Tracy-Ann,
Some colleges contract with service providers of couseling services in order to both better support students and to take a bit of the pressure off the staff.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I agreed that we are in more than one business, students comes to us from just more than tutoring, and homework help. We have to mentor, sometimes counsel, and even just to listen to what they are going through at home. Many educators or not trained for many of the personal issues that arises with these students , which sometimes is a burden to bear if you have 40 plus students with issues other than classwork.
Lorrie,
We nneed to remember we can advise, but not counsel. My college contracts with a service that provides students ith 24/7 access to many professional support services. It is worth it.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We are definitely in the mental health business. Mental stability has a lot to do with the continuation and completion of a program.
I agree with the career educators stating that besides being an academical business the school is also a mental health business; The Soft skills or emotional intelligence besides the intellectual skills of graduates play an important role for them to succeed and stay on the job. Working together as a whole a business will have acquired the best employees.
We are sooo much more than just teachers of our particular subject. We have to serve in so many additional roles. Cheerleader, mentor, advocate, advisor, role model, tutor, etc. When you get this combination right your students are successful.
I think the impact we have on our students' self-perception is maybe more important than giving the education. The demographic of students we work with are often of a low socio-economic status and have no experience with being more than they are. Helping students see what they are capable of as far as taking control of their lives is the main goal. They need to have the confidence to use the education they get and do well.
Seth,
You make several good points here. Thanks.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Dale,
A frind of mine calls us "Edupreneurs."
Jeffrey Schillinger
yes i agree. Agreed. Sometimes you can be way more to a student than just a educator. Some need a role model and someone to believe in them.
I agree. We as educators need to understand that people seeking educations are sometimes doing so at a very difficult point in their lives. These stressful times in peoples lives are teaching opportunities. Students can learn that an education can be achieved by learning to manage their stress. It is important that educators help their students process stress and focus on their studies. If the student feels supported it will help to relieve some of the stress they feel. Once a student has some success during a difficult time in their lives it will help them to build confidence. They will realize that they can succeed through great adversity. This will help to create a professional employee.
Mary,
Good post. Our college contracts with a firm that provides professional contract services to our students and graduates.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Maria,
What do you mean by "intellectual thinker?"
Jeffrey Schillinger
Catasha,
I like to think a good sign that students are comfortable with a teacher is when they seek out the teacher for non-subject-based advise.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Eboni,
We need to be advisors and refer students who need counselors to professionals in that area. Our college contracts with a professional service provider for our students.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Yes we are more than one business; we are in several bussiness. One Change people lives; The more students we have the more lives we can change. The more profitable we can become. So our business is to bring in as many students to change lives. Half-Educator; Half Entrepreneur
Yes we are social workers as well as instructors. We have to be in tune with our students needs and stressors in their lives and we have to have the knowledge to respond to these needs. We should have the resources available to refer them to the areas they could go to to receive help and having a strong community referral list is a good place to start. Oftentimes they just need someone to listen to them.
I agree. As educators, we provide the students with what they came to us for--education. In addition, we also teach or influence them to make use of their intelligence by being intellectual thinkers.
Agreed. Sometimes you can be way more to a student than just a educator. Some need a role model and someone to believe in them.
Yes. If I don't help my students visualize themselves successfully completing school and getting their first nursing job, then I have not done my best in assisting them in being successful students. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the MENTOR philosophy of motivating, encouraging, nurturing, teaching/training, eye opening to possibilities and rewarding with praise. I wrote this down and want to ask myself each week if I have accomplished these personal goals.
