IdealStudent-TeacherRelationshipRelationshipsbetweenteachersandstudentsshouldinvolveawell-balancedcombinationofrespect,trust,anddiscipline.Whileteachersdonotneedtodevelopdeepfriendshipswithstudents,theymayinteractonafriendlylevel.Suchpositiveinteractionswillencouragestudentstolearnandsucceed.Notonlydostudentslearnfromtheirteachers,butaneffectiveteachershouldbeabletolearnfromthefeedbackofthestudents.Recognizingandrespectingthestudents'opinionsandmeasuringtheirprogressisagreatwayforteacherstofurtherimprovemutualconnections.Inordertostimulateahealthylearningenvironment,thestudentsshoulddemonstraterespectfortheirteachers.Whenevertheteacheristalking,studentsshouldlisten.Listeningdisplaystotheteacherthatthestudentsaretryingtolearnandunderstandthematerial.Agoodwayforstudentstodemonstrateinterestisbybodylanguage.Forexample,studentsshouldnotsleep,orputtheirheadsdownonthedesk,asthisexpressesalackofinterest,andshowsdisrespect.Studentsshouldalsotrytomaintaineyecontactwiththeirteacher.Atthesametime,ateachershouldtrytomaintaineyecontactwitheachofthestudentsintheclass.Also,whenspeaking,teachersshouldprojectinterestonthetopictokeepthestudentsengaged.Studentswillcommitthemselvesmoretothelearningprocessiftheytrusttheirteachers.Iflearningmaterialisunclearorconfusing,studentsshouldfeelcomfortableapproachingtheirteachersforadditionalassistance.Alsoateachershouldbeabletorecognizewhenastudentrequiresextraattention.Whenextrahelpisnecessary,teachersshouldnothesitatetohelptheirstudents.Theassistancecanconsistofjustrepeatingaquestion,ormeetingwiththestudentandexplainingthelessoninalesscomplexmanner.Norelationshipisperfect;problemswillariseinallrelationships.Whendifficultiesoccur,theyshouldbeaddressedinafairandjustway.Eachpersonshouldhavetheopportunitytovoicehisorheropinion.Ifastudenttalksataninappropriatetime,theteachershouldapproachtheproblemswiftlyanddirectlysothatdistractionscanbelimited.Theconsequencesshouldrelateappropriatelytothebehavior.Teacherswhodistributeharshpunishmentsdonotnecessarilyearnthestudents'respect.Ifthepunishmentsareperceivedasunfairbythestudents,respectfortheteachermaybesacrificed.Thereneedstobeaclearlinetodistinguishwhatisnecessaryfordisciplinaryreasons,andwhatisunfair.Theseguidelinesshouldberespectedandfollowedbyboththestudentsandteachers.Thegoalofeverystudent-teacherrelationshipistoprovideastimulatinglearningenvironmentforthestudents.Inordertogeneratepositiveresults,therelationshipsshouldbebasedonmutualrespect,trustanddiscipline.Withouttheseaspects,anidealrelationshipwouldbenearlyimpossible.
