Lenient/Strict Instructor
Which do you consider yourself as being, a lenient instructor or a strict instructor? I consider myself as being a strict instructor. I am a stickler for institutional rules, policies, and procedures as well as my unique established classroom rules, policies, and procedures. Rules, policies, and procedures have been created to be adhered to, not broken. All instructors must enforce rules, policies, and procedures at their institution, otherwise it will make those who enforce rules, policies, and procedures look like the bad guy when other instructors are lenient. I understand things happen in life, and if the situation is extenuating I will make a decision based on a case-by-case basis. Remember, we are preparing our students for the workplace, and there are certainly rules, policies, and procedures in place that must be abided by or else...
I totally agree, although. I have never really considered the type of instructor I am. I enforce the rules depending upon the circumstance I understand leniency may be required. I have a military background, and a lot of the students think I'm a strict, no-nonsense person. I'm really not, I love to have fun, but I am a no-nonsense instructor because education is serious, and we have a lot of ground to cover and a short timeframe to work with. I usually have to give at least one motivational speech by the third week of classes. But I suppose this goes with the territory.
When I was in the classroom, where I work now, for 10+ years, I was always a strict instructor from day one. That is the ONLY way to keep order in your classroom, even though the students are adults. There are those few that act like children, and try and call you on your rules. When you enforce them, even though those students may not like it, you get your respect like none other. They also pass the word around to other students, who will be having you as an instructor in the future; that's ok. I've even offered to help students change their schedules, if the same class is at another time. I've said to a student who acted as though I was unfair, " This class is offered at 6P on M-W. It will not bother me one bit for you to change. As long as you are in my class, though, you will follow my rules. " I had only one student change the class in all those years.
I am now in a different kind of instruction, more like an extra-help position. I am over what is called The Learning Success Center at my college. I get to interact with a wider variety of students than when I just taught certain courses. I still enforce certain rules when the students come in to work. If they can't follow them, they can't come in, pure and simple.
I am also one of those instructors that enforces the rules and regulations to the best of my ability. Even the ones I do not necessarily agree with. I tell my students that I have certain rules and regulations I am expected to follow and that when I took this job (teaching) that I made an agreement when I was hired w/ the administration. That agreement was that I would do my best to adhere to and enforce thier rules regs and expectations and in exchange I would get a paycheck, benefits and the opportunity to keep my job! I tell them this the first day after going over what I expect of them and that enforcing rules is not my favorite part of my job but that I am going to do so because one day I hope they have the same opporgunity in thier chosen career! I also agree that it isn't easy to stand up and do so when other faculty don't bother to enforce the rules. However, I think in the long run, most adult students repsect you for doing so.
