It is important to maintain a professional distance from your students for a coople of reasons. First, many times as an instructors our students look up to us. We are given the privledge of obtianing there trust and admiration. Maintaining professional distance ensures that inappropiate boundries are not crossed. Second, it allows students to respect you as a mentor. Becomeing to close to students can blur the line between mentoe and peer.
I try to emphasize to my students that their time in college is their second job, as many of my students work full time as well. As such we can have a freindly work environment but there is a supervisor who must lead and ensure that standards are being met. I firmly believe you will be tomorrow what you prepare yourself to be today, therefore treat your class time as you would your time on the job in the feild you are preparing for. The only way I can help them begin to function like this is to maintain a professional environment and distance.
Besides being respectful and answering their questions, I always try to dress the part.
Students who tend to get "too close" usually take advantage of that relationship. Being approchable and establishing an open door policy is good but stay away from things personal.
Setting boundries between the instructor and student is necessary to manage the class. Instructors that cross that boundry want to be the favorite with the students. Yet, when the time comes, it is more difficult to discipline, hold that student to the same standard as the other's, and to function in the instructor role. That instructor can more easily be accused of not being fair. I have worked with someone like that and the students enjoyed visiting and gossiping with her but they did not respect her. Give me respect any day!
Maintaining a professional distance from students an important part of class management because the work that is being performed is inspected at a safty related level. By doing this my class seems to respect me and the school.
It is important to maintain a professional image with students. Students need to see a person in their future field that has confidence and professional appearance and presentation. They cannot be our friends, we are their leaders and role models. They will respond to this image by trying to be professional in our presence and in their careers.
This is very important to keep self “distance “as a professional, but not as a confidant or a body. This way we are presented as a person with expertise and knowledge of the subject.
I truly believe that to be respected you have to give respect. If you are a professional and set the standard for your students, they will follow. I teach veterinary assisting and my students have to trust me as well as eachother to know that they will protect eachother from claws and teeth and hooves etc...If I put myself to far above them, it does not work that way. I do agree that you don not become friends with your students but you still have to show them the human side.
I strongly agree and have come relies that their is a fine line, that is need for proper classroom management. Student have to be able too relate the instructor as a person, however boundaries should never be cross!!
Hi Patricia,
Absolutely! Students should always regard you as their superior, if not problems will occur.
Patricia Scales
Hi Alexcia,
I agree! Keep the student/instructor relationship strictly professional.
Patricia Scales
Hi Mary,
Nicely stated! The student/instructor relationship should be strictly business.
Patricia Scales
There has to be a professional 'boundary' if learning is going to occur.
This is very important as an instructor. It is ok to be friendly with your students, but you don’t want to be there friend. It is important that they respect you as a professional. Once you have crossed that line students may expect you to give them special treatment, it is just a conflict of interest.
When teaching students you need to keep a student-teacher relationship at all times by never forming personal friendships with your students. The separation ensures a professional relationship and therefore maintains the respect you deserve from all your students as their instructor, as well as other students on campus. Your classroom management will remain under control when you are viewed as their superior and not their friend.
I am a fairly young and fun teacher and often students want to ask questions about my life outside of class. I have no intention of sharing more about myself than what is necessary to establish my instructional background. If questions come up, I steer it back to the lesson. I made a mistake years ago when I started teaching. Our school was next door to a nigh club. I went one night after work and there were several students there. It was completely inappropriate, and although I did nothing wrong, I felt that I had went down a few pegs in respectability. I have not made that mistake since. I believe that when students see you outside the classroom in certain situations, they can loose that respect they hold for you as an authority figure, and their behavior in class can be affected.
So student know there is a clear line between myself and them. This doesn't mean I can't be friendly, but it does mean professional boundaries are my number one priority. My preference is the students respect me for my knowledge and delivery of the course content, as opposed to them liking me because I am nice or they know my life story.
It is important that instructors teach their students about the importance of professionalism in the work place. For this reason it is important that the instructor always maintains a professional behavior. We teach by example so it is always important to maintain professionalism in the classroom. By maintaining a professional distance students see that professionalism is important.
I feel that we are role models for these students and we need to be professional at all times. They came for an education not for me to be their friend, although I feel we should always be there for them if they need encouragement, etc.
