In organizational diversity and behavior, we call this the halo/horns effect. A professional distance should be maintained in order to avoid bias both positive or negative. Each student must be treated consistently and fairly.
In addition to the strong need for presenting a professional image, I'd like to comment on another aspect of your question: maintaining a distance. We want students to see us as caring professionals, hence the extra efforts to know them personally and remember their names. Often, as they explain their fears or their excuses, they trust us with confidences they might be reluctant to tell to anyone else. They honor us with their trust.
And yet, such intimate knowledge of a student's heartache must be put into professional perspective. I can suggest resources, but I cannot solve the bail bond shortage or the child's illness. I can offer understanding and perhaps a shoulder to cry on for a moment, but once those tears have dried, I must be careful that nothing remains on my shoulders. My professional duty requires that I, after empathizing, direct the student back to assuming his own burden and finding possible ways of prioritizing and dealing with those personal problems.
Students often lose respect for instructors who do not maintain a professional image.
I think it is very important to maintain professionalism at all times.
I think that we should represent a professionalism at all times, whether we think no one is watching or not.
Hi Caroline,
When students respect you, they will do anything to help you.
Patricia
Maintaining respect will make the class run smoother and you will maintain control
Hi Dave,
Respect is a two-way affair. Naturally, students should give their instructors the utmost respect, and instructors in turn should give their students the utmost respect.
Patricia
Hi Stanley,
Absolutely! We must be our students biggest role model. A lot of our students do not have a role model to follow at home or outside of college.
Patricia
STUDENTS ALSO NEED A STANDARD TO FOLLOW.IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE OR MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON A STUDENTS LIFE,STAY FOCUSED ON KEEPING YOURSELF PROFESSIONAL.
Students who are paying for their education are most comfortable learning from an instructor who remains professional at all times, thus commanding their respect. Students should look up to an instructor and an instructor should respect the student. It should work both ways for the system to work well. Respect is earned.
Hi James,
Instructors must maintain the highest level of professionalism at all times. Students constantly watch us to see if we are going to mess up.
Patricia
You need to conduct yourself in a professional manner so that you will maintain respect needed to conduct your career.
