What do you make of the words? Are the words appropriate to use with students? Can a teacher use this words of endearment with students? Should they be banned from using them?
I heard a teacher at my friend's school got suspended from work for using a word like that. I heard and understand teachers are not supposed to hug a student, but what about a female teacher with a female student who is crying and in need of a hug? A few years ago the school that created Small Learning Communities (SLC) were all about the rapport the teachers had to build with students, personalization and relationship building. Is hugging in this environment okay? What about calling students the words aforementioned? I am confused and worried; I occasionally use the word mija/o, more towards females, as it is a term of endearment for me and I believe many Latinos. What are your thoughts? What are the policies at your school?
This is such a touchy subject because of the many incidents that have involved teachers misbehaving with children. I truly believe that it depends on the relationship a teacher has with a student and how comfortable both parties are with using those terms. As I human it breaks my heart when I have to stop myself from giving a hug to a student that needs one.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think anything wrong with using endearing language with students. But when it comes to hugs, I believe I need to protect myself and part of my job is to keep a professional separation between who I am and what I do as a professional. I don’t think that a professional distance is a bad thing or means that a teacher is heartless. I believe that there are many teachers that have wrongfully been accused in many working environments and for that reason I believe that that a teacher must set boundaries.
Thank you mija. Your are a sweetie. I can tell you have a good heart, honey.
ReplyDeleteI think that above all, one must abide by the rules in place. If the place where you work says do not do it, then don’t do it. That said, in my opinion, provided that the common sense line of respect is not encroached upon, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with using these words with students, or hugging. Some people tend to be touchy, but they are touchy in a fully respectful way. And as you mentioned, sometimes great, close and totally respectful relationships grown based on the rapport that is created through this kind of communication. Also, it is a good idea to be cognizant of how people react to these kinds of communication. There might be people who might prefer to be addressed by their name and not to be hugged. I think that is to be fully respected.
ReplyDeleteComing from a Latino family, these words are normally used between two females (regardless of the relationship), a male and a female (usually in a romantic relationship), and sometimes between male parents and sons.
I didn't know what mijo/a mean. I looked it up in the dictiondary. 'Mija is a term of endearment. People call their children that too. Mijo for boys, mija for girls. Is that right? I found nothing wrong with using these words to students. Students feel intimate with teachers when these endearing words are used in the conversation.
ReplyDeleteBut, personally , I'm not used to using these nice words when talking to my students. I would love to try when I go back to teaching , though.