The barrier is there for a reason... we have Child Protection laws in the U.K. Im guessing those laws (amongst others) are pretty much non existent in Pakistan.
I have had the experience of attending a high school in Pakistan, albiet I was there for only a day, but the class Miss as she was known, did nothiing but bark at her students all day. They feared her. Heck I nearly wet myself, she went around hitting the girls who were chattiing with rulers. This was in 1990 though. Im sure they dont do that now.
My kids are only 5 and 6, however, they are anything but petrified of me. We have a laugh together when appropriate and I respect them as much as they respect me. I dont have the 'authoritarian' approach to teaching. I see myself as a facilitator of learning.
This is what I mentioned in my first post... teachers in pakistan beat the crap out of children ... why so much frankness then?? Why are Pakistani students more close to their teachers than we are.
Reserved is the word I was looking for.. western culture is more reserved.... I mean in Pakistan we would become best buddies with out colleagues, but over here, they just remain "people whom u work with"...