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Professionalism in Teaching |
Teachers are guiding lights to
students who have impressionable minds. Different teachers have different
teaching styles, but regardless of what their styles are, teachers should
always fulfill the responsibility of being a positive role model.
Teachers, whether formal or informal in their teaching methods, should be
confident in their roles as the molders of the future generations of
society. A formal teacher will establish a traditional relationship with
students and is more open to a conservative classroom setting. Whereas, an
informal teacher is one who feels the need to cut down the traditional
barrier between teachers and students, and is “more friendly” in the
classroom setting.
Mrs. Stucken, who is often
considered by students to be a more formal teacher, feels that her role is
to be an advocate for academic excellence. She feels that teachers need to
set an example for students, while feeling confident in their role as
teachers. Some teachers feel that as an educator, they are there to
instruct the students, and are not there to socialize with their students.
Mrs. Stucken is one of these believers, and she feels that she only has a
short amount of time with each class, therefore she needs to be focused on
her task of teaching subject matter. She said, “I am focused on my task
to prepare students to be proficient, and I don’t have time for
extra-curricular interaction. There are other ways to communicate, but it
is most important for students to have good role models.”
According to Mrs. Stucken,
teachers should “act professionally if they want to be considered a
professional.” She thinks that teachers should be advisors and not
participants in their students’ lives. Mrs. Stucken, along with many
other teachers, believes that both teachers and students have private
lives, and she believes in keeping those separate. In her eyes, nonchalant
behavior on the part of a teacher is considered inappropriate in the
teaching profession. Mrs. Stucken agrees with philosopher Emerson’s
point of view that people shouldn’t respect the title a person holds,
rather, they should respect the person for who they are.
On the opposite side of the
spectrum, there are much more informal teachers, who feel that they can
connect with their students on a personal level as well as on an academic
one. Mr. Kerker believes that if one engages students in becoming more
whole as a person, they will take more interest in what a teacher has to
teach. Mr. Kerker said, “Chemistry is a hard subject to learn. I try not
to be remote because I want you to listen, and I’ll give you a break
once in a while.” Mr. Kerker believes that if a student is comfortable
with a teacher, they will feel more comfortable when asking a question on
a difficult subject matter.
Mr.
Kerker, along with other informal teachers, feels that the distance
between teacher and student should be cut down, and that teachers should
be at the student’s disposal. Mr. Kerker gives up his lunches, so those
students who need his help can come to him whenever they need his help.
Mr. Kerker said, “I can’t individualize as much as I’d like during
regular class sessions, but I put that responsibility on the kid. I end up
enjoying the kids a little more at lunch help sessions.” Mr. Kerker also
thinks that if he encourages students to be able to talk with him, they
will be forthcoming, and said, “I’d rather know the students on a
natural level.” He also said, “If a kid feels like his two cents were
worthwhile, he’s going to feel like his person hood is worthwhile.”