Teachers Must Follow Their Own Rules
Hypocrisy and Inconsistency Destroy Student Rapport
Jan 10, 2009
Students are willing to accept many teacher foibles but are quick to respond to hypocrisy and inconsistency. Teachers perceived as “fair and just” in dealing with students and classroom issues will see other weakness forgiven or overlooked by students. Although this does not mean weaknesses should not be addressed, it points to the fact that all too often teachers break their own rules, act capriciously, and make arbitrary decisions. Following are the “seven deadly sins” teachers should strive to avoid:
Returning Graded Assignments in a Timely Fashion
Students do not always realize that a teacher may have over a hundred student papers to grade. When other assessments that are assigned on a routine basis are added, the work load can be ponderous. However, taking weeks to return graded work does an injustice to students. Old, graded tests often become study guides for future tests. Teacher comments enable students to learn and improve. If teachers expect students to submit work by deadlines, they also should set reasonable deadlines to return the work.
Spelling Errors
Many teachers maintain websites that list course descriptions, homework, and other assignments. It is reasonable to expect that of all professions, teachers should not have glaring spelling errors, all the more so if they correct their students on essays and papers. “Do as I say, not as I do,” has no place in a classroom.
Being on Time for Class
Tardiness to class by students is seldom tolerated yet in many cases some teachers make a habit of being tardy themselves. These professionals do not apply the rules to themselves but expect their students to be on time. Habitual lateness is the first step in destroying rapport. Students no longer take the teacher seriously.
Intolerant of Other Views
Many teachers that employ discussion in the classroom and actively encourage opposing viewpoints will express intolerant comments and even berate students whose views challenge their own. Evidence of this usually stifles good discussion. Some students will never contribute while others will only voice the “party line” accepted by that particular teacher.
Cell Phones and Personal Calls
Most schools do not permit students to carry cell phones to classes. Text messaging frequently leads to cheating on tests and ring tones disrupt classes. Amazingly, however, such rules do not stop some teachers from taking and making calls on their own cell phones during class.
Maintaining a Tidy Classroom
Teachers expect their students to be well organized. Often, the teacher that comments on a student’s progress report that better organization is needed does so from a cluttered desk. Expecting students to keep well organized records and portfolios while they sit in classrooms heaped with a semester worth of projects and posters does little for role modeling.
Having No Firm Policies
Without firm policies applied equally in all situations, teachers run the risk of inconsistency. Additionally, the lack of classroom policies encourages charges of “favoritism.” This “deadly sin” may be the greatest one, given the many implications of constantly changing policies by teachers. It is also the one most students and parents respond to with vehemence.
Teachers Are Not Perfect
No teacher can be perfect in all things. Yet a conscious effort to avoid situations that are preventable can result in a well functioning classroom, responsive students, and supportive parents. Sadly, teachers that break their own rules or school rules are often lax in admonishing their students that may be breaking the rules also. This does little to further the educational process end further erodes the credibility of the teacher.
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