Maintaining a professional image
Why is maintaining a professional distance from students an important part of class management?
Hi Kathleen,
Yes, you understand how the student/teacher relationship is suppose to be. We need to serve as role models to students not their friends.
Patricia Scales
I'm not to be their friend. Respect is better earned when one is friendly, but not personal.
Hi Jose,
That's right! Students look up to us as instructors. We are their role models.
Patricia Scales
Hi Joyce,
Image is it all. We are judged based on appearance, either good or bad.
Patricia Scales
An instructor needs to maintain a professional relationship with the students and always be respected. Students expect instructors to be different, "better" than regular friends.
Maintaining a professional image helps to create respect from your students. Also they feel that you have the knowledge to share with them.
I think it is very important to maintain professional distance. I do not talk about my personal life with students or socialize with them outside of class. In class I dont adress topics outside of the subject. I incorporate some humor but not in a stand up comedian type of way. Its important to set boundaries so students view you as a professional and if there needs to be a discipline issue adressed it can be adressed with authority. Also if a student receives a poor grade etc..it will be viewed as given from an authority figure not as a friend. In my opinion this is for the students own benefit so the professional lines are clearly drawn.
I think that you as an instructor shouldn't get to close to any student. There is a fine line that you should respect as a professional. If you cross that line then you could be held as showing favoritism or fraternizing, which could put your job in jeopardy.
Hi Robert,
Students need to stay in their lane and play their role as the student. Instructors must conduct themselves accordingly so that they are always regarded as the professional behaving on a professional level.
Patricia Scales
Professional distance maintains a layer of respect and dignity between the student and instructor. Loss of this can result in loss of class control once everyone thinks your there "buddy". Keeping this layer active and valid keeps the class on a professional level and moving cleanly towards the goals of the class.
As a teacher, you have to remember that you are in a leadership role, and that you are assigning grades. Professional distance maintains your reputation as an impartial and fair person. If you have close personal relationships with some students and not others, you are not treating everyone equally, and you may find yourself dealing with a lot of unrest and resentment before long.
The instructor should always keep its distance from the students simply becasue of professionalism. As mentioned in the lecture, the instructor is the "Expert in the Field" and the students are to learn what the instructor is teaching.
Professional distance is very important as to maintain a divided line of communication between personal and professional encounters. Once the line has been crossed it is very difficult to undo or pull back. In such cases the instructor has compromised the student-instructor relationship.
If you become your students buddy It' harder to enfource the rules and other students see you as favoring them
Hi David,
Balance is everything. Boundaries must be established with students. Most students will respect your boundaries.
Patricia Scales
As a department manager I found out the hard way about distance. As I grew in my role and position I became aware of where the line is. Now with students there is a slightly different set of expectations in that we need to keep them interested, respectful, and at the same time educate them. Finding the balance has been a challenge although well worth it. because it shows in your evaluations.
Hi Gregory,
I concur! Instructors must lead by example. Our students really need as many role models as possible. Practice what you preach.
Patricia Scales
Instructor professionalism demonstrates what "right" looks like for the students' new profession. Correcting them is part of teaching them about their new career field.
As an instructor, I'm not in the class to be the student's friend. If they perceive me as being their friend, then I will lose my ability to control the class and lose respect.
