Though students probably don't realize or appreciate it at the time, their teachers hold an extremely important place in their lives. A teacher can make or break a student's entire secondary school experience, and potentially ruin future schooling for them.

Teachers have an undeniably difficult job, and we can all sympathize with their trials - however there are some things a teacher can do that will not only ruin the educational experience for their students, but potentially ruin their own credibility. Here's a short listing of some of the worst things a teacher could possibly do.

- Showing favoritism. Not only does this harm the students who aren't the teacher's favorite, it can be harmful to those the teacher likes. They'll develop inflated opinions of their own abilities and consequently will find their future expectations dashed. Teachers need to keep all students on a level playing field regardless of their respective personalities.

- Singling students out. Similar to favoritism, singling works in the opposite direction. The teacher identifies a student as a problem and subsequently blames everything on them. Worse, they'll make a spectacle of speaking down to the student rather than dealing with problems in a one-on-one setting, isolating that student amongst their peers.

- Relying solely on 'the text book'. Text books are fountains of information, sure, but students invariably get bored reading all day. Teachers need to employ a variety of learning devices to keep their students interested in the material. Reading and referring to the text constantly not only bores the students bu suggests the teacher doesn't know what they're talking about.

- Denying students one-on-one time. Most students won't take advantage of chances to speak to the teacher solo, but occasionally a student will really need that extra time to ask questions or share concerns. If the teacher doesn't provide that time and simply rushes home after school they risk alienating a student in need.

- Becoming friends with students. Having a friendly relationship with students is fine. There's nothing wrong with showing them the kind of respect you also expect. Becoming actual friends while they're still your student, however, is a no-no, as they may come to expect a give-and-take relationship - they treat you well and you give them good marks. Maintain a professional attitude at all times and don't cross the boundary.

- Inconsistency. This is especially deadly when you've established a syllabus at the beginning of the year. Teachers who say one thing and then expect something completely different later on will only confuse their students. Worse, the class may come to hate the teacher who can't be relied on to stick to their word.

- Losing one's temper. Depending on the teacher in question this can be job-threatening. We're all human, true, and we do get angry; and doing so in class can help bring it under control. Throwing a tantrum over a student's malfeasance, however, is not only unprofessional but can lead to physical confrontations. Teachers need to maintain a level head at all times. Don't dip to the student's level.

Teaching is a profession, and as such it requires the same level of professional conduct as any job. Teachers need to be accommodating, calm figures of authority if they expect students to behave themselves properly in a class.

Learn more about this author, Matt Bird.
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