Caring Teachers

How do students define a caring teacher? This is the focus of a study currently underway at the Center of Adolescent Studies.

Darren Smith, a former teacher working on the project, said the data have been "most encouraging. Students want to be cared for and want the opportunity to care." Smith and others have been conducting personal interviews with sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. The students participating in the study come from two Indiana schools: a suburban and an inner-city school.

The interviews show that students have very complex ideas about what makes a caring teacher. The students frequently divided the attributes of a caring teacher into two categories: personal and academic. Personal attributes centered around the teacher's ability to talk to students, to listen to them and to help with personal problems. Academic attributes include helping with school work, tutoring students individually, setting student goals, and talking to students about their behavior.

Some differences between males and females were noted. Female students frequently mentioned the personal aspects like "helps you when you need help including personal problems." Male students concentrated more on the academic aspects. For example, several male students said caring teachers "take the time to make sure you understand."

"The students have a more sophisticated definition than one might assume," said Smith. The attributes students mentioned ranged from the basic "gives everybody a fair chance" to the insightful "takes the time to talk to parents and tells them what the student needs to do to succeed."

Quotes from kids:

• Doesn't want you to get C's and D's in your report card, and get grounded and not get an allowance.

• Takes the time to talk to parents and tells them what the student needs to do to succeed.

• Don't yell when you are the only one who does not understand something. Instead takes you aside and helps you understand.

• Is on your back a lot - tells you what to do, tells you to straighten up

• Will notice when something is wrong with you.

• Is like my math teahcer who always stays after school to help people on their math because we always have trouble with it.

• Says 'Good job!' when you do well.

• If you are bad in school, s/he calls your parents because s/he cares about our behavior.

• Teaches you in a fun way and you learn more.