Dan Wilbur
My favorite teachers growing up were the ones who accidentally let something slip about the gossip in the teacher’s lounge or their real feelings about their work. Occasionally, you were treated as an equal, and I’ll never forget how funny those moments were.
If you agree, then have I got the Reddit thread for you. Someone wanted to know if a teacher was willing to spill the tea by asking: “High School teachers of Reddit, what is the one thing that you want your students to know that you’d never tell them in person?”
Teachers, who seem to know a number of things that could get them fired, had answers.
Here are the things high school teachers wish they could tell their students:
1. Number One, I’m sure.
“Your parents are literally the worst part of my job.” –catniss32
2. He ruined it for everyone.
“I am no longer a teacher, but I remember several days that I felt lazy and wanted to give the class the day off. I never did because I knew the teacher’s pet would rat me out. Sometimes even the teachers don’t like the teacher’s pet.” –Birbman3
3. The whole system is broken!
“I think what you learn in the other classes is mostly useless rubbish, the things you’re supposed to do to learn it is boring and ineffective, and the way our schools are organised is archaic and not fit for humans, much less kids.” –smorgasfjord
4. I sincerely thank you.
“Yes, I put you in a group with the kid you have a crush on intentionally. I’m stuck here with you 180 days a year, I want to see some drama.” –grumpybatman
5. Deserved?
“I’m not saying I liked fights in my classroom. I’m just saying I might have taken a little longer to react when the jerk student / bully was finally getting what was long overdue.” –entredeuxeaux
6. Stop.
“Stop wearing your furry tail. Everyone is uncomfortable.” –jazzland
7. Be better, kids.
“I’d let you get away with so much more if you were actually a decent person who treated others with kindness and respect. Assholes rarely get the benefit of doubt or indifference.” –ExistentialistJesus
8. Kindness counts.
“If you’re nice to me and aren’t disruptive I’ll always work the numbers in your favor when it comes time to post grades.” –laurenschmitty
9. Harsh truths.
“Trying hard is necessary but not sufficient for most accomplishments. Intelligence is necessary but not sufficient for most accomplishments.
I can’t tell the sweet, hardworking but unintelligent kid he won’t be a doctor. I can’t tell the smart but lazy asshole he won’t be a doctor. Both end up in my remedial class and blame being in remedial class on mean teachers labelling them. I appreciate childhood is the time for dreams but it means people make terrible decisions when they don’t understand that we just put them at the highest level we think they can pass. We don’t know why they are years behind their peers, just that they are.” –mechantmechant
10. You’re not wrong.
“You can be unsuccessful at school but successful in life. I pretend that it is important for you to do well in my subject, but in reality you’ll most probably find your niche in life and be reasonably content or hopefully extremely happy. You might hate Maths, English, Science, but turn out to be the most amazing parent, artist, carpenter or even a mathematician, playwright or researcher. You might get the lowest scores in class and end up being the most successful of your peers. I feign annoyance, anger, disappointment. I reluctantly phone your parents, give you detentions, or write up critical reports. I have to, it’s my job. If you do well in my subject then that’s great, but if you don’t then just relax. We can’t all be good at everything.” –this_is_life_now
11. We’re the same!
“Yelling “fuck!” in the hallways doesn’t make you a badass. Teachers are yelling fuck in their heads all day long.” –lynnmarie31583
12. It’s legal now, though.
“The weed smell doesn’t magically disappear between the parking lot and my classroom.” –FunkyChromeMedina
13. Everyone’s in on it.
“If your parents email a teacher and argue with them, the whole staff knows. (At least at my school).” –callmedoglady
14. I knew it!
“That we have much better hearing than you assume. We just choose our battles as it pertains to inappropriate comments. And sometimes I pretend not to see that thing you did just because I too found it humorous, and speaking to you about it would only result in me cracking up.” –moonwalkersb
15. Squeaky wheels.
“If I know your name by the 3rd day of a new school year, that means you’re probably an asshole.” –milqi
16. Another trick of the trade.
“When you think you are being genius by getting me to talk about random things at the beginning of class instead of “teaching”, I’m really allowing it to happen b/c I don’t have enough planned to cover a full class.” –mikeyzjames
17. One for the back.
“I’m a bus driver. Sit the fuck down you will die if I crash.” –bignicky222
18. Sure.
“You are right. The administration is completely out of touch when it comes to technology. I also work better while listening to music on my phone.” –giltwist
19. Damn.
“That my students are the reason why I am second-guessing having my own kids.” –bomptonbigarettes
20. Thank you.
“I teach middle school, not high school, but for me, it’s that I know shit sucks at home. I see it every day when you come into my class. I see the tears you’re hiding, the pain behind that class clown smile, the emotional fragility behind your tough-guy persona. I know exactly what it’s like to come from a broken home. I wish I could do something, but until you come to me, all I can do is try and let you know, with a look, a smile, a subtle turn of phrase, that I’m always there for you when you need an ear, or a shoulder.” –Ainyan
21. We get it, you vape.
“Please stop juuling in the classrooms that’s what the bathrooms are for.” –deedozcheetoz
22. I also thought you lived at the school.
“That it’s just as weird for me as it is for you when we bump into each other in public.” –BumblingBlunderbuss
23. If you acted like an adult, you would be treated like one.
“If I didn’t think you would abuse the situation, I would really enjoy being more human and casual around you. I think you are a fun person to be around.” –RossFoss
24. He’s doing his part.
“I would honestly tell my little kindergartners that life is tough, I love you, many of you can’t count on your parents at all, You’re poor and have to work harder. I need you to understand how important your education is for having a better life.
But I’m a male teacher in early childhood. Distance is very important, and can’t afford to have a parent go all mama bear on me. So I just do my best to make them feel valued in my class.” –Shivarez
25. A pleasure to have in class.
“Your sense of entitlement is most likely acquired from your upbringing, so parent teacher conferences to discuss your grades aren’t going to do shit when the parents just blame us, despite you putting in little to zero effort.” –FancyShrimp
26. I know him.
“I have never and will never find a student intimidating. That’s why I laughed at you when you asked me if I “knew who your father was”. Yeah, he’s the manager of a car dealership; that means nothing to nobody. I had a kid throw a desk at me and, while it scared me in the moment, it didn’t make me fear him. One day, you will meet someone who has real power and I just wish that I could be there to see it.” –TheClassroomComedian
27. I think you can tell them this.
“If you are stupid enough to have filmed yourself doing something that can get you in trouble, especially legal trouble, for the love of God don’t post it online.” –a_casual_observer
28. You’re right. The book sucks.
“I hate the texts as much as you do, but everyone just shrugs when I suggest changing them up! I’m sorry they made us keep that awful After book on the list, I genuinely offered to buy them all back from students so I could burn the waste of time that they are.” –Original_AiNE
29. Rude awakening.
“One day you’re going to come across people who are not being paid to tolerate you, and all of a sudden life is going to become considerably more difficult.” –dontmesswithadamwe
30. See ya!
“I encourage my worst kids as much or more than my favorites because I don’t want them back in my class next year.” –poppiesinred
h/t Reddit: r/AskReddit
