Students can also learn about the history of science and discoveries that have helped us as a global population get where we are today. Chemistry is an important part of a child's growing into an educated citizen. Today's children are tomorrow's voters and consumers. They need to know something about what effects their actions may have on the planet. Teachers do more than lecture while students are in their classrooms.
Teachers can teach by example too.
A classroom needs to be a place where there is mutual respect between students and between students and teachers. I interrupt them to tell them that they are not and then let them continue with the question. I think many classroom management problems can be solved by insisting that everyone in the classroom treat everyone else with respect from day one. My main goal as a teacher in one that I have adopted from my organic chemistry professor. He began the course by explaining his philosophy to us.