I think it is of extreme importance to maintain a professional distance from your students. I see this as important for several reasons. First of all, my focus is not to be their friends. My focus is to teach,be fair with them, be consistent with them and be honest with them. In other words, I am being professional and presenting good role modeling. This creates an excellent environment for teaching and learning.
Secondly, being too familiar with students makes for a lax environment that could promote students asking for special favors or special consideration. This does not promote striving to succeed in an academic environment.
Lastly,not maintaining a professional distance is just not the right thing to do. It smacks of laxness, favoritism and nonprofessionalism.
\Earnest J. Kendall Instructor/Associate
Hi Deanna,
It is professional, and it should be carried out in a way that will make students want to emulate you.
Patricia
Because it is professional.
Hi Ronald,
Distance is vitally important. Students need to know that they have boundaries that they are unable to cross, simply because they MUST stay in the student's place.
Patricia
You need to maintain a professional distance, educator and student, because you compromise or give the appearance of loss of objectivity.
Regards,
Ron Hampson
Hi Jennifer,
Yes it is. Classroom management is solely the instuctor's responsibility.
Patricia
It is important to create healthy boundaries for you and your students. It is an important part of classroom management.
It is not productive if students start to hang out with you at social events. There is a fine line which should not be crossed.
Teachers should not get too close to their students.
I agree. I think that maintaining a professional image is leading by example. Many times students will need to interact with one another on some level. I make sure to teach them professionalism right off the bat... and then I stick with it.
I'll still come across occasional disrespect from students in regards to their colleagues or myself, but by being professional and showing students how to conduct themselves, this is limited.
On the first day of class, I like to tell the students that our classroom is a safe and encouraging environment and that to keep it that way, we need to be professional.
Hi Sheena,
I am very friendly with my students, but I always maintain my professionalism. Students have to know that you have boundaries that they are not allowed to cross.
Patricia
Hi John,
That's right, keep all business with the students strictly professional to avoid any type of problem.
Patricia
Hi Leanne,
You are right! In the classroom, everything should be all about business. Personal conversations can create problems in the classroom.
Patricia
Maintaining professional distance creates a better learning enviroment. Taking time out of class to talk about personal issues does not demonstrate professional examples to your students. When they are at a job they are there to do a job not discuss what is going on in thier personal lives.
Making students your friends, or getting personal, leads to respect problems in the class room. You need to let the students know that you are concerned with their success as students. This can a should be done only on a professional leve.
I strive to be 'friendly' but not 'friends with' my students. I beleive I need to create a barrier, a distance between myself and my students because it creates respect and authority. Students don't respect you or view you in a professional light if you become fast friends with them. It complicates things and creates confusing dual relationships.
Hi Daniel,
I have experienced students pushing for special treatment regardless.
Patricia
students will always push for special treatment if you get too close with them
Because, amongst many things, it enables you be been seen to be impartial and thus fair; professional in your dealings with them; maintains their respect in you as the SME; shows that you are committed to your profession; and that ultimately, its not about you or 'us,' but rather about them as students on a learning journey.
David
Actually, children need both! As a parent you are many things to your children and over time that will change...but a parent you will always be.
As an instructor, you have a commitment to your class and they need to know that as such, you are there doing a job, a job for them, and doing it a a professional and competent way that gives them the very best service.
David
