Hi Robert,
Students take you more seriously whenever distance is maintained. The line has to be drawn so that students know where their boundaries are.
Patricia
Hi Ernest,
Yes they will. We are most of our students role model. We must always be levels higher than our students in every way.
Patricia
Hi Thomas,
Nice response. Simply, do not let students cross the line. Problems flare whenever students are allowed to cross the line. Treat all students the same.
Patricia
Hi Heidi,
Absolutely! As educators, we must serve as great resources for our students. Share your knowledge and guide them appropriately; do not befriend students...problems begin to surface befriending students.
Patricia
You are there as a learning resource...not to be a friend.
It maintains and solidifies the integrity of the instructor's true role as a leader and teacher. There is no equality between the teacer and the student.
There is a definite line between instructor and student. Crossing that line may lead to issues of favoritism, connecting with some students more than others, etc. The teacher is the professional and imparts knowledge, which already creates a different level. Keeping a professional distance allows students to be treated fairly and avoid a host of problems.
If you maintain a professional image in front of the students they will hold themselves to a higher standard.
We all need to maintain a professional distance but we must be careful not to get too distant and leave our students feeling like they are getting the cold shoulder.
Maintaining a professional distance from your students is essential for maintaing discipline and orderliness in your classroom. Becoming too friendly or socially engaged with your students engourages disharmony, which may lead to anarchy, in the classroom.
I believe maintaining a professional image is a necessity and helps your students to trust you with their education. It shows that you are a top notch person and respect your field. It helps them to see that they also need to be a top notch person as a student so that it can later translate to professionalism on the job. Of course, you don't have to be rigid while being professional. It's good to have a mix of you as a professional and as an actual normal human being so that your students can relate to you and feel comfortable sharing during the class. I always grab the opportunity when it presents itself to share professional and personal ideas and thoughts with the class. It shows them that you live in their world and understand what they are going through to get where they want to go.
First and foremost, you are setting an example for the students. What kind of example would you be setting, if you could not even carry yourself in an appropriate manner.
Hi Erika,
Great response! Students should not be confused as to what their role is, if this confusion is not coming from the instructor. Each person needs to stay in his/her place so that each role is played correctly.
Patricia
Hi Mike,
The professional should be regarded as the authoritative figure in the classroom. One's professionalism has to do with how well one is respected in the classroom.
Patricia
One of the reasons the student are here is because we are the professional it helps give an image they can relate to
to keep your authority of the class room
Without the professional distance, students can become confused on the roles of teacher and student. It is necessary to keep a professional distance from the students to maintain the class and allow for respect to develop. While this is important, this does not mean being cold and aloof. It is important to demonstrate that you value the students, their insights, and their contributions in the class. They also need to feel respected and valued within the classroom. This enables a harmonious balance between the teacher and the class. I find some teachers go overboard trying to keep away from the students, while some tend to befriend all the students. A mutual respect will create an environment where the students feel comfortable and secure, and they also then feel that the teacher is fair.
Hi Robert,
The perfect mesh is to be liked and well respected. However, we are not teaching to be liked, but we would like to be liked. Respect is earned, and if we as educators want respect, we must give respect.
Patricai
It is human nature for all of us to want to be liked. However, do not make the mistake that being liked and being the students friend is the same thing. We as teahers need to keep a professional distants from our students. This is important to keep the repsect of the students. To mantain the level of leadership required to teach. If we become the students friends then they also start to look to us a peers not mentors and this is the very thing that unminds teaching.
Hi Maria,
Students should never get mixed messages from the instructor. The student should clearly understand that he or she is the student, and must follow lead from the authoritative figure, the instructor. The instructor does not need to get on a personal level with the student.
Patricia
