Well put, Frances. Sometimes the greatest impact we can have on our students is through the way we treat them rather than the way we teach them.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Yes, I agree. We are counslers, mentors, educators, and listeners. There are many students that have difficult life challenges in their lifes. We may not be able to help all, but we can guide them to someone that can help.
As a program director, I definitely wear a lot of hats. One day I'm a mentor, the next I'm a guidance counselor, then I may be a financial advisor. I feel it is my responsibility to be there for the students and guide them in aspects of their lives and education that they are struggling with. I use my experience and education to help students overcome obstacles every day.
That is an accurate assesment. Not only are we responsible for helping our students learn, we also have to guide and influence them to want to be there. We must change behavorial patterns to help the student learn and be successful. Many of our students have the initiative to learn and want to be in class, however there are many that do not have these capabilities. This is not to say they are untrainable, they just need an influence in their lives to give them the motivation to learn. We are educators,coaches, mentors, and even sometimes a parental influence.
Shannon,
What are the most common obstacles you help your students overcome? What is your most common solution to that issue?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I disagree. I don't have the training for that business.
Nick,
You are one of the few folks that disagree with this statement. What do you do when students bring life's issues to you?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I completely agree. I feel that in order to get the students to completely buy into what we are teaching them and really put in the hours and energy it takes to "learn" they have to be mentally and emotionally prepared and in a stable and safe place in their life. Without this, I find it impossible to teach effectively. The problem I find is determining where we draw the line of teaching and sitting in as an extended member of the family or being a counselor to our students.
I absolutely agree, in helping students become successful we have to help them through educational and personal issues. This is so apparent that our company has implemented a person on staff who deals with a variety of issues that may prevent a student from being successful while they are in school.
Mitch
Mitchell,
Thanks for the post. Some campuses have contracted with outside, third party services to support students.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I agree that as educators we are also in the "mental health" business. When interacting with individuals it is an absolute that you will encounter some type of mental health issue. As an educator it is necessary to accurately identify with students and appropriately address mental problems as they arise. It is especially important if the student has mental health issues that affect their schooling to inform them of available resources on & off campus.
Absolutely! When reading some of the papers for the assignments that focus on home life, career, preparation for jobs, etc., it is clear that these students have so many personal issues that they are deadling with which keeps them from succeeding. I have found myself encouraging students and cheering them on after a boyfriend or family member has discouraged or not supported them. Without being in the mental health business in addition to the education business, the retention rate would be very low.
Thanks,
Letitia Patterson
There is no doubt that we deal with people who do have real mental and emotional health issues. I do not deceive myself into believing I can help students with these issues.
I would describe secondary education workers as being in the soul health business; not from a religious standpoint, but from a human standpoint. Many of our students have lived broken lives which they are striving to improve, and the impact of modeling professionalism, compassion and commitment to these people should not go under-estimated. Higher education workers should know they are examples to students and fellow workers at all times and embrace that responsibility.
In many cases, we are the support system for these students, as well as their fellow students. Seeing them graduate and begin their professional lives is of tremendous consequence to their soul health.
I agree, we have the ability to influence them in life and help them seek problem solving methods.
To a certain level I agree. If the fruits of our labor are competent, motivated and self-directed employees and entrepreneurs then somewhere along the line we have mentally motivated, stimulated, and encouraged people to believe in their abilities and raise their level of confidence. Maybe we changed how people think of themselves and each other. Raising awareness of each students potential through encouragement certainly can raise one’s self esteem and point them to path of success. Small encouraging reinforcement repeatedly can defiantly allow the mental confidence of student to be more self-directed to attain higher goals. Mental health professionals? No.
yES WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS IN THE GOALS THAT THEY ARE GOING AFTER. tHEN WE GET TO KNOW THE STUDENT WHO THEY RELLY ARE AND THEN HOW TO PLACE THEM IN TODAYS EVER MOVING WORLD
I actually would disagree. Yes, we do deal with many personalities and moods, but I would not consider myself qualified to diagnose, treat or evalate a students mental health.
Luke,
You make a good point here. We are not licensed counselors, so we need to be careful about what we try to do for students. We should be able to recognize "signs" and point students in the right direction.
Jeffrey Schillinger
As educators, we wear more than one hat. Number one, we have to educate. Number two,we have to manage a classroom and everything that comes with it (my classroom is a restaurant so yes facility operations is a must) Third we have to guide our diverse students to be successful, the diverse population is the greatest challenge; some students are career changers with families, some are fresh out of highschool with limited life experiences. Reaching out to all of them as an educator leads to the fourth hat an entertainer. Yeah we are in more than one business, but it all does not matter if the students you lead are not successful.
I couldn't agree more. Many of our students question themselves daily as to whether they have made the right decision to attend the school they are at. Was it worth the money, will they get a good job when they get out, is this the career they really want? It is our job to encourage them, mentor them and motivate them to stay focused on a goal.
