Kindness
Once a student of mine had his head down. That's against school policy. However, it was obvious to me that he genuinely felt bad. After asking him if he was okay and finding out he was not at all, I bought him a sprite and found a quiet place for him to rest. He is graduated now and loyal to me to a disproportionate degree....just from that one act of empathy. In fact, the entire class was impressed. Now, I did not care for him out of an agenda but out of concern. Just another example of seeing our adult learners as individuals with different needs on different days.
Jackie,
Thank you for this story. The human side of teaching cannot be forgotten and you didn't. You helped a student in need and the result is a loyal individual that knows you care about your students. This is a reputation that educators should welcome.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Hi Jackie:
This is a good story and underscores my contention that instructors really need to realize that without a good healthy supporting understanding of the student as a person, instructors fail their students in everything they hope to accomplish. Students can see through an instructor who is cold and sterile, who is always on about policy and procedure, rather than meeting that student where they are.
On my wall, I have the Japanese word, "seishokusha". This refers to the sacred trust that a student puts into an instructor to teach him straight. This is the same kind of thing that priests and clergymen have towards their congregations. Teaching is a sacred trust and we actually betray that trust when we distance ourselves from our student so much that they can't see the "real" in who and what we are.
I have witnessed, in my program more than once, how random acts of kindness and caring go a long way to keeping that student engaged in learning, so he or she doesn't give up on his dreams of being the best IT professional he/she can be. I have watched students who have wrecked their lives through addiction, come off the streets as homeless, dealing drugs, and on the brink of suicide come around, not because I was able to show them how to configure a server or construct a network but rather, because I was real with them - a real person they could learn from.
I think I may have to go out and get an LCSW certificate with all the counseling that I do.
Students come to career college, a lot of times, because they need something - and they believe it to be a job. My aim is to tell them that career building through lifelong learning will garner more benefit than hopping from gig to gig. To do that, often, means connecting with their humanity.
Have a joyous Christmas,
Rick
When you show respect and not jump to conclusions you get respect in return.
Students do need to be helped along the emotional level as well as the instruction in the classroom. By the instructor understanding where the student is coming from we can better relate. One story I was told was before Thanksgiving an older student said he was really not looking forward to the holiday and when we talked after class I found out his wife died during this holiday last year and yet he was staying in school to make her proud of him and he really found schooling at his 67 yrs of age to be giving him a bright future
Patricia,
What a great story. It is stories like this and the impact we can have on the lives of our students that keep us coming back to the classroom. By staying in school this gentleman is furthering the memory of his wife as well helping to create his own future, even at 67.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sherry,
Respect is two way and has to be earned by all involved parties. This is why showing our human side and establishing trust with our students we can start the earning of their respect process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A helping hand and gentle words make a world of difference in a students life. Some students have a rough home file and very little understanding, lack of nutrition and lacke of attention. Sometimes this situation is brought into the class. Just that Human kindness of care, helps in making that students life a little brighter and enhance his/her motivation to continue studing.
Anthony,
Enough cannot be said about the human factor in teaching for the reasons you mention. Knowing someone in authority is supporting their efforts and cares about their success is powerful. We need to remind ourselves of this on a regular basis when working with our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have found if you just stop and give each students a few minutes of your time it means a lot to them, even if it just to say hi or how's your day going.
Eddie,
Personal attention to students is an important part of the human factor in teaching, plus it is enjoyable to get to know the students a little better as the course progresses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that showing this type of personal attention to your students is important. I certianly appreciated being treated this way when I was a student. However, our school has several policies and strict fratenization rules that make giving any kind of personal attention to a student seem intimidating. Any suggestions?
Tiffani,
Not sue about the fratenization rule. As a practice instructors should not engage in social interaction with students but we can chat with students prior to class to see how things are going. We can encourage our students when they are doing good work and supportive things like that. Personal attention in my world is simple greeting students as they enter class and chatting with them during breaks, etc. I want to send a message to them that I as a professional educator am there to help them with the class and I will respect them as students and pre-professionals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Respect plays a bug factor in keeping a positive clasroom for everyone.
Teresa,
It really does. Respect needs to be two way and the result will be an engaged group of students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree, they have to know you care and are still professional
Maria,
This is the human side of teaching and needs to be a part of who we are in the classroom.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
