respect for students as adults
We are an adult learning school, and as such need to recognize that there are no "Kids" at our campuses. The use of the term, even when students aren't present, sets up the wrong attitude. Respect is different than becomming a student's buddy, it is the act of respecting and treating each student as an equal adult.
I don't know that anyone is suggesting treating our students like children. However, students come to our classes with vastly different levels of preparedness and instructors must be prepared to present their material to those differing levels.
Students in our career college are all adults with adult responsibilities. They need to be treated as adults in the classroom. Treating adult learners as children is demeaning, creates resentment, causes the adult to feel inferior, and enhances lack of confidence. Instructors need to be conscious of this when interacting and communicating with adult students.
We need to give respect in order to receive respect.
Good advice, Charles. This generation seems to be very aware of their public image.
I find that when a student is acting out or being unprofessional, he is usually trying to "show off" or attempting to gain approval of his peers. On one occasion, early in my carrer, I was confronting a student issue on school policy while still in class, thinking it would be a good idea for all to here the policy again and deal with the issue at the same time. Bad idea. The student did not want to "lose face" in front of his friends and the situation quickly digressed to an argument and I had to stop. When dealing with any student issues, I make sure to deal with them on a one to one basis and I do it in private. I find that we are more able to deal with the facts and avoid any "pride" issues.
On the first day of the course during my introduction I explain to the class that we are not in highschool. This ian adult education facility. We are all treated equaly as adults. We are not here to baby sit or play childish games. We will respect each other as an adult.
Then I will allow a short time for discussion/
Then if there are any childish actions I deal with it on one on one outside the classroom or at the end of that class day.
Bravo Don! Let's also remember to resist the temptation to move away from that practice if the student doesn't show the expected reciprocal respect. Gaining & earning respect is a full time job. It's hard work and we are the ones who control the outcomes. After all we are the teachers, mentors, livivng examples and most times the subject matter experts.
Good point Bob. How can anyone "take" responsibility until they have been "given" some? I have also found some success in getting students to return to school by digging in and finding out what made them come in originally. Like the module says- students wont always say why they are leaving. But, they will usually tell you why they started.
I have found that many of these young adults have never been treated as adults and given any respect. When they are treated with respect as an adult that respect is returned and they realize a lot more of their potential this way. You begin to see a real change in their atitude toward school and life's responsibilities.
I find that when stuents are not acting professionaly if i treat them like adults that they are more likely to calm down and then we can work on the issue that they are having.
Regardless of age, I hold all my students accountable for everything they do in my class. It may not always be pleasent but this is how the real world works.
It realy depends on the student and the situation not every student is going too react the same way to the same input some I may yell at some take to the side and yet some embarse them. the thing is knowing what the student needs at that time. thats the hardest thing to come up with each one of us has a set of specific(and ever changing)needs that you may or may not be able to acomidate on a day to day basis. friend foe or confidant.
I at an appropriate time will take the student aside for a one on one chat. Trying not to lecture, but using my past experiences to confront the situation, sometimes I will ask the student if they think what they did was appropriate and what they are going to do to show everyone in the class they really are an adult. I have found that some people will revert to a non-adult status just to gain recognition from the instructor and or classmates.
I agree, our students have made a commitment to come to our school for further education in making a career change or just starting out in a career. They all, regardless of age, deserve to be respected as adults and therefore treated as adults.
Don I've gone so far to suggest that we place poster around the school in some prime locations, such as, student services offices that state that they are students,not "kids" and deserve to be treated as such. Hope it works out.
How do you handle those situations? Are they teaching moments for the other young students?
That's nice for you, but many of my classes probably average in age about 19-20. Many of them are just out of high school and have never been anywhere but home before. Mommy and Daddy decided junior was not "college material" so they sent them to our vocational school. I try to treat all my students as adults, but have to realize that many of them are not.
Do unto others ... Treating students as responsible adults is an important part of managing the classroom.
How do you handle situations where the student acts immaturely and perhaps hasn't earned your respect?
