Be Careful with What You Say
This goes along with the previous post, but is mostly geared towards the teacher's lounge.
Students hear things, sometimes in the most peculiar ways. If you are talking about students in a negative way, they will know. If you talk about certain personal issues/things, they will know. If you talk about another staff member, they will know.
I am currently at a Catholic school. I don't believe in abortion for many reasons but one of those is my religion. I will say that.
When I was subbing at a public school, one of my students was doing a paper against abortion, except for extreme cases. I didn't let her know it was against my religion, but gave other reasons so that she could have a base for her research.
I called my computer my baby once, and a student asked me if I had a child. I showed them my ring finger (meaning I wasn't married). That let her know that I don't plan on having children before marriage.
However, I don't come out and say "No, I don't believe in sex before marriage."
I know some teachers have been admonished for talking about getting trashed over the weekend.
Just, be mindful with what you say.
Showing posts with label caution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caution. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Teaching Tip #32
Don't Overshare
There is a time for honesty, and a time to keep your mouth shut. I had a teacher, sophomore year of high school, who told us about the three men she was dating, but how she liked one of them more. We (and by we, I mean my classmates - I never paid attention) knew her birthday, the car she drove, the school she went to, etc.
She was a nice person, but not the greatest teacher.
I do not give out my age to my students. I am too young, too close to their age, and I don't want to lose that respect. Recognizing my car is fine and knowing my birthday is not a problem. I also let them know the college I went to, especially because some of them want to go there.
They do know I have a boyfriend, but that is because he's come to events with me. Before that, I didn't share that information.
In the teacher's lounge even, don't talk about major home problems you may not want students to know, your sex life, your address, what you think about controversial issues (unless it's a part of the school or curriculum), or anything like that. It's worse these days with the internet - you don't want certain people to know certain things about you. Think of your students as people with the world at their fingertips.
There is a time for honesty, and a time to keep your mouth shut. I had a teacher, sophomore year of high school, who told us about the three men she was dating, but how she liked one of them more. We (and by we, I mean my classmates - I never paid attention) knew her birthday, the car she drove, the school she went to, etc.
She was a nice person, but not the greatest teacher.
I do not give out my age to my students. I am too young, too close to their age, and I don't want to lose that respect. Recognizing my car is fine and knowing my birthday is not a problem. I also let them know the college I went to, especially because some of them want to go there.
They do know I have a boyfriend, but that is because he's come to events with me. Before that, I didn't share that information.
In the teacher's lounge even, don't talk about major home problems you may not want students to know, your sex life, your address, what you think about controversial issues (unless it's a part of the school or curriculum), or anything like that. It's worse these days with the internet - you don't want certain people to know certain things about you. Think of your students as people with the world at their fingertips.
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