Golden Rule
While is some settings this may be alright to use as an example for the students, it may not be the right way to express it as some of our students pay for the courses themselves and may think that they are the ones with the gold.
Hi Katie,
I concur! Students get this twisted all the time because they really think they are pay us our salary. I let them know that they are paying for an opportunity to obtain a college education.
Patricia Scales
I acknowledge that they are in deed "paying" for the course, but they are not paying my salary, they are not buying a grade. What they are buying is an education and that is something no one but themselves can be take away.
Hi Precious,
The instructor is the executive of the classroom, and the instructor should always make the best decision in the best interest of the student.
Patricia
Nice point. It is also important that the students have the safety and security of knowing the instructor is fully capable of handling the class. With the student accepting the instructor's authority, it puts the student in a better position to respond appropriately to the authority of prospective employers. Questions can be handled openly and respectfully. Some concessions can even be made, if deemed appropriate. However, the instructor has to make certain "executive" decisions for the students to take the class seriously.
“The Golden Rule" Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As an instructor I think it is my duty to do my best to impart knowledge on to students, regardless of who is paying. Yes they are paying and are expecting the same level of commitment to the cause as I would if I had signed up for the class.
I hear this all the time too. Sometimes the student needs to be reminded that, yes, they paid money to be in the school. But, they paid for a particular commodity- an education. You can't go to home depot and expect a hamburger, or mcdonalds and demand a table saw just because you paid money!
I have a couple of students who feel like they have a right to control the flow of the class because they are paying for it. One student told me I should refund her money out of my own pocket because I was wasting her time. I discussed this with my superior, and her advice was to remind the student that completing the course requirements and obtaining a diploma are not enough to succeed in the workforce, that we must conduct ourselves as professionals and show respect to others at all times, even when they irritate us and/or we may not agree with them. I thought this was great advice. It is very effective at turning a potentionally disruptive student into a student who is contributing something worthwhile to the class, albeit unintentionally!
I agree with this older version of the golden rule: respect breeds respect. While I expect my students to respect me and my policies, I would never do so simply because I "have the gold (metaphorically or literally)." Nor should they accept without question any future employer's rules without critical thought.
I like to treat the students as I would like to be treated and give them respect and then I will get it in return>
Hi Lauren,
When expectations are known up front, there should not be any gray areas.
Patricia
We often hear that at our proprietary school as well. With all ages of students. That is why we need to set the expectations for students at the get-go: as soon as they are enrolled and then at the start of that first class in their program and with each class thereafter. Students are indeed paying X amount of dollars - as instructors then, it's our duty to give students the best possible service so that they do their work, achieve their goals and then get what they really paid for - an education.
Hi Peter,
Nicely said! I like practicing the golden rule myself. Sometimes students can be given to many chances, and we are doing more harm than good by giving them so many chances. In the real world your chances are very, very limited. Employers are not going to tolerate the excuses. You are going to love the 20% a day rule. Sometimes you have to hit students hard so that it makes a difference.
Patricia
I think the golden rule when it comes to late assignments is wonderful. He who has the gold has the power.
What students dont understand is that they will face repercussions in the workforce if they do not do their tasks in a timely fashion. we are a school that gives a lot of chances as we want to help students achieve success. in a way i feel it hurts the students to give them too many get out of jail free cards. it is habit forming.
I like the 20% a day rule. i just printed this out and am going to implement it. it gives leeway, but also consequence.
I also feel all instructors at a school need to enforce late work the same way as one glitch can cause a pattern, or habit. if it is enforced across the board, from the beginning, then it will not be an issue..
Hi Joshula,
Nicely said. You do have the power. The power does need to be utilized fairly. The rules are made by you, and the rules should be followed by the students. Students like rules, which bring about structure.
Patricia
"The Golden Rule" Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I don't know that I would use any golden rule except that you are the teacher and the power is yours. You make the rules, and the fact that they paid for the class says that they accepted whatever the class entailed. This is because they are getting the knowledge, and that is what they are paying for. That is life, you pay for what you get, but you must be willing to get your monies worth, do the assignments within the proper time.
Josh
I agree to a point but to induce another cliche... you can't let the tail wag the dog! The students are paying a great deal of money but still rules must be in place and followed by all regardless of who paid how much. If guidelines are not in place then sometimes the instructor will lose respect from some of the students and then the learning process fails.
I teach at a vocational facility and all too often hear a student say "I did not pay x amount of dollars to be told I have to do this and I have to do that." Ultimately, he who has what the other one wants, has the gold. As a business, we want their business. As a student, they want to be successfully trained in a career so they can go make a better living than before. Looking at the big picture, doesn't both sides of the equation have gold? Yet, for us to do our job and train students there has to be a certain amount of order to the program or it will not work. As parents we have had to decide for our children what is in their best interest, as instructors of young adults we sometimes have to protect themselves from their own habits. We must carefully lead and mold these students into successfully trained better than entry level workers. Taking a stance of "He who has the gold, makes the rules.", can turn on the instuctor in a way for the worse. At that point, is the student getting what he paid for?
Hi Bernie,
The old adage is true, "Knowledge is Power."
President Clinton made several true remarks about education in his Presidental Speech. He mentioned the following pertaining to education:
*Education never rusts
*Education never gives out
*Education can not be repossessed
*Once you get education, it is yours for a lifetime
Patricia
In the academic setting I often tell my students that the one with the knowledge has the power. I teach in a vocational school and when my students get out in the field they will soon find that the more they know, the more they will make..
