Theory: Better In Practice

Society has its views of the perfect teacher, but frankly, that doesn’t exist. Even if you think it does, trust me there is a lot that’s not exposed.

This past week I saw on Instagram a movement of #teachersarehuman. It’s a great reminder that we really aren’t these pretty pictures society paints in their minds.

For me I’m LGBTQ. Yet that’s viewed as inappropriate in my line of work. It’s who I am thou and who I am is not inappropriate. Guess what? There are gay kids in my school. I just happen to be that ‘loser’ teacher that the trans kid in the corner everyone forgets about connects with.

I suffer from a mental health illness. Heaven forbid I teach our youth. Do you even know the amount of stress kids are under these days? Increasingly we are seeing more and more students with depression. Yet those topics are viewed as no no’s and not vital parts of the curriculum. Better keep that on lock and put your best foot forward. You know, that every day is a new day mentality. I can’t begin to tell you the toxicity of the idea that teachers are happy and perfect 100% of the time.

I’ve been suicidal. Suicide is the leading cause of death in youth, yet once again if it doesn’t create a pretty perfect picture, it doesn’t belong in the classroom. Thankfully measures are being taken so that teachers recognize signs but we don’t talk enough about how having these feelings doesn’t indicate flaws in a human being.

Tattoos, piercings, gender-bending…They all do away with the model citizen notion that society has.

Frankly, I’m done having to hide who I am because society doesn’t like it. The only person who has to be comfortable with me is me. Holy Cow, what if my students could realize that?!

Here is a fact, students do better when they can identify with something in the classroom. That ‘thing’ can be a person.

I recently discussed with other professionals being openly LGBTQ in the classroom and the conclusion was why haven’t we done this sooner.

Students want to identify with their teachers. They want to see us as just like them. They want to know that it gets better and lastly, they want to know that we are there for them.

I don’t know how to address all these issues but one thing I do know is for too long I’ve talked a big game. As other teachers would know I (and other teachers) like to post really insightful things on social media, but it doesn’t always translate to the classroom. Great in theory but not in action. What if it was great in action too? Think of the impact!

My goal is to not have students just be a result of data going through the system, but individuals who want something to relate and hold on to.