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Faculty Sections / Can Teachers and Students Be Friends?
« on: November 13, 2016, 02:40:22 PM »
by Larry Ferlazzo
This is an important question with respect to instructional effectiveness since it brings up issues related to engagement, barriers, comportment, and respect—all key elements in teacher-student relationships. The question is also increasingly on teachers’ minds because of the rise of the social-media culture.
I was a community organizer for 19 years prior to becoming a teacher 10 years ago. One of the many organizing lessons I learned during that time and that I’ve tried to apply to teaching is the difference between public and private relationships.
This is not an either/or perspective, and clearly must be more nuanced in an environment like a classroom. Nevertheless, keeping it in mind has helped me maintain more of a personal/professional “equilibrium” and helped my students learn important life lessons.
Organizers believe that private relationships usually encompass our family and friends, where our imperfections tend to be accepted. We generally have these relationships on an “as is” basis. We expect not to be judged, and we expect loyalty—love in a broad sense is the “currency.”
We forget sometimes that, while different from an adult friendship, the teacher-student relationship is not a lesser connection. It is often more meaningful and special, with tremendous value to both parties. We try to live up to its promise for the short time we have with our students. A friend taught me this.
This is an important question with respect to instructional effectiveness since it brings up issues related to engagement, barriers, comportment, and respect—all key elements in teacher-student relationships. The question is also increasingly on teachers’ minds because of the rise of the social-media culture.
I was a community organizer for 19 years prior to becoming a teacher 10 years ago. One of the many organizing lessons I learned during that time and that I’ve tried to apply to teaching is the difference between public and private relationships.
This is not an either/or perspective, and clearly must be more nuanced in an environment like a classroom. Nevertheless, keeping it in mind has helped me maintain more of a personal/professional “equilibrium” and helped my students learn important life lessons.
Organizers believe that private relationships usually encompass our family and friends, where our imperfections tend to be accepted. We generally have these relationships on an “as is” basis. We expect not to be judged, and we expect loyalty—love in a broad sense is the “currency.”
We forget sometimes that, while different from an adult friendship, the teacher-student relationship is not a lesser connection. It is often more meaningful and special, with tremendous value to both parties. We try to live up to its promise for the short time we have with our students. A friend taught me this.