Maintaining a professional image
I feel as an instructor you should be professional starting with how you dress to what you share with the students. To me my students are not my friends, and there is a limit as to what I say to them during and after the class hours. Respect is what you will earn and it all depends on how you as an instructor behaves. Be fair and make sure you give the students all that they need to succeed and that is what they are in school for. There are times you may need to listen to some of their personal, and that is okay with me.
Hi Gene,
Awesome response! These military beliefs/practices are certainly true for the classroom as well. I can tell you are a great leader, simply because you lead by example. You are the professional that you want your students to become.
Patricia
I agree that maintaining a professional image is important. As a former Army offficer and military instructor, we learned that appearance, attitude and behavior are three personal factors that need to be squared away. Appearance is important because if you look sharp students will think that you are sharp. If you demonstrate positive behavior and attitude toward yourself and students you will gain their respect. Self-respect also helps one gain personal respect. An instructor need to set a higher bar for him or herself.
