Oh that I were popular!

It's one of those days that I just need to VENT!

Here we go...

As a teacher I have a difficult time balancing the desire to be well-liked or "popular" and the desire to be effective.

A well-liked/popular teacher at my school looks like this:

• Bends the rules and allows cell phones/ipods during certain activities
• Lets the kids eat food and have constant class parties
  
• Watches movies without educational value
• Gives students chill time
• Watches movies with educational value but without having them take notes
• Assigns no Homework
• Classwork consists of worksheets and busy work that only last half the period
  
• Tests can be taken with notes
• And the list goes on...

Me, on the other hand, I try to hold my students to high expectations (as noted in one of my blog posts several months ago). Sure, I have my days when one of these slip, but mostly, I am a tough, meanie of a teacher.

Yet, it still bugs me that I'm not as well liked as other teachers. Why does it matter to me what my students think about me?? My job is to teach, not to be your bestie. But words have that affect on me. I hate that I am so sensitive.

When I hear: "I hate this class. I want to switch out. This class is so boring." (In the best ghetto voice you can possibly imagine) it gives me so much anxiety and anger. I want to burst out:

"No, you have to like me! I do all of these things for you. I care about you. I want you to succeed. I bust my butt for you!"

But those words, although said a lot, do not register in many 14 year old's brains. Yah, all they can think about is their shopping spree to Forever 21 and 'which guy hooked up with which girl.'

So now I'm just mad. Mad that I want to be popular amongst the students when it really doesn't matter and mad that there are teachers that do squat in their classes, so the kids like them.

oh that I were popular. Why do I care??

(Deep breath)