Maintaining a professional distance from students is important otherwise students tend to get too comfortable with the instructor/student relationship and feel as though they do not have to follow the same rules as their classmates. For example, if a student is constantly late to class from break, or always turning in assignment late, because of the bond or rapport developed, the instructor may feel uneasy able following his or her own guidelines.
I am an instructor who looks a lot younger than I am. I have a lot of experience, however, students only focus on my age. I have to be really careful not to become their "friend" and keep a professional distance. If I allow boundries to be crossed then the respect will disappear. I will no longer have control over my class.
It takes the personal out of proffesional decisions. Not every decision or choice an instructor makes will be poplular with his or her students.
Students do not feel they need to respect instructors that are too friendly. It can jeopardize the instructors’ integrity with their coworkers. Also when that student moves on to another instructor’s class, that instructor there is sometimes friction with the new instructor.
Instructor serve as a role model. Therefore, maintaining a professional image is Important.
Hi Suzanne,
You are definitely on point! Befriending students is way too risky! Keep your job by doing the right thing, don't befriend sudents in a personal way.
Patricia Scales
Hi Maureen,
Absolutely! Distance is key in oder to have a professional relationship with your students.
Patricia Scales
Maintaining a professional image is a must for an instructor. When being unprofessional you run the risk of losing your credibility with your students.
Hi Sonia,
I agree! Respect is a two-way street, and it is earned not demanded. There are two easy ways to earn respect, give it, and you will receive it, and be the professional that you want your studednts to become.
Patricia Scales
Hi Terry Marie,
I concur! We should be the professional that we want our students to become.
Patricia Scales
if you try to become "friends" with the students you are not setting professional boundaries, decreasing student respect and crossing the line into territory that could be against school policy and or cause for termination.
It is better to leave mystery between the instructor & students. If the students feel like they are on an even playing field, they won't have the same amount of respect for the instructor. Also, being to friendly with one student over another can cause accusations of favoritism, which can break the morale completely in a class.
Maintaining a professional distance is essential for class management.
Becoming overly familiar with some students in your class can create a perception of favoritism real or imagined among the remaining students.
Maintaining a professional distance insures that students perception of your role as an instructor doesn't become blurred and is important in maintaining your authority in the classroom.
I believe that an instructor should get respect by showing respect to their students. You will not achieve that by talking to students about your personal life or to cross the line and become friends, that shows others that you favor a specific group, person so on. Then in turn will not get the respect as an instrutor.
I feel that professional image is important because we as teachers step the examples in the classrooms. Alot of times students arent exposed to a professional enviroment until later in life so we have to help mode them into professional people. Especially soft skills because they are so vital to everday life
Hi Rhonda,
Continue to be a professional! Have a firm talk with those who are criticizing you, and if there is a need get higher authority involved. I do not believe in hanging out with students at any time. I feel as though it is unprofessional.
Patricia Scales
Hi Janette,
Absolutely! Respect is not demanded, it is earned through spoken and unspoken words.
Patricia Scales
Maintaining a professional distance from your students helps to deter any favoritism, bending or breaking of the rules, and encourages respect for authority.
Well for one your job is your job. Do you really want everyone knowing about your personal life and talking about your personal life especially your students? i surely do not. Not only that if you do divuldge too much; the students could start viewing you as a fluff who does not really know what they are doing because, you are not being professional. Students will also not take you seriously with expectations, if you begin to interact with them as if they are your friends, and that can cause huge problems and stresses for an instructor in regards to getting the class to preform and learn the way they want to see them preform and learn. So in order to manage a class well, you show them that you care in an professional matter but, maintain your boundaries and expectations. This way the class will run smoothly for you, there will be way less conflict.
