Hi Douglas, I too have a professional distance between my students and myself. I solely agree with you that the distance is a must. I have great rapports with my student, and they know that I care about each of them, but there is a line that has been drawn to seperate myself from the student. Students' learning of course is the main focus not buddyship. I have witnessed that some educators want to be their students buddy, and when it is time to get serious, the instructor is not looked upon as an instructor, but as one of the "girls" or "boys" so to speak. The wrong message is definitely transmitted when you are regarded as a "buddy" and not as an "instructor"--the sense of respect for the instructor decreases as well in this type of relationship. Patricia