I think its the teachers job to earn the students' respect, by not only being a role model but also demonstrating genuine interest in the topic they are teaching. I think that when I show how deeply I love the topic I'm teaching, it rubs off on the students and they go along with it.
Also, you seem to be arguing from the perspective of what is rather than what ought to be. I'm arguing for a shift in perspective where teacher competence and enthusiasm and high expectations of students isn't something special or extra, but rather the norm.
>I think its the teachers job to earn the students' respect
Students should have a respect for school (and the role of the teacher) before any other kind of respect can be earned by the teacher as an individual.
Or, to put it another way, earning the students respect as a teacher is OK.
But having to earn the attention, and having to fight against students making noise, playing, ignoring the lesson etc, should not be the case.
>I think that when I show how deeply I love the topic I'm teaching, it rubs off on the students and they go along with it.
As I said, assuming the teacher is capable and passionate, it still depends on the students. Depending on the school/area/class/etc some students wouldn't care even if Alan Kay taught them programming and Richard Feynman did physics.
The idea that students will be captivated by a passionate and eloquent teacher doesn't always pan out in reality. A lot of times it's more like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdf_XdDwc-o
>Also, you seem to be arguing from the perspective of what is rather than what ought to be.
Well, to get things to where it "ought to be" you should first tackle and work with "what is".
Also, you seem to be arguing from the perspective of what is rather than what ought to be. I'm arguing for a shift in perspective where teacher competence and enthusiasm and high expectations of students isn't something special or extra, but rather the norm.