you can ruin your career, and i believe that it will make your students not respect you on an instructor level
Maintaining a professional distance from your students are important because than they view you as their instructeor not their peer
It important to maintain a professional attitude so the students always know you are their teacher and mentor not their friend.
Hi Leslie,
Students expect preferential treatment whenever they are friends with the instructor, not a good situation at all.
Patricia
Hi Kerry,
Yes, they have enough friends. They need someone they can look up to who has professional ways.
Patricia
Hi Stephanie,
Our students have all kind of issues! We must learn how to be professional enough so that we do not become consumed with their issues that we lose our professionalism.
Patricia
Hi Guy,
My school has a policy pertaining to fraternizing with students, and it is strictly enforced. It is simple, abide by policy to avoid getting in trouble, possibly being terminated.
Patricia
Hi Jeremy,
I understand what you are saying! Some students want someone to be close to, but the instructor must know even with the closeness (strong rapport) that the relationship should strictly be professional in nature.
Patricia
Hi Trish,
You are right! Students truly are not looking for another friend. They want someone they can model professionally.
Patricia
Hi Carol,
Absolutely! Students need to know you are the leader and role model, therefore we should act as such.
Patricia
You are there teacher, not their peer
When instructors cross the line of being the leader and the example to trying to be the new buddy it leads to problems of students feeling the instructor may have "favorites" in the class and almost always leads to respect issues. In the long run students want an instructor that is professional, maintains a disciplines environment and yet is approachable when students need them.
I believe a "professional distance" is a relative term that needs to be decided on a student by student basis. Some students can benefit greatly by feeling they have a somewhat closer, yet professional relationship with their instructor. And other students prefer a more rigid and orderly instructor/student relationship.
Maintaining a professional distance from students is important because if we fall short of expectations, we create an unprofessionalism. They want to see us in a manner that is disciplined, knowledgable, ethical, professional, and yet approachable. To achieve these instructors do not need to be friends with their students, they just need to establish rapport and demonstrate genuine care and concern for their students. We also need to establish a professional distance to maintain objectivity and allow ourselves to see the bigger picture of each situation we may encounter with our students.
At my school we are not allowed to fraternize with students. There are students, from time to time, that you realise you COULD be friends with otherwise but in class this could cause complications in grading and/or discipline issues.
Students need professional guidance, advice and know subject knowledge. That is the job of the instructor, not to become personally involved the student life.
You don't want to be their freind. You are there to be professional and give them knowledge. This way your students will respect you as an instructor.
It not only builds respect, but the students are better able to focus on the material and what is to be learned rather than a friendship with the instructor.
you don't want one student to feel like you like another better or that you don't like them at all. i have friends outside of work i have family outside of work i don't need my two lives clashing and causing problems with one another
Hi Jeffrey,
Absolutely! The classroom is no place for students' drama, needless to mention the instructor's drama. The classroom should be about strictly business.
Patricia
