We Need More Education in Human Relations

Abstract

TEACHERS and school administrators need to be better educated in human relations. This subject has always been of prime importance in our schools, but today in our heterogeneous, urban, industrial society human relations has assumed an importance of far greater significance. Why is this so?First, each student in our classrooms is engaged in a major task: the development of his own personal sense of worth and self. Perhaps the psychologists would say it is the development of personal identity. The teacher can make a great contribution to the student in his attempt to master this developmental process, or he can do a great deal of damage.Second, the efficiency of learning is greatly affected by the relationship between student and teacher. The entire learning situation may be nullified if the student rejects the teacher as his guide in the classroom, and the reverse is also true: the teacher will be of little help if he rejects the student.Third, our schools are run primarily by teachers and administrators who hold that the development of wholesome personalities is the first concern of the curriculum. In other words, thoughtful educators realize that information and skills alone are not the only concerns for which the school must be responsible. Neither are they in themselves sufficient for effective living.Fourth, educators are aware of the great importance of attitudes and understandings. The development of wholesome attitudes, appreciations, and understandings has become one of the major goals of our schools. Every classroom is a laboratory in which children are learning emotionally. Teachers must then be concerned with their students in terms of the student's self-respect, character, honor, self-esteem, and regard for personal responsibility, and the classroom is a place in which these important values can be acquired.Fifth, teachers and administrators must become better versed in human relations because our schools are crowded with students from many different racial, religious, educational, geographical, and home backgrounds. All of these factors have their effect on the individual's value system, and his value system determines how he relates to the teacher and to his peers in the various classes.With these and other reasons in mind, Southern Methodist University has for ten years carried on a program of education in human relations for teachers. This program has the following as its principal goals: (1) understanding the value systems and reference orientations of individuals from many ethnic, religious, and cultural groups; (2) learning Dr. Davis is assistant professor of education, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.