Public
Activity Feed Discussions Blogs Bookmarks Files

How to maintain distance?

The segment about the different student types was quite helpful. How do I handle/ maintain distance to students that show too much closeness? For example, after giving practicals last week, some of the students hugged me, when they heard that they passed.I was happy for them but was caught off guard. Not that I am totally uncomfortable with that, but I don't think it is professional. How can I best prevent that from happening again?

Hi Jeannine,
Over the 23 years I have been teaching I have been huged, and I have hughed. Hugging is fine as long as it is not an INTIMATE hug. You can control your hugging. If you are uncomfortable with huging back away, and apologize and explain to the student to control he/she hugging you.

Patricia Scales

I've had students hug me who barely knew me. Some students need a touch now and then. Maybe they lack affection at home. we don't want to push them away; at the same time, we want to be careful not to seem preferential.

Sign In to comment