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FORMER LEARNER & TEACHER TELL THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP IN SCHOOL 

"Most learners who have a healthy relationship with their educators tend to be happy, free and excel in their school work," says Mam Thaba. 

Palesa Precious Maluleke with one of her favourite teachers, Mam Thaba MW. 

Establishing a positive relationship between learners and educators helps a learner feel more comfortable and safe in their classroom environment. As a result, a learner is likely to trust a teacher more, participate actively in class, behave better and challenge themselves academically. 

A convenience sample consisting of 153 public secondary school teachers in the Tshwane area showed that 62.1% of the teachers reported exposure to verbal bullying, 34.6% to physical bullying, 27% to indirect bullying, and 6.6% to cyber bullying. http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0256-01002018000100012

Learner-to-teacher bullying can result in negative emotions, disempowerment, low morale, and low motivation of various roleplayers in the school system. It is thus of vital importance to encourage positive relationships between learners and teachers. 

A former learner, Palesa Maluleke and her teacher Mam Thaba are a good example of a positive long-lasting relationship that we would love to witness more in our communities. Let's talk to them, shall we...? 

"As educators we become parents to our learners and that helps in the fact that they get to trust ,rely on you knowing that they'll get help," Mam Thaba. 

How did you meet and in which grade?

Palesa Maluleke: We met in grade 10, it was in the morning during our period but before that I had noticed a new beautiful face around the school.

What is the good thing about having a healthy relationship with your teacher? And the bad thing?

PM: The good thing is that it helps you gain confidence in trying out in class and asking Questions since most of the learners are scared to try out just because of the respond they'll get from the teacher if the answer is wrong, and the bad thing is that in most cases if it happens that you get the best results compared to others (out of your hard work) other learners might say you got favours from your teacher since you guys have a good relationship.

Were there any learners who disrespected your teacher? If yes, how did that make you feel?

PM: In every school we have learners who tend to have a negative attitude towards some teachers and that bothered me a lot cause they were missing out on getting to experience the warmth and love I got.

Based on your experience, how important is it to have a mutual respect or a healthy teacher and leaner relationship?

PM: It's very important cause as you guys will be working together you need to be of one heart and mind so that at the end you show positive results and reach a common goal..

What is the benefit of having a good relationship with your teacher?

PM: You become confident to ask anything you don't understand without any fear and you'll enjoy attending your classes throughout the year.

"In every school we have learners who tend to have a negative attitude towards some teachers and that bothered me a lot cause they were missing out on getting to experience the warmth and love I got," Palesa. 

How did you and your learners separate your personal relationship when you were at school?

Mam Thaba: First and foremost, when at work (school) am a teacher first, then mother and a friend. Boundaries are set from the beginning. When am in class, it's all about work and nothing else.

What is the good thing about having a healthy relationship with your learners? And the bad thing?

Mam T: In education, we have the term "loco parents " meaning in the place of a parent. So as educators we become parents to our learners and that helps in the fact that they get to trust ,rely on you knowing that they'll get help.

Were there learners who disrespected other learners? If yes, how did that make you feel? And how did you handle the situation? 

Mam T: Yes. At some point in our lives as parents, even our own children at some point disrespect us and that makes us feel disappointed. Call the learner aside and try to find out what is really going on as some act up when they have personal problems or family problems. 

According to your experience, how important is it to have a mutual respect or a healthy teacher and leaner relationship?

Mam T: Very important, because if the boundaries are blurred then the main objective of the learner being at school will be missed. Most learners having a healthy relationship with their educators tend to be happy, free and excel in their school work. 

What is the benefit of having a good relationship with your learners?

Mam T: To have happy learners, who attend school regularly, study hard, excel in their school work and to get to see your own products succeed in life.



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