Your students should not be your friends
It is important to keep the relationship between instructor and student helpful but professional. I only talk about professional history with my students, never personal.
Hi Sara,
Continue to follow the great advice given to you by others. Keep your relationships with your students strictly professional.
Patricia Scales
I agree with many of the statements made under this topic. I am a new instructor myself and feel like I'm on the younger side. I do find that I geniounly like some of my students the more I get to know them. There are times when I think to myself "if they were not my student I would want to know them as a friend". So sometimes this line is not only thin, but illusive and complicated as well as personal. I have to remind myself frequently of the importance that I maintain distinct roles not playing the role of peer or friend but as a knowledgable expert in my field and instructor. I am continuely reminded by my supervisor and coleages that boundaries are important and must be set for the benefit of the student myself and the learning environment as a whole.
Hi Denise,
Professional attention is needed in a student/instructor relationship. Students need to know that you are approachable.
Patricia
You should never cross the line in the instructor/student relationship. It would create an uneasy and very aggravated classroom environment. With that being said however, I do believe that students should feel comfortable enough with you as their instructor and as a human being to come talk to you if they are having problems that are preventing them from successfully completing the course work. This would build a rapport and hopefully save a drop out. A little attention goes a long way but you must keep it all in perspective.
Hi Kristin,
Absolutely! You know how to draw the line. We should NEVER hang out with our students.
Patricia
I look very young as well and am constantly asked by my students to join their facebook page or even "hang out." I decline graciously of course and remind them that I am their instructor.
Hi Gilbert,
Absolutely! I was 23 when I started teaching at the collegian level. Age should not matter, as long as you can control the classroom and teach effectively, you will gain your students respect.
Patricia
I agree with not sharing personal topics with students. I seem to look quite young for my age so students are always asking me how old I am. I never tell. Not only do I not share this information, I also do not talk about my personal life very much. I find that it keeps students more focused on their studies.
Hi Kary,
Your regional director is absolutely right! We are their teacher not their friend.
Patricia
As my regional director of nursing once said, "Our students for the most part, are nice people. It is our role to be their teacher while they are here however, not their friend."
You have really pointed out some excellent reasons not to try to be friends with students! Some students really will see it as favoritism -- especially if those students don't see themselves as fitting in with the rest of the class.
Hi Kary,
I concur. I have been teaching for more than 21 years, and I still understand the importance of not fraternizing with students. It can get you in a world of trouble...keep your distance.
Patricia
Keeping a professional relationship with students demonstrates that you are fair and worthy of repsect from other students.Also, not fraternizing outside of school time (at least until they are graduated and no longer a student) is a must. To me, this includes not being on any social networking site with them or meeting outside of school, unless it is school related.
it makes the class run smoother if your relationships with students is at a professional level versus personal
Hi Kathryn,
I have known this situation to cost instructors their job. Instructors should not befriend students.
Patricia
Absoutely not. You are there to train the student to be a professional and to be able to cope in society. To work on someones job and handle business. They must remember that they are helping to run someones business.
I agree with you. Trying to be friends with students can lead to so many problems. Other students may feel the instructor is favoring students, that affects morale and could produce an overall atmosphere of resentment. It could also affect the instructor's relationship with their adminstrators/supervisor and could even cost them their job.
Hi Amy,
It is good to know that you take the time and caring attitude to refer your students to the right people whenever the issue is beyond your scope. We are in this profession to help students not to befriend them.
Patricia
I have learned that you can make students feel comfortable and I am always willing to listen to what issues they have, I just refer them to the right people here on campus to be able to help with the situation they may have rather than allowing them to feel they are getting more of a friendship from me myself. It is right, it is fine line that could be easily crossed of your not careful, being Professional is always key.
