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Casual student-teacher relations could threaten classroom learning

Pre-1950: Students sit silently, hands folded neatly together. The teacher stands completely erect at the front of the classroom, directing what the students should do on the board. It is expected that not only will the students be nearly silent the entire class, but learning will be cold and impersonal.

Present day: Students talk loudly as the teacher is teaching, lounging in their seats drinking and eating as they please. The teaching methods have evolved—or devolved—depending on whom you ask. The education itself has changed very little, the only problem is: kids are more out of control nowadays.

Now, students are as casual as a Hawaiian shirt in an office setting. Teachers praise students for small victories—“A B+? Good job!”—and students gladly accept it. Although many students love the idea of a more casual school atmosphere, sometimes the line between having a good time and actually learning can be blurred.

“I’ve always felt like kids learn better when they aren’t being screamed at,” said Karen Bula. “But I feel like kids will overstep their bounds sometimes.”

The main question is: where exactly do you draw the line? Some students thrive on different learning styles, while others need total focus and intense studying. Most people can agree; a little off-topic conversation hurts no one and allows for a more relaxed environment, but if it becomes too relaxed it detracts from the learning environment.

“Late in the day a lot of kids struggle to keep themselves from chatting,” said teacher Megan Wheeler. “Really you know at the end of the day it’s even more important to stay involved.”

In a typical school day, most students will agree that they feel entitled to self-respect. This is a good thing; do not get me wrong, the only problem is some kids feel entitled and have an overwhelming amount of arrogance. What happens instead is that kids feel like they can walk all over the teachers and that no matter what the teachers say, personal feelings supersede the teacher’s power.

Also, sometimes certain students feel attacked and uncomfortable around a teacher that is yelling to keep authority. They feel like they are being taken advantage of by an authority figure, so in turn take advantage of the nicer teachers.

“Sometimes I feel bad when kids take advantage of how nice teachers are,” said sophomore Christian Nunez. “A teacher will be more relaxed about things, but then kids cross that line between relaxed and tense.”

Students and teachers are forced to be together 8 hours a day 180 days a year. This provides certain social situations that can be awkward and, in a sense, difficult to overcome.

But how exactly do you balance a relationship with someone you are forced to be around? In an office setting, things along these lines would be unacceptable. You can not talk to your boss with a sense of entitlement; they have the authority not you. The only problem is, in an office setting, you choose to be there. You sign that social contract that for money you will give up those rights. In school you are forced to give those powers up.

Worldwide this is known, as an authority figure you get a certain amount of power, and a certain amount of respect is demanded. Nowadays society is much too casual; you are raised to believe that people cannot and will not have more power over you.

When society has adjusted to being more casual, as far as the media and censorship goes, that has typically been ok. Things change and people end up acting different from generation to generation. Unfortunately, that does not mean people should be allowed to overstep their bounds in a serious environment. Just because protests were rampant in the 60s does not mean you were allowed to just change things in a way that was illegal. There is a balance between generational identity and a complete feeling of entitlement.

When given the chance most students will respect teachers, because of their morals or even just because that is how they were raised. But in the end, there will always be a handful of students who lack respect for teachers. The only problem; this number is growing.

-Joe Cristo

Staff Writer



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