4. The most treasured value of most people is fairness.

4. The most treasured value of most people is fairness.

I learned a lot as a teacher from my students. I mostly taught junior high students who were 12 to 15 years of age. I loved working with this age group for a couple of reasons. Young teenagers can still become excited about learning and as a result, I had a lot of fun with them because they weren't afraid to demonstrate their enthusiasm. In addition to their high energy, they also had developed reading, writing and other academic skills to be able to perform some quality and challenging work. They were enjoyable and competent.

Many people are intimidated by a group of young adolescents. Walking into a class of thirty teens can be scary unless you are aware of a few basic requirements. I always counselled new teachers that there were three things they had to learn or know about working successfully with junior high students. Firstly, the students had to know that you were in charge. That meant a fairly simple but firm set of in-class behavioural guidelines. Secondly, it was important to be consistent in the application of those guidelines. The most important issue, however, was the value of fairness. If a teacher disciplined an entire class for the misbehaviour of one or two students, the kids knew that was not fair. And every one of us places a very high value on being treated fairly. An unfair teacher is not going to be a very successful teacher.

The same value is not limited to school students. We all place very significant importance on being treated fairly. The Occupy Wall Street Movement of 2011 was an international movement that expressed opposition to social and economic inequality and to the lack of "real democracy" around the world. The Movement was aimed at the increased concentration of income and wealth since the 1970s among the top 1% of income earners in the United States. The underlying value that was being fought for was fairness!

Most revolutions and much global unrest today can be attributed to the unfair treatment of some groups by another. People who are treated fairly are generally going to be happy.