Students on RELATIONSHIPS in Education
Almost universally, students have shared that they want respectful relationships with their teachers. They have expressed how important it is for their teachers to believe in them and to understand them as whole people, not just as academic learners.
Melanie: Adults need to be a positive example
“We need the adults at the school to be a positive example for us. They can help us get better by listening to students’ ideas to create a better school environment. Can we work together to get some learning done?” — Melanie
Adam: It made me happy to know my teacher would support me
“I noticed that my teacher put a ‘Protect Trans Kids’ sticker on her computer. It made me feel really happy to know that she would support me and be there for me if I needed her.” — Adam
Drew: One of my teachers mistreated LGBT+ students
“My high school isn’t exactly the best when it comes to supporting those who are LGBT. For example, one of the health teachers tended to mistreat those who are different from him and he once used harmful language to describe mental health issues amongst certain individuals. As a result of this, I felt incredibly hurt by his remark .” — Drew
Juan: Teachers should focus on building relationships with students
“Teachers should focus on building relationships with their students. We need to know that teachers care. We want them to care about what we know and what we feel and what we need. Not only do we need to feel physically safe but also academically safe to share our thoughts and contribute to class. And we need to feel comfortable enough to share when we are struggling and need support.” — Juan
Amayra: Fun and supportive teachers make the difference
“Fun and supportive teachers really make a difference. My English teacher is a good example of this. She jokes around with us, but we still get all of our work done. We can do both: there’s a time for us to play and there’s a time for us to do work. Even if I’m having a bad day, I’m still going to talk in her class.” — Amayra