [click] and because of that we all deserve respect. In the film clip, Coach Carter said that his players all started off by having his respect, until such time as they abused it. Like Carter, we should be prepared to give everyone the same chance and the same respect.

Carter demonstrated that every person deserves dignity and respect as the Bible says. Because of this, he gains his players' respect. If you give respect to others, you are likely to get respect in return.

[PowerPoint slide 5]
And, according to the Bible, the ultimate respect is that which people owe to God. If respect comes when we recognise everybody's value and place, then Christians believe that God's place is above everything, and that he is deserving of more respect than anybody else. But his respect for his world was such that he was prepared to take human form and die for its sake. That's respect, and that deserves our respect. 

[Use the Respect Coach Carter Talk PowerPoint with this presentation]

[PowerPoint slide 1]
Who do you respect?
[click] Parent?
[click] Doctor?
[click] Police Officer?
[click] Vicar?
[click] School Teacher?

Not always easy to show respect, especially to those in authority

Introduce film clip from Coach Carter. New coach of a very unsuccessful High School basketball team is meeting his players for the first time. [Please note that the clip does include use of the word 'bitch', which you may feel is inappropriate for use in a school context.]

Players initially showed no respect for the new coach
He treated his players with respect - calling them 'Sir'

[PowerPoint slide 2]
The Bible talks about the need to respect people in authority

"For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority-whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honour those who do right.

It is God's will that your honourable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king."

1 Peter 2:13-17
New Living Translation

We should respect authority:

• [click] 'for the Lord's sake', - because God asks us to
• [click] because people in authority are there for a reason - punishing wrong and rewarding right actions
• Respect comes from recognising someone's place in the world

Not always easy to do

[PowerPoint slide 3]
Carter proved worthy of respect
Bible says respect authority whether or not the people deserve respect
This passage written during time of Nero - cruel tyrant who tortured and killed Christians

[PowerPoint slide 4]
Bible says 'respect everyone'
[click] Humans are made in God's image
[click] Everyone deserves respect
If you give respect, you are likely to get respect back from others

[PowerPoint slide 5]
The ultimate respect is owed to God
God respected his world so much that he was prepared to die for it
That shows respect, and that deserves respect 

Dear God. We're sorry for times when we have not shown the proper respect to others. Help us not to be judgemental, and to remember that you made us all equal. Keep reminding us that everyone is worthy of dignity and respect. Please be with us Lord, when we struggle to respect authority and help us to live our lives as people worthy of respect from everyone. Most of all, remind us to be respectful of you, in our thoughts and actions. Amen. 

Too often we mistrust people in positions of authority over us, sceptical of their motives and fearing the worst of them. If we are not careful our lack of respect will mean that good leaders struggle to achieve all that they can, because few will follow them. Who do you struggle to show respect for? Why is that? Maybe you can challenge yourself to try and respect those in authority, even when you disagree with them. Try to imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes, and see if you can find ways to support them. 

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (381, Songs of Fellowship combined edition, Kingsway 2003)
May the Words of My Mouth (1449, Songs of Fellowship combined edition, Kingsway 2003) 

Ask the students to identify groups in their community who often suffer from a lack of respect. Challenge the students to find ways to show respect for these people. One group of people in society that often feel disrespected are the disabled. Show the students the website: www.creaturediscomforts.org which is linked to the Leonard Cheshire disability charity. Encourage the students to watch the TV adverts that aim to put across what it feels like to be disabled. Ask the students to imagine what it must be like for these people, and get them to think about situations where disabled people may feel disrespected. Remind the class to be grateful for the opportunities they have and to work hard to extend those opportunities to others. Perhaps organise a fundraising and/or awareness campaign within the school to support the Leonard Cheshire charity or a similar worthy cause. 

Ask students to estimate what percentage of crime is caused by teenagers. Ask them what answer they think a random cross-section of adults would give to that question.

Explain that a Channel 4 documentary called Teens In Trouble asked members of the public that question. Adults typically answered somewhere between 70% and 90%. The correct answer is 12%. Interestingly, teenagers tended to give close to the correct answer (within about 5%).

Ask the students to list times or situations when they feel young people are disrespected. Get hold of some local newspapers and ask the students to look through them and find articles about young people. How fairly are they represented in these papers? Challenge the class to come up with ways to increase the respect given to them in the community.