I enjoy speaking and joking with the class to keep the atmosphere free and easy to speak, however, I ensure to maintain a professional attitude with them so they do not misunderstand my friendliness and my concern for their well being.
As an instructor of a care giving career I find it even more important to maintain that student/instructor relationship. It can be challenging at times.
I agree we are there to nurture, educate, mentor, coach, teach , instruct, but not to be a buddy.
I feel maintaining a professional distance reduces the "brown noses" from feeling if they "buddy up" to me they will have an advantage when it comes to me grading their work. I am not their friend I am their educator and I must maintain an image of their roll model not their friend to be effective.
Respect- You are there to teach. I feel the students see credibility through professionalism and with that you gain their respect. We are not there in a primary role to be the best friend.
If students see you as a "friend" there could be a loss of respect that is needed in the classroom setting.
Hi John,
Yes, when students do not respect you, you really have lost it all with your students. As an educator professionalism is key!
Patricia Scales
It will maintain the repsect and credability that is needed to run the class. When you lose credability you lose the entire class.
Friendship is based on common-ground as well as sacrifices that one friend does for another. Professionals do the right thing when it has to be done. If friendship is formed in an instructor-student relationship, the stage is set for unwanted consequences if, and most likely, when personal agendas and expectations fail to be realized.
This creates a professional boundry and establishes you as the authority.
An instructor should always be personable and make
efforts to help thier students, but must remain on
an elvated level. Students and teachers' are not peers.
Hi Jacob,
Yes, we do not need to befriend students! Our students have enough friends. We need to serve as role models to our students.
Patricia Scales
Students are there to learn. While it is a good thing to have an open and friendly atmosphere, having students look at an instructor as a buddy will give the students the idea that they have leeway with you.
Our school has a fraternization policy which if violated is grounds for dismissal.
Maintaining a professional is crucial for any instructor, but especially important in a Career Education College. I always show up on time and with a business suit on because I teach business courses. I share my over 35 years experience in the business world and interject that experience often throughout the class. This approach shows the students I look the part and I have the concrete experience to back up the look.
You and I are on the same page about not blurring the lines. Being professional does not mean you cannot be respected. Great post!
You are absolutely correct about a fine line existing between professionalism and being down-to-earth. When I began teaching, I wanted to be liked (i.e. extending assignment deadlines, giving a plethora of extra credit). As time progressed, I realized that I was hurting the students more so than helping them. I believe in having a rapport with students, but I am not trying to "hang out" with them. This is a precedent that should be set early on in the class. Great post!
There is a difference between being personable and personal. Being personable means that the instructor is professional; can relate to his/her students; is compassionate; shows sympathy and/or empathy when warranted; is fair in all situations; and displays general concern for the students. If an instructor becomes personal, students begin to see the instructor as a "buddy". When instructors enter the "buddy" zone, students may not take the class or coursework seriously; both the instructor and students are privy to personal information about the other; classroom management leaves the building; and the instructor and student are now on equal footing. I do not want to imply that the instructor is better or on a higher level, but there is a hierarchy of the classroom...the instructor is in charge.
The more students become familiar with you as a teacher, they adjust the way the see and treat you. Nothing will make their view of you go down hill fast than allowing them to cross certian personal boundaries by giving too much personal information. Once you cross the line, there may not be time to build a boundary that should have been there from the start.
Too many boundries can be crossed if an instructor becomes everyone's "buddy."
An instructor is free to have a personality, but
should always adhere to policy, procedure and classroom guidelines. This protects the instructors leadership, respectability and overall effectiveness as a teacher. This will also show the students how to maintain a professional distance in thier future careers.
This is an area that I am learning how to get better at. I am a new instructor with my first class on it's way. I am also a nurse. I think my natural instincts to want to make people feel good and be happy are great for teaching but I need to do this in a way that's going to keep an appropriate distance. It is hard for me to be "strict" at times but I am quickly learning that even with adults if I let them they will take advantage of my easy nature. This is why the professional distance is a must in class management. I don't want my fear of being thought of as "mean" get in the way of keeping the class on topic. I have to remind myself frequently that my students are here to learn. They must have what I am teaching to pass boards and start their new careers. This must be my first priority. If I am able to do this then they will respect me and in the end this is much more important than if they like me. But I do believe I am learning that I can be both respected and liked. It's just a matter of learning how to walk that fine line and if I remember why we are all here it seems to be easier to do.
