Hi Syndi,
You are right about needing to maintain boundaries throughout the course. It is easy to slip into a situation where your professional relationship is compromised unless you keep a level of awareness.
Gary
I do agree that the instructor must set boundaries with the students on the first day of class. However, I believe that "pal" problems occur over time, after the instructor has spent time with their students. Therefore, it is important that the instructor set and maintain the boundaries throughout the course.
Hi Demetra,
Well said. You have to maintain a professional image and distance with your students. You can still show them that you care about their success as well as develop rapport with them while retaining your instructor role.
Gary
the trick as it has been stated is to maintain the boundaries. i believe it all starts on the first day of class. you can be a "cool" instructor without being a "pal"--our goal is to instruct and educate, so i believe if you remain true to your reason for being there--then its easier to not blur the line.
Hi Joseph,
The pal part of teaching is when you place yourself on the same level as the students. You try and make yourself one of them through your actions and participation. Going out with them after a class is a no no to begin with. Talking with them sharing life and career experiences is appropriate. The warning signs are if the students start to address you in inappropriate ways, come to class when they want to because they don't respect you, ask for special favors in terms of assignments and projects. There is a professional line that you and they cannot cross and when you do respect is lost. Once respect is lost you are on the same level as the students and you are no longer an instructor to the students.
Gary
How can I avoid being a pal? I work in a technical school and I sometimes use past experiences to relate to a lesson. But sometimes the students could be going through the same situation and they start to ask questions and as I begin to answer I can see myself working next to them and fall in to the trap of being a pal. Using past experiences is a valuable tool for teaching lessons and I want to be able to use this. What could be some tools to prevent this form happening? Are there some warning signs to look out for?
Hi All,
That is so true, its also imparitive to keep an instructor/student relationship within boundries. If boundries are not present, the student in fact may "assume" that you are a "pal" and therefore expecting speacial handling or favoritism versus the other students. This can result in alot of residual anger and resentment not only with the student but with the other classmates as well, and this is definantly not a good repore to maintain. So again, like all have stated within the thread how imparitive it is to know those boundries and practice them no matter how hard it is when relating to a student and their issues!
Hi Robbie,
So true. You have to maintain that professional distance that comes with being the instructor not a buddy of the students.
Gary
Stepping over the line of instructor, will only draw you into the quagmire of their problems, you can't win in these situations, anything you say will eventually come back to make you rue the day
Hi Jennifer,
Well said. Instructors must always maintain that level of professionalism that shows the students that you are the class leader. This should be done with respect so the students can see how a professional in the field should conduct him/her self.
Gary
It is good that you want to be friendly with the students, but there is a line that must be drawn so that they still respect you as an instructor. If they know you too well, or as a pal, they loose the respect they have as the instructor/student relationship. You can still be friendly and let them know you care about them without being a part of every aspect of their life.
