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I am a high school teacher and believe my students' performances are directly related to my expectations of them. I have see, first hand, the power behind believing in a student that no one else has. I have seen students who actually believed they were dumb, because that is all they have ever been told directly or indirectly. Teenagers are able to read body language quite well, and even though a teacher may not tell a student what they think, that student will read it in their features. Stereotyping students is not only unfair, but it truly deprives deserving students from reaching their potential.

First impressions based on appearances and and actions are long lasting and quite powerful. This general assertion applies to everyone. Teachers are not an exception. They, too, consciously, or unconsciously develop biases towards different students based on factors that should be overlooked, such as appearance, name, and even the activities a student may be involved in. Teacher's also form biases based on a students attitude. It is irrational to believe that teachers do not have the same flaws as everyone else. The question is not whether or not biases exist with every teacher; the question is do teachers allow biases to affect their classroom. As a fairly new teacher, I will try to explain instances where preconceived notions may affect a teacher's judgment.

Before we can discuss the effects of biases, lets first examine what a bias actually is, and why people develop them. A bias is simply an opinion formed about an individual that influences the expectations we have for that person. Biases do not always have to be negative. Biases are usually based on first impressions and once they are formed; they are difficult to alter or remove. Biases can also be formed by appearance, history, cliques, gender, ethnicity, rumors, and other associations. In the class room, students should be aware that their appearance and actions will have a strong effect on how people will perceive them. This may not be fair, but it is reality.

In the classrooms it is important for teachers to try and get to know students before lumping them into categories. Unfortunately this does not happen all the time. A teacher may see a young girl in a cheer-leading outfit, and immediately think that they are wealthy, spoiled, and snobbish. This opinion may be based on previous experiences with cheerleaders, or even societies portrayal of them. Either way it is not an accurate representation of that

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