In his new book You, Your Child, and School, Sir Ken Robinson references research into parenting styles, and lays out four distinct approaches:
- “Authoritarian parents present a set of rules that their children have to follow, without offering either wiggle room or much explanation about why the rules exist.”
- “Authoritative parents have rules for their children as well, but they are more willing to explain the reasons behind them and to discuss and adapt them as circumstances dictate.”
- “Permissive parents tend to be very lenient on their children, often treating them as equals or friends.”
- “Uninvolved parents abstain from parenting as much as they can. They make sure that their kids have food and shelter, but they offer very little in terms of nurturing or guidance.”
It has been my experience that all good parenting advice can be very easily adapted into educator advice. And so I ask: what kind of teacher are you? In my learning career, I had all four types of teachers, and so have you. And looking back with the benefit of time, here’s what I see.
Authoritarian teachers demand achievement, and they often get it, but at the cost of mental health.
Authoritative teachers can get just as much achievement as authoritarians, but are also more connected individually with their students and reactive to their needs.
Permissive teachers are well-loved during class, but are probably remembered best for a combination of good feelings and poor learning.
Uninvolved teachers can be effective for self-driven learners, but for most, they do not drive success or positive mental health.
If you care only about student learning, being an authoritarian teacher might be the most successful approach. If you care only about mental health and nurturing, then being a permissive teacher is probably best for you.
But If you care equally about learning and student mental health, if you care about the human beings you are teaching as much as their test scores, then the best choice is clearly authoritative. As Dr. Robinson says, “The children [students] of authoritative parents [teachers] tend to be the happiest and most social, while standing a good chance at success in what they pursue.”
One of my most valued mentors seemed to outsiders (and to many in his classes) as an authoritarian teacher; but this was belied by one of his mantras, “Everything we do here is for a reason. If you want to know why, ask!” While he was moving too fast in class and rehearsal to regularly explain the reasons, he would always make time to explain the reasoning if you could corner him in a free moment.
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