If students complain about their teachers, can teachers also complain about their students?
Yes, I have my “high’s and low’s” in teaching, especially in dealing with the students. There are students who are very easy to handle and easy to get along with, but there are those that will really blow-off all your reserved patience…
I have this student who, forgive my rudeness, I do not think knows what I have been parroting in front of the class for the entire session. As I have observed, this student has this habit of ‘floating’ in the air, and while pretending to pay attention to the discussion, the eyes and facial expressions are telling otherwise.
One time, I was already almost out of breath, lips and mouth dry, exhausted and to top it all, the room was so hot, and in the middle of discussion. I was already threading on my thinning patience, and this student has the temerity to sit almost one or two rows away but facing directly to me, and just to busy watching everything that is happening outside of the classroom. All eyes and ears are tuned to whatever is coming and going outside the door. I was almost about to shout, and expel all lumps of hatred and anger building up in me to call the student’s attention… but, by God’s grace (or intervention?) I was still able to control myself. I closed my eyes, pursed my lips, inhaled deep and exhaled slowly - probably my longest exhale ever in my whole life, and sat down on my desk and tried my best to turn my head to the farthest direction where the student’s face could not mar the seeming serenity and beauty of my sight…
Thank God, I did not lose my temper.
Everyday, I always have to fight this shooting-up of my blood pressure…
But I also ask myself sometimes, if the students are also harboring the same feelings on me…
Later that day, I asked some students who know this student, they told me that the student is indeed troublesome and moody… well, that explains it.
Do whatever you want, but please, NOT IN MY CLASS!!!
-DOPS
English
