Hi Michelle,
I concur! We are in the business to educate our students and serve as their role model. We are not in the business to see how many more new friends we can make.
Patricia
My experience teaching the adult has allowed me to have many wonderful interactions with my adult students. I have found that my students truly appreciate my professional dememanor in dress, attitude, and content knowledge. For those who are young adults I am very proud to say that they look to me as one of their role models. That is the point of maintaing a professional demeanor at all times. As an esteemed colleague has often stated,"when you are a leader, you are always being watched!"
Hi Kristy,
Students need to understand the importance of treating everyone with courtesy, professionalism, and respect.
Patricia
I feel that if you have befriended your students they have in a sence lost respect for the "instructor aspect" that you should maintain. there is a difference between 'being friendly' and 'being a friend'.
Hi Kay,
I concur! Boundaries must be established and distance must be kept in mind when dealing with the student/teacher relationship. Students will try to invade your territory if you allow them to. Students need to know by the instructor that they must stay in their place.
Patricia
Hi Velma,
That's right! Instructors standards should always be higher than that of the students. We must practice what we preach.
Patricia
Hi Kathy,
We must be the professionals that we want our students to become.
Patricia
Hi Sharif,
Students should know by one's actions who is the authoritarian. Instuctors must lead by example.
Patricia
Interesting to note the new abbreviation of CPR.
Majority of the students only respect instructors, who are competent in the subject & teaching. By maintaining a professional distance from the student, you show that you are incharge and in control of the class.
Part of a career college, in my opinion, is that you learn from Professionals, not teachers. Your instructors have been IN the field and in some cases still are in the field. We need to remind the studnets how important that is.
I agree with this point. The instructor must at least have the know how if not that specific experience. Instuctors must always stay ahead of the students in order to be able to effectively lead.
Because you don't want to fall in the "buddy-buddy" trap and have them try and take advantage of you and your teaching practices. By staying "a little" distanced, you are reenforcing the role that you are playing as an instructor--not just "one of the boys" type image.
Hi Robin,
I concur! This is just so unprofessional to befriend students. Treat all students as students, and you be the role model.
Patricia
Hi Salvador,
Nicely stated! We must be the professional that we want our students to become.
Patricia
This is a great concept especially since I teach Dental Assistants. When they leave and get jobs they will be under the direct supervision of the dentist and will need to treat them with courtesy, professionalism, and respect.
Maintaining a professional distance from students is an important part of class management because you want the students to respect you and respect the knowledge you are giving them. If you become too close or give too much information of your personal life the students may not respect you when they need to be reprimanded.
Students need to see you as a role model, and that you are genuinely praciticing realistic professional concepts, both personal and work related. You are their instructor and professional friend, not a pal or buddy. As an educator you must maintain positive rapport and not cross boundaries.
it is important to maintain a profesional distance from students because you are not their friend to are their teacher.
Hi Adrienne,
What do you do to maintain a professional image.
Patricia
