Teachers are not Friends; Teachers are Teachers

I began teaching when I was twenty-one years old. One student in my student-teaching class was nearly nineteen. That is scary! The truth is, new teachers are young, and students of all ages are acting older and older.

Being the cool, hip, popular teacher is a throwback to the basic human need for companionship and acceptance. However, being cool, hip and popular, if you recall from your days of middle school, means following the crowd and following fads. Teachers are not followers. Teachers are leaders. Teachers are role models.

Therefore, teachers should not be buddies with their students. New teachers will find that students, especially the 10-15 year old students, will approach them in ways that are more suitable for friends. Personal and probing questions, use of inappropriate language or references, and mildly inappropriate touching (like a hand on the arm or a hand on the back) are all tests that kids this age use to see if you are a potential "friend" teacher. If you pass their test by answering the quetions, laughing at the jokes, accepting the language, or not responding to the touches, you are really failing in your role as a new teacher and role model.

Students don't need any 22 year-old or older friends. I am fairly sure that you don't need any friends under the age of 18. Students want you to be their teacher. Friendly is fine; friend is not.