Hi Sean,
Nicely stated! You can be friendly to your students, but do not befriend your students. Students need role models.
Patricia Scales
Hi Ashley,
We should be the professional that we want our students to become. We definitely should lead by example.
Patricia Scales
Hi Michael,
Instructors should only have a professional relationship with their students. Distance is key and should be maintained. Getting too close to a student creates more of a personal relationship.
Patricia Scales
It is important not to try and befriend them. By maintaining a professional demeanor they will respect you. I feel you can maintain professional boundaries and your students will feel you care about them and want them to succeed.
An instructor must maintain the role of instructor and be seen as the role model. Taking on a non- professional relationship could lead to students thinking their are favors being made for some students
Being chummy will ruin the tracher/student relationship
Your image is the most important part of the first impression that students receive. You are there to be an "expert" in the field and not their buddy. It is still possible to care about your students and their success without becoming their "buddy".
I agree as well. With out professionalism, there is no respect. You have to maintain this in order to succeed as an instructor.
Maintaining a professional distance allows you to keep better control of your class. Standing to near to a student may cause them to feel uncomfortable or get the wrong impression. By demonstrating proper professional distance the students will learn by your example.
Hi Sharita,
Students really do not need another friend. They are looking for role models, leaders, mentors, advisors, etc.
Patricia Scales
It is important as an instructor to maintain the distance as professional and not friend. Students respect you more and value your opinion when they see you as a mentor and leader.
Hi Brian,
Absolutely! There must be a role differential between students and instructors. Instructors are in the role to instruct, and students are in the role to learn. It is okay to be friendly to students, but do not befriend students.
Patricia Scales
Hi Elizabeth,
Great! Boundaries must be established in an instructor/student relationship. Keep the relationship strictly professional.
Patricia Scales
Hi Marie,
You are right! The student/instructor relationship should be strictly professional. Too much is at stake when the relationship become personal.
Patricia Scales
It is the same as if you were the manager at a job, you are not their to be their friends you are their to be their boss. you are the leader not one of the guys/girls. The instructor needs to make sure they distance themselves from the students and do not fall into that friend category, because the students will think they can walk all over them.
I create a power differential between my students and I. I have an open door policy, however I do not allow them to cross that professional boundary that is teacher/student.
I totally agree with that. It is sometimes hard enough to keep objectivity with students when one is being professional, but if one adds in getting chummy with their student or students, it puts the relationship on a totally different level. It can be hard to discipline when necessary. What if that student is always getting great grades? Even if she earned them fair and square, the other students may think there is favoratism involved. There are so many reasons why it isn't wise to move beyond the boundaries of a professional distance with ones students.
Hi Marie,
The instructor/student relationship should be PROFESSIONAL only. Too much is at risk when the instructor/student relationship becomes personal.
Patricia Scales
There are so many reasons to maintain a professional image. But one thing that I keep in mind always is that students can mistake teachers that have a buddy relationship with other students as giving them preferential treatment. Especially, if some other students aren't doing as well.
Hi Heather,
Reputation is everything! You always want your school to be represented well. As educators we need to always exemplify professionalism.
Patricia Scales
