A line that separates...
By Theresaaiza
@Theresaaiza (10487)
Australia
April 2, 2009 7:03am CST
This week I substituted for an absentee teacher at a nearby caregiver school. Well I guess after those 4 days with being the students, so far, all feedbacks with my handling the class were good.
I would have to agree that I did build a certain amount of friendship with the people and a few of them expressed or requested to get my number, or address or friendster accounts. (Especially the guys! 
)
But as always, I'm very hesitant when it comes to that. I feel that I must draw a line between professionalism and unprofessionalism.
Yes, we could be friends but at the end of the day, I'm still their teacher.
Do you think giving those details is unprofessional? Was I too idealistic or stiff because I never did?
I did give them my blog! LOL. That way, I could earn! Haha
)
But as always, I'm very hesitant when it comes to that. I feel that I must draw a line between professionalism and unprofessionalism.
Yes, we could be friends but at the end of the day, I'm still their teacher.
Do you think giving those details is unprofessional? Was I too idealistic or stiff because I never did?
I did give them my blog! LOL. That way, I could earn! Haha6 responses
@vworld4u (143)
• India
4 Apr 09
It is a good way to communicate with your students. A relationship between a teacher and a student is must be as pure as the relationships between parents and their students. But time has changed a lot, even the age difference between teacher and their students.
So as per situations of modern times, I feel what you did is right! Sharing personal information is not so great thing to do. Sharing a blog, online space where you can still communicate is really a good thing to do. Wish you happy mylotting and teaching!
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
17 Apr 09
Hi, thanks for the response. Yes, times have changed a lot. My students are even older than I am but it's wonderful that I am respected because I am their teacher regardless of our ages.
But yes, thanks for telling me I did the right thing. :)
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
3 Apr 09
It's not like you're going to teach them until the end of the school year right? 4 days then after that it's back to normal. The mere fact that they were able to ask for your Friendster or mobile number shows that the line you are talking about has already been stepped on. Back in college, nobody would dare ask for the instructor's number. You and the students should draw the line altogether. But like i said, it won't be you until the end of the course so it's ok. What ethically wrong is when you befriend students who'll taking the exam on your review center.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
7 Apr 09
Yes, just 4 days but there's a possibility that they'd still ask me to substitute from time to time so there are chances that I will still be with these students in the future.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
7 Apr 09
Thanks elic for being on my side on this. :-)
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
2 Apr 09
Hey Theresaaiza! I think that you know the answer to that
question yourself! I guess it's difficult being a "hot young
teacher"! lol But, you know that you have to draw that line
or you could get yourself in alot of trouble that you don't
need! Your teaching license is at stake so don't make any
foolish mistakes! Always keep it on a professional level no
matter how tempting it is!
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
7 Apr 09
"HOT YOUNG TEACHER!"
Thanks for the boost opal! hehe.
Well, sometimes I do need a number of a few people in case I need to keep in touch with them on more important matters. But that student was asking for my number in a way that I knew he was not up to anything good so I really refused.
Thanks for the boost opal! hehe.
Well, sometimes I do need a number of a few people in case I need to keep in touch with them on more important matters. But that student was asking for my number in a way that I knew he was not up to anything good so I really refused.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
2 Apr 09
I think you handled this just right, it's not good to become to friendly with your students at least as long as there is a chance you will continue to be their teacher.
After all you have to test and grade them and that can lead to complications.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
7 Apr 09
That's what I am afraid of. I want to show them that I intend to treat them equally.
@Ritchelle (3790)
• Philippines
2 Apr 09
well, when i was a teacher my no. was well known for it was the same no. i use in my part time work as a disc jockey. however, i almost never answer any text from a student for they know i wouldn't answer unless it has something to do with their lesson or with a song they're requesting.
it's always the one who controls the receiving line who has the decision.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
7 Apr 09
Well, I guess I just learned from an experience before wherein I gave a student my number without any malice at all. After that he started texting me even in the wee hours of the night and his messages were totally nonsense. I didn't even respond to anyone of them.
After that someone started harassing me thru text. She was claiming to be that boy's girlfriend! It eventually turned out that he was the same person pretending to be "that girlfriend". I knew he wasn't up to something good.
