It seems the stereotypical image of children liking, or finding good in their teachers, is correct.

According to a recent UBC study that surveyed 650 local elementary students, 42 per cent of them believe that teaching is an act of kindness. The survey consisted of kindergarten to Grade 3 students in the Central Okanagan Valley School District (23).

含羞草研究社淯nderstanding how kindness is conceptualized and perceived by students has implications for educators hoping to foster pro-social behaviour in and among students,含羞草研究社� says Assist. Prof. John Tyler Binfet who teaches education at UBC含羞草研究社檚 Okanagan campus. 含羞草研究社淓arly elementary students are, by and large, attentive to kindness modelled by teachers and are able to identify characteristics of teachers含羞草研究社� kind acts.含羞草研究社�

In the study, students were asked to draw two pictures. A self-image performing an act of kindness and the other of their teacher also performing an act of kindness. The students were not given a definition of kindness.

Binfet says 27 per cent of the students drew images of teachers helping individual students, while 16 per cent drew their teacher instructing the entire class. And 21 per cent of students illustrated their teachers physically helping students as an act of kindness.

Similarly, when asked to draw a self-image, 54 per cent of the students drew images of themselves maintaining friendships.

含羞草研究社淭he finding of this study provides more information about young children含羞草研究社檚 conceptual understanding of school kindness in several possible ways,含羞草研究社� says Binfet. 含羞草研究社淏y asking students to draw an act of kindness we are given a glimpse into how young children understand and interpret kind school-based behaviour.含羞草研究社�

Students captioned the pictures with a number of phrases that explained that their teacher was helping them.

While further study is needed, kindness studies like this could be a useful tool in teacher training and relationship building in school contexts, says Binfet.

含羞草研究社淭he more students positively view their classroom and teachers, the better they含羞草研究社檒l be engaged in lessons and learning. Teachers should find comfort in the findings of this study,含羞草研究社� he says. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not taking students on field trips or organizing elaborate activities that含羞草研究社檚 seen as kindness含羞草研究社攊t含羞草研究社檚 teachers doing what they do best everyday in front of students.含羞草研究社�