The relationship between the self-esteem of students and their perception of their teacher's style of teaching

Abstract

Self-esteem is a powerful part of who we are and who we become. Children must possess a healthy self-esteem to be successful in school and to be willing to try. The way that parents, educators, and friends have treated a child helps determine how he or she will feel about himself or herself. Teachers are often the only positive force in a child’s life and the only one to tell them that “they can do it and to keep trying.” Youngs cited several reasons why it is important for children to develop healthy self-esteems. Children with higher self-esteems are more likely to participate in new experiences and a greater range of events, and they are more willing to share. These adolescents also accept advice without seeing it as criticism. Being comfortable alone is another trait found in these students as well as a commitment to achieving. Making friends often comes easier to these children and they become more social (1991). The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship existed between the self-esteem of fifth grade students, attending an elementary school in Western Wisconsin, and their perception of their teacher’s primary style of teaching. Data was collected during the spring of 2002 through the use of a self-esteem test and a questionnaire, used to determine the students’ perception of their teacher’s style of teaching, both developed by the researcher. There were four questions this research examined. They were: 1. Is there a relationship between the authoritative teaching style and self-esteem? 2. Is there a relationship between the authoritarian teaching style and self-esteem? 3. Is there a relationship between the indifferent teaching style and self-esteem? 4. Is there a relationship between the laissez-faire teaching style and self-esteem? Fifty-eight participants were included in this study. According to this survey, 58.5% of the participants possess average to high self-esteem. The range of scores was from 87 to 110 points. In addition, 41.5% are classified as below average to low self-esteem. The survey testing the teaching style found that 44% of those with high self-esteem and 50% with average self-esteem rated their teachers authoritative. The data also found that 47% of the students with below average and 22% with low self-esteem rated their teachers authoritarian. Both showing either a positive or negative relationship between self-esteem and teaching style. The laissez-faire style had no clear results thus the researcher could not agree with the research question. The indifferent style was not reported as a style used except in the case of three respondents who had this style tied with two others. Based on the results, the researcher could not agree with this question. In conclusion, there appears to be a relationship between certain teaching styles and the students’ self-esteem. According to this study, the more authoritative the teacher is the higher the self-esteem. The students with average to high self-esteem had a combined rating of 94% authoritative teaching style. The more authoritarian a teacher is the lower the self-esteem. The students who fell below average or in the low self-esteem group rated their teachers authoritarian with a combined score of 69%. Therefore, the researcher believes that this study could help prepare future educators by teaching them about the different styles. In addition, this would help future students as well. Possessing higher self-esteem is important in all aspects of a student’s life. Teachers are very powerful forces that have a tremendous impact on the children they teach.