I have been teaching Vocational Education for 45 years at Flora High School in Flora Illinois. I push the R word to my students every day . The R word is respect . I have them write a 1 page report on their thoughts of the meaning of the word respect at the beginning of the school year. I keep their papers and at the end of the school year we do the same thing again . We then compare the two papers . Kind of amazing what 9 months can do to young minds . I really push my junior and senior students . I push them to do better . They will say to me why do you bitch so much Mr. Upton . I say to them call it bitching if you want . I call it pushing . They say why do you push us so much . I say because I care . If you young people enter the world of work as you are now , you won't make it . That is why I push you . My point is this this. I tell them that the word respect , that one word will carry you farther in life than any other word in the dictionary . At the end of the school year most of my students agree . Respect is earned and not deserved . Also I have had students come back to me years later and thank me for pushing them so hard . I always come back and say it is all about the R word . RESPECT Joe I agree with everything that you have said . It was very well said .I hope my words have been taken in a positive way . I hope everyone had a great Christmas , and I hope all of you have a great and Happy New Year .