This is important because we are professionals. If you come across as unprofessional, then students will not respect you. You also lose credibility (even if you really know your subject matter)!
This is true! We have an obligation as instructors to teach them and set them up for success in the future!
To me, it demonstrates a management role for the instructor. It also demonstrates leadership
I mentored a new teacher (female) who had similar issues, only she actively created (or encouraged) the issues. She had her college students partying and telling sex stories at her apartment on weekends! I became aware of this when I sat in on one of her classes one day and a couple of students referenced having been at her apartment the previous weekend. If it was TV I would have done a spit-take.
Needless to say, we had a good talk (several of them!), and she confessed that she was working hard to be "liked" and figured that since she was not much older (late 20s) than some of her students, she was doing it to establish a rapport with her students. She freely acknowledged that several of her male students were overtly flirting with her during class and she was proud of herself for how she handled it.
She later recognized that she was playing a dangerous game with her early "strategies," and I didn't see the same behavior.
She's now an Ed.D and still a successful and respected teacher, though now at the high school level. But I know through social networking that she routinely 'friends' students on Facebook, though I don't know if they are current students, former students, recent grads, etc. So I still have concerns that the lines are still being blurred.
...and many times the instructor him/herself pushes and changes that boundary.
I am firm believer that you treat people the way that you want to be treated. This will allow you to be professional and respectful to your students and they in return will do the same.
This helps get the students respect, and it also gives them an example of how to be professional.
I agree- One of my Graduate School professors said it this way" No War Stories"
This was a helpful course. I particularly enjoyed the Harvard Lecture videos. Thank you
You must maintain a professional image to keep control of the classroom. Students also feel if an instructor has that image then they are comeptent of teaching them.
Hi Kay,
I earn respect from my students by leading by example. I have found that this is the easiest way to get respect from students. I in turn give my students respect.
Patricia Scales
It is important that you command respect from your students. I feel that the students would not respect you as a friend. Students could easily misconstrue themselves as a favorite.
We are their mentors or role models. We need to set the example to our students. It raises question when we get too friendly with our students and rumors or gossip can start. Other students may start thinking instructors have favorites. Just raises too much question.
When it comes to disapline they respect you more. and the line does not get crossed
I agree plus I also remind them this will help their transition in the work world much smoother if professionalism is practiced early on.
So that you can maintain a relationship that is mentor to mentee. You want students to view you as a professional who can guide them in their career. If you become too friendly, students may not see you as a professional example.
It will help the students gain respect for the instructor.
Hi Adam,
I agree! Our students do not need another friend. They need a professional that they can look up to and be shown the way to success.
Patricia Scales
Hi Michael,
I love your perspective! We should set boundaries and our students should not be allowed to cross them. Be friendly to your students but do not befriend your students.
Patricia Scales
Maintaining professional distance best emulates what the students will encounter in the field. It is the expectation within most organizations that you maintain a professional distance from clients and direct supervisors.
Aside from that, it is unethical to breach the professional distance between yourself and a student. It belies preferential treatment.
Professional distance is important on many levels. If students feel "close" to an instructor, they feel feel as though they are above the rules and that the instructor should make exceptions for them in certain situations. Perhaps they need extra time for an assignment but the rest of the class has not been given the same chance, etc. Older, non-traditional students are in school to work and be noticed for their level of committment. They don't like when they see an unprofessional images. I try to keep my distance, act like a chef would act but keep the standard high. I do no swear in class and my kitchens are spotless. I have heard that it's not clean unless it's "Gio" clean; that's my last name.....
