Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

A teacher's misconception of a student can affect the student greatly. Many teachers (although teacher's aren't the only people to do it) make their opinions of students based on how they dress, carry themselves, or some other physical characteristic. This can certainly affect students because physical characteristics aren't the only traits to judge a character.


Too many students are not judged fairly and this hinders their relationship with the teacher and perhaps their academic success. For example, a teacher may base her or her opinion on a student because he is dressed up in clothing that is usually associated with the Hip Hop culture. The teacher may have negative preconceptions towards the Hip Hop culture which will in turn be directed towards the student. The teacher may believe that the student is violent or another stereotype that can be associated with the Hip Hop culture. This could affect the student because the teacher may be more prone to discipline the student than another student who doesn't dress in the same manner. The opinion on of the teacher may also affect the student in their relationship in the classroom. For example, the teacher may avoid calling on the student for answers, which could result in the student not wanting to participate. Teachers should be mindful of the opinions they form before they know the students. Most of the time, these preconceptions are wrong and the affect of those preconception can be detrimental to the student's academic success and to their overall self-esteem.



Teachers can do many things that can help negate their preconceptions of a student. First, they could ask themselves why they hold this opinion. Did they have a past experience with a person displaying similar characteristics? Second, the teacher should remember that each student is an individual and should be judged after they get to know the student. Even then the teacher should keep an open mind and allow for differences in the classroom. Anyways, diversity is what makes the world interesting. Third, the teacher should remember that the students also have preconception you. They hear comments from previous students which makes them form an opinion on you. The teacher should remember that they would want their students to judge them based on their actual character and not the opinions they may hear and the first impressions that they may form.