More beautiful teacher-student relationship...

(Baonghean) - At the 2014 National Science and Technology Competition for high school students, Nghe An delegation had 6 topics to participate, but only 1 topic was in the field of Social Sciences and won second prize in the field, third prize overall. The authors of the topic were 2 female students of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted.

That is the topic "Students' needs for teachers' behavior in high schools" by 2 students Pham Thi Thanh Huyen - class 12C1 (Literature major) and Phan Phuong Tram - class 11D5 (English major). It is known that both students have impressive academic and training achievements.

Although they are different in age, different in class, and do not live near each other (Huyen lives in Hung Phuc Ward (Vinh City) and Tram lives in Hung Nguyen Town), the two are very close friends. In addition to the biggest thing in common is their passion for studying and training, Huyen and Tram often talk and share with each other their feelings and perspectives on life and social issues. That is why when the school launched a scientific research movement, the two students pondered, discussed and chose the topic "Students' needs regarding the behavior of teachers in high schools". The topic was carried out from June 2014 and won first prize at the school and provincial level competitions.

Pham Thi Thanh Huyen (right) and Phan Phuong Tram in Bac Ninh City during the final round of the National Science and Technology Competition.

Phan Phuong Huyen shared: “According to our observations, the time spent at school by a high school student accounts for about 40 - 50% of the day. Therefore, the contact and interaction between teachers and students is very large. The influence and impact of teachers on students determines many relationships in the school. Students not only acquire knowledge but also learn from teachers how to behave, experiences, and perspectives on life. However, in a society that increasingly focuses on material things and foreign values ​​are penetrating, the tradition of “respecting teachers and valuing education” is showing signs of being distorted, the relationship between teachers and students cannot avoid negative developments...

As students of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted - a school famous for its tradition of studiousness, the tradition of "Respecting teachers and valuing education" of Nghe An, each of us always lives in the love, care, and sharing of teachers, so we feel and understand better than anyone else the needs and desires of students regarding the behavior of teachers towards us in class, playtime, in collective activities and in daily relationships. How can teachers feel and understand the desires and needs of students in behavior, so that the feelings and relationships between teachers and students become closer and stronger, so that "Every day at school is a happy day" is the reason that motivates us to carry out this topic".

To clarify the situation of "students' needs for teachers' behavior", the two conducted a survey and collected opinions from 900 students in 10/90 high schools in different regions in the province, including 3 schools in Vinh City (Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Le Viet Thuat High School, Huynh Thuc Khang High School), 4 schools in rural areas with difficult conditions (Nguyen Truong To High School, Le Hong Phong High School, Quynh Luu 3 High School, Dien Chau 5 High School), 2 schools in mountainous areas (Que Phong High School, Tan Ky High School) and 1 non-public high school, Dinh Bat Tuy High School...

Phuong Tram said that with the support of the Scientific Council of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, within 6 months, the two students went directly to all schools, distributed survey forms, and directly talked with students to enrich the research results. At the same time, the two students surveyed the opinions of 100 teachers to have an objective view of the current situation and causes of this problem. "During the survey, we also encountered the hesitation and avoidance of some students and some teachers. However, we persistently persuaded and gradually received the cooperation of teachers and students" - Phuong Tram shared.

Leaders of the Department of Education and Training with Pham Thi Thanh Huyen (right) and Phan Phuong Tram in Bac Ninh City during the final round of the national science and technology competition for high school students.

According to the survey results of the topic, in addition to 540 students (accounting for 57%) who said that in high schools today, the relationship between teachers and students is close and equal, 274 students (30%) said that the current teacher-student relationship has a distance, 33% lack confidence and 25% are not comfortable when interacting with teachers. From there, they came to the conclusion that this not only leads to low teaching efficiency but also poses the risk of negative behavior between teachers and students. The cause comes from both sides: On the students' side, there is the pressure of studying, exams, the need to assert personal ego is growing...; As for teachers, they have to fulfill their mission of imparting knowledge while also struggling to make a living, so a small number of them try to fulfill their duties rather than learn, share, and care for their students. Some cannot control themselves, and their behavior lacks standards. Some have old concepts and old educational methods, and behave conservatively...

They also affirmed: “For high school students, the need to be cared for is very necessary, both a demand and a desire and a genuine aspiration of each individual. The older the students get, the less attention they receive from their families and parents, so more than ever, when they spend a lot of time at school, high school students always want to receive the attention of their teachers in all activities. A timely word of concern from teachers really means a lot, a card, a compliment, a wish from teachers on their birthday or a question after a class also makes students, whether male or female, feel warm, because everyone wants to be respected...”.

From there, they proposed solutions to improve the effectiveness of the teacher-student relationship in high schools today. That is, each student must proactively improve the relationship between teachers and students through many channels such as direct conversation, phone or social networks to share with teachers the difficulties and problems in studying, problems in life; actively participate in activities with teachers in the school such as: arts, sports, extracurricular activities... On the teachers' side, they also need to proactively approach and be close to students in the role of homeroom teachers, subject teachers to grasp the psychology of their age, always encourage students, actively participate in collective activities with students. On the school's side, it is necessary to strengthen life skills education for students; organize extracurricular activities, educational activities outside of class hours, clubs, forums... so that teachers and students have the opportunity, time to be closer and understand each other better...

Ms. Tran Thi Thuy - Civic Education teacher at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, who guided the topic, shared: “In addition to the overall third prize, Huyen and Tram's topic is one of three topics awarded a Certificate of Merit and a prize by the University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Although they are still "immature" in their research thinking, and still have judgments that are heavily subjective to their student years, it is commendable that Huyen and Tram have dared to speak up about sensitive aspects of society that directly affect the lives of their students. When they dare to speak up, I believe that teachers will also look back at themselves and try to approach and understand them better to harmonize and improve the relationship between teachers and students in schools today."

Mai Anh