One Thing Teachers Don’t Tell Their Students

When I was younger, seeing a teacher out in public was a little bit like bird watching for eagles–I never expected to actually see them. And when I did see them, it was a little awe-inspiring and partially terrifying. These were, in most cases, people that I looked up to, people that I thought had everything figured out.

For the record, I still think that those who teach kids five days a week, in a traditional school setting of kids from 5-18ish, are incredible. They have so much time to develop relationships with these kids, so much time to teach them. I have absolutely no clue how they fill the hours of the day, much less all the weeks, of a typical school year. And worse, I’m not sure how they can stand it when the kids move on, or when they forget them.

But back to that reaction when I saw a teacher out in public when I was in elementary school–it is just as weird for my students when they see me out and about after class. (Well, for one group at least, and that’s who I’m going to focus on today.)

When I drink coffee with my librarian friend or browse the stacks in the library for another book to go on my TBR (to-be-read) list, running into them freaks them out. It’s all awkward stares and stammering, “Hello, Ms. Tackett.” It’s especially funny since they tend to avoid using my name AT ALL in class.

See, as I got older in the school system, I started believing that teachers couldn’t really have a life outside of school. All the preparation and the grading, it had to suck out every minute of every day. And that, I’m sorry to say, is pretty much true as you’re starting out. My students seem to think the same thing, at least in a general way.

So when I run into them on campus, laughing with Susie over pumpkin spice lattes or talking to Mudha on the phone, it jolts them. That is their campus, and I am only gracing it to teach classes and then running off again.

What’s really funny about MY situation is that the students feel awkward explaining to whoever they are with that I am their teacher. Every time I went in for a job interview to teach at a college, someone in the office thought I was a lost student looking for information.

Whoever is with the student I see at the library is like, “Hey, she’s kind of cute. How do you know her?” and the student, stammering, says, “Hi, Ms. Tackett.” and then the other guy looks at him and goes, “THAT’S your teacher?!?”

Yeah, here’s some information for you, hypothetical students, that is an awkward interaction for me, too.

And the thing that my teachers never told me is this: Teachers don’t like seeing their students outside of the classroom either. Students, no matter how much we like them, are work. They are part of the job that takes up so much of our time that we have issues finding time to sleep. It’s not a bitter thing; It’s just that teachers like their down time as much as the next person, and when they are shopping in Kroger in workout gear and all sweaty after their running session, they don’t particularly want to run into anyone they know, much less students.

It shatters the illusion that teachers somehow hold the answers when you see them all not-put-together and giggling over the cuteness of Darren Criss.

Yet another reason to never promote your social media stuff in class. Just FYI. No matter how proud you are of the Civil Wars cover you put on your YouTube channel, don’t tell the students. Or other faculty. Just don’t.

It’s a little strange to think of work and home life as so separate they need a dividing no-turn lane, but until you get really solid into the teaching world, that might be safest.

Of course, this is all the opinion of someone who teaches a maximum of two classes a semester, so teachers who are already more in the groove, I’d love to hear your opinions. You can comment here or message me on any of the various social media things I’m on. Just don’t tell my students about them. 🙂