I always thought the teachers' job was to teach and the parents job is to make their kids feel valued. Not sure why you think the teachers should relate to kids here...
I think it helps seperate good teachers from the bad..
Good teachers become teachers because they love their subject and they love children. In any situation regarding education, a personal connection, some sort of recognition of the mutual humanity of the teacher and student, SOMETHING deeper and more profound than an easy paycheck has to be the motivator.
Bad teachers become teachers because they love a short work year and unionized job security. They often do not even see their students as human beings, rather as inconveniences, job tasks if you will.