Originally published in TEACH Magazine, May/June 2016 Issue
By Craig Bouvier
I have lost count of the number of times I have been told that rules without relationships lead to rebellion. Yet today, relationships with students seem to be feared instead of embraced. Over the years, quite by accident, I have discovered that this precept from days gone by is critical to classroom rules and to learning itself. Relationships are an essential part of learning, especially relationships between teachers and students.
Educators interact with their students in two important ways: personal or impersonal. It is not difficult to understand that a personal interaction is better than an impersonal one. As a father, every instruction I give my children is impacted by many factors, but one of the more important ones is my personal relationship with them. I am their father; therefore, I have a growing relationship with them that motivates them to listen to me (well, at least most of the time).
Dr. Craig L. Bouvier is currently the Head of School at Shannon Forest Christian School in Greenville, SC.
