Effective Communicators In A Student Teacher Relationship example essay topic

Human relations cover a multitude of interpersonal interaction. Human Relations can be seen in education through group development and the resulting interpersonal interaction. The Thread That Runs So True and Stand and Deliver, are both good illustrations of this development and interaction. The teachers and / or students are interacting with the administration, peers, and parents in both of these stories. The ability to effectively communicate is the most important aspect of human relations. Without the ability to effectively communicate, there would be no human relations or less than satisfactorily relations.

Effective interpersonal communication can be divided into five main concepts. The following will focus on these five main concepts that made both Stuart and Escalante effective communicators in a student / teacher relationship. Each concept will also have underlying subcategories that both the stories illustrated well. The first and the most important aspects of human relations and the ability to effectively communicate can be found in an awareness or knowledge of self. If a person doesn't understand or know who they are, then how can they have a relationship with anyone else.

An adequate self-concept comes from knowing your own values principals and ethics and not being willing to compromise those beliefs. Culture plays a role in this by knowing where you came from. I think that for both Stuart and Escalante this played a major role in their relation to others. Both men had strong ethical and cultural backgrounds. One thing that Stuart's parents stressed at the time that was counter- cultural was their emphasis on education. Escalante also came from the same culture as the students he taught this made him more able to relate to their struggles and triumphs.

Both men taught that though necessary it was short sighted to concentrate on survival through any means. They both believed that long term survival and prosperity required short-term sacrifice. They were able to communicate this by knowing themselves. Another aspect that is separate, but ties into awareness of self is an awareness of other. In human relations a person has to try and understand where the other person is coming from. One way of accomplishing this is through being a good listener.

Empathy and understanding are also another factor in understanding another's reality. Both teachers being from the same culture had a good understanding of their students. From this understanding of others, they were able to motivate their students to learn. Stuart illustrates this through his thread that runs so true concept, the work, play and learn through doing. Escalante illustrates this through practical application and his slogans.

Another concept in knowing others is not to make assumptions. Though Escalante and Stuart were both guilty of this at times, they continued to questions their students on where they were at both personally and academically. The third concept in human relations and the ability to effectively communicate can be found in a belief in the worth of self and other. Both Stuart and Escalante illustrate this respect and pride by not giving up. Both had a belief that they and their students had worth and that they would succeed.

The testing and competition, against incredible odds, illustrates this. Their philosophy was that possibilities are endless and that doing by doing the best you can, with what you have, where you are, that success will surely follow. They also had pride in their surroundings. Stuart painted and repaired the schools.

Escalante thought that school was his students second home and they needed to keep it clean. They both took this to far when they put themselves and their own health at risk. Stuart did this in his trek to get more books for his students. Escalante in his refusal to pay attention to his own health and stress levels.

Both men had an inability to express weakness or ask for help despite circumstances. Yet, they didn't give up when odds surmounted against them. Both men knew the difference between being respected vs. being liked. In this way they were still able to value their students while supplying the necessary discipline and control needed in the classroom setting. In walking the walk and talking the talk, they both became positive role models for their students. A sense of community, affiliation, family and belonging come from this valuing of self and others.

The fourth concept is skill in expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas. The ability to cope with your own emotions and the ability to disclose and the willingness to share information about one's true self. Not forcing others to disclose before they are ready. Honesty is another important factor in this, by being a person of your word and then following it up with actions. Both Stuart an Escalante exemplified these traits, in this way the students had positive models to strive towards.

The final concept is doing the best you can in any situation. Though I believe they both had some stereotypes from their own cultures about gender they did the best they could in the situation. They both had anger issues, which came from their unwillingness to not compromise their values. Yet they were both willing to rethink and admit and / or apologize when wrong. They had more problems in establishing satisfying human relations other than their students, but they did their best in the given situation. Human Relations is defined as the interaction between two or more persons for the purpose of developing healthy and mutually satisfying interpersonal relationships.

Both Escalante and Stuart exemplify this in their interactions with their students. They were both effective communicators in the capacity of a teacher in the educational setting. The students and teachers benefited in both of these cases with satisfying interpersonal relationships.