Authenticity

                           I do not think there is a set limit on how much authenticity can be expressed in the classroom. Each situation and group of students will be different. The important thing to consider when wondering how much authenticity can be expressed is: Is this appropriate for this moment in time? Everyone has their own opinions, whether it is about politics, rules, other people, or entertainment. As a teacher it is especially important to know when to share your personal opinions and when to keep them to yourself.

Teachers have an incredible amount of power when it comes to shaping the next generation. Being genuine is essential to developing good relationships with students and to reassuring them that their teacher is a trustworthy person. But being authentic is a balancing act. If your authenticity begins to infringe on students’ ability to develop their own opinions and come to their own conclusions, it is time to set a limit on what you share in the classroom. Finding the balance between being an authentic person and being a professional can be tricky.

            Students as a whole are very astute when it comes to judging if a teacher is authentic or not. From my own experience, I know that it is easier to trust, respect, and learn from a teacher who is consistently honest.  It is also easy to tell when a teacher is not being authentic, especially when a teacher is praising her or his students. Ultimately, if a teacher does not truly believe what they tell their students or if it is inappropriate to share what they really think, it is best to keep quiet. Students can normally guess what the teacher’s real opinion is. So giving the “correct” answer instead of your own genuine answer can hurt the relationship between teacher and student, thereby creating a lack of trust and respect. Thus the learning process suffers. Appropriate authenticity is essential to a healthy classroom environment.