Study: Positive teacher-student relationships necessary to raising achievement

[LWolf]

BY Michelle Pais

<snip>

A new article called "Attachment in the Classroom" published in Educational Psychology Review found that enhancing teacher-student relationships is necessary to raising student achievement.

The article was written by MU researchers Christi Bergin, an associate research professor at the Assessment Resource Center, and David Bergin, an associate professor in the Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology.

In general, schools put too much emphasis on cognitive ability when the social and emotional well-being of students also has a powerful effect on achievement, Christi Bergin said.

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/07/08/positive-relationships-teachers-influence-student-success/

Not that we didn't know this already. It would be nice, though, if nationwide teacher-bashing propaganda and top-down mandates about what we focus on didn't interfere with the process.

[Political Heretic]

1. These studies are good even though rational thinking people already know this.

The more studies out there reinforcing the obvious the more loony some of the teacher-bashers look.

[LWolf]

4. Yep.

I think I'll give this a kick; a timely reminder as we all head into the next school year.

[YvonneCa]

5. But, as we saw in 2008 and now during the healthcare debate...

...it's not the "rational thinking people" who are getting media coverage. The non-rational ignorant folks are dominating, because they are louder...and covering them makes for a good 'show.'

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Well, DUH!

The same is true of street kids. They have a much better chance of getting off the streets if they bond with one of the adult volunteers or staff members at a social services center.

For all children and youth, one of the necessary conditions for healthy growth is a relationship with an adult who really cares and whom they respect.

[LWolf]

3. Exactly.

Building relationships, and developing school systems and infrastructure to foster that process, is not exactly where education "reform" is going, though, is it? :(

[Progressivism]

6. Did you know this ?

I've read that some countries (Finland ,for example) have their students calling their teachers by their first names.