I agree. Boundaries is very important. We are not friend of students, we are the couch and trainer of the students.
The instructor is the role-model and therefore keeping the professional image is important.
I agree with the comments made above. I feel it is important to maintain your authority. I also feel strongly that I need to set an example for my students as a professional, and want to be worth imitating.
It is important because if the relationship is broken it can create an awkard situation between the studnet and instructor. Problems with respect and discpline could fall into place.
Hi David,
Who I know should not even matter whenever it comes to grades/education. I believe in giving a student what they have earned...good or bad.
Patricia
Hi Heidi,
Real easy, it should be strictly business. No personal relationship should be established.
Patricia
Hi Margaret,
Boundaries must be established, and students should not be allowed to cross them. The instructor has a role, and the student has a role...don't confuse the two.
Patricia
a perception of learning/education should be
"what i know" not "who i know".
in the work world, production
is the primary factor in reward (pay/promotion/perks).
exchange "production" for "knowledge gained"
and "reward" for "goal attainment" (degree/job/satisfaction).
students need to feel that reward will be based on their own efforts and are directly responsible for the outcome.
It is amazing how close we are being watched all the time. Some times when I am out with my friends I may run into a student and it is amazing how they try to keep tabs on what I am doing with my friends at my table:)
Lynette I agree. I try to make my students comfortable but I don't act in a manner where I will lose the respect of my students.
Lisa
Maintaining a professional image is as important as a parent not being their child's friend. It will be very difficult for you to remain objective or discipline if necessary. I think there should always be a professional line drawn between the student and the professor. This does not mean that a professor cannot have a relationship with students to make them comfortable in the class as well as comfortable learning the material. Also it is important for professors to dress in a professional manner. I have worked in this field for over 20 years and I have seen where professors lost their control in the classroom because they thought it was more important to have the students call them by their first names and some of these professors thought it would be great for the class morale if they go out to dinner and parties with their students. I understand the students are adults but the bottom line is they are still students.
Setting professioanal boundaries is important to maintain classroom management. Students will respect the boundaries and have a clear understanding of what is acceptable and expected.
Respect purposes. If you are "friends" with a student you are crossing over the professional boundary and could be loosing respect of others in the class.
Hi Kristine,
Professional relationships with students are encouraged. It is the personal relationship that will get you in trouble.
Patricia
Hi Melanie,
The social websites do make it harder to enforce, but do the very best that you can to enforce the policy, otherwise, there will not be a need for the policy.
Patricia
We have a very similar policy at our school as well and I support it 100%. Nowadays this has been harder to enforce due to all the "social" websites that are out there.
Maintaining a "professional" distance from your students is important because we are here to instruct and to share our professional experience with our students...not be their friends. A frienship relationship is not the correct atmosphere to teach in.
This establishes the relationship as instructor-student and allows for the student to respect your position as his/her instructor. You can develop a rapport with students but do so in a way that preserves the level of respect for your position in the classroom.
Hi David,
I hear you. Actually I like the strictness of your policy. Instructors should really abide by it and appreciate it because the policy is in place to protect them. I concur about the grading.
Patricia
Hi Don,
You are right! You never get a second chance at that first impression; make the first impression a positive lasting impression.
Patricia
