This seasoned educator confirms what many suspect: yes, teachers do have favorites, but it’s not what you think. It's not about being the smartest or the quietest; it's about the students who actively engage, ask questions, and share. These are the ones who truly capture a teacher's heart. And what about those dreaded school phones? This teacher reveals that at her school, a strict ban on cell phones led to an incredible transformation. Initially, students tried to hide them, but within weeks, they were asking for crossword puzzles and board games, talking to each other, and even forgetting their phones existed—a nostalgic return to the "80s classroom" that fostered genuine connection. She also takes a bold stance against traditional homework, labeling much of it as "busy work" that discourages true internalization. Instead, she advocates for robust classwork checked before students leave, acknowledging that at home, AI makes homework completion effortless, but learning still requires engagement.
The revelations continue, diving into the often-misunderstood world of educators. Far from exciting, the teachers' lounge is mostly about class prep, grading, and occasional gossip about students, colleagues, or administrators, proving teachers are "just big kids dressed up like adults." A glaring systemic failure, she laments, is the absence of life skills education—like taxes, cooking, or managing household affairs—in favor of calculus. In her view, high school grades are less about intelligence and more about a student's desire to achieve, with passion and finding what you love being far more critical for a fulfilling life. The role of AI, she suggests, should be as a helpful tool for learning, not just a cheating device, by having students use it to generate questions and identify errors. But the modern classroom presents tougher challenges than ever. The emotional toll of teaching is immense, requiring teachers to wear "400 hats," from counselor to impromptu nurse, often leading to mental exhaustion by the end of the day. Armed security, once unthinkable, is now a sad reality, and teachers are grappling with the trauma of active shooter drills and real-world threats. Bullying, she explains, has become an invisible, insidious force, primarily happening online and through texts—another potent reason, she argues, to ban cell phones altogether. The education system is "antiquated," she asserts, failing to prepare students for a rapidly changing world by prioritizing rote memorization over critical thinking, collaboration, and learning how to learn. Despite these hurdles, she passionately believes teachers must care for students' social and emotional well-being, advocating for normalizing conversations about mental health and fostering genuine connection. Her ultimate advice to students: "Be your free self. Have confidence. Do what you love."
