Why do teachers ignore their students when they hang around their other teacher friends?

Question

Like you just say a simple hello, and they just look at you and that's it. But in class they're all talkative and stuff.

Answer 1

First, teachers are human beings. If was wasn't part of a clique of your friends (I was a dork in school) would all of them say "hello" back? I can tell you from experience that there are people who don't say hello in return, at least not all the time.

Second, you are NOT on the same level as your teachers. Sorry. You are the student, and they are the teacher. It is not an appropriate thing for you to expect that they will treat you as their equal, especially in school. IN fact, I'm betting that they -- rightly or wrongly -- see students who try to talk to them while they are talking to their peers as impolite.

Third, mentally, when the teachers are talking to each other, they are kinda on a break. You (see above) are their work. It shouldn't be that way but it is.

Answer 2

This is one of those "growing up" moments that teenagers need to learn. Teachers today have a terrible time with teens out of control, parents who never respond to them or the school and the demands of administration that they actually teach. The separation of teacher and student out of class is necessary because too many students will walk up and interrupt. They are teaching you to respect their attention to a colleague in the precious little time they have. I would nod a bit but my eyes would immediately go back to the colleague, admin person, parent or CPS or law enforcement. In class, it is your class and the teacher is working for you and will communicate in every possible way to get the lesson taught. In class, if you have a casual relationship with a teacher, it does not necessarily translate outside the classroom - unless you see them in the community. Then their attention is completely on you. Teachers MUST maintain a professional distance for the sake of the students. It is a new day in America where parents back a snotty son or daughter and yell "sue" to get their own bit of control over the system. Their son or daughter loses. Admin often does not back up a teacher and they know it and they have to be defensive. A significant percentage of teens today are purposely ruining their chances in life simply because their lives do not mean much to them. They need to be expelled and transported to a secure facility. Adults will always rule, so why be dumb and fight it?
This question has been better answered by Mr KWooley with able help from chen2647 and I wantsome and geek49203.

Answer 3

As a teacher, let me try to put it this way....I have so many things to say, but... I must...maintain...professionalism...

Teachers don't ignore their students. That's why we spend so much time before and after school trying to make our students stay with the program and learn something. We don't get paid for staying after school to tutor you, we do it because we're concerned that you get educated.

If I was engaged in a conversation (professional or not) it would be impolite on my part to divert my attention from the conversation to you. Manners are an important of maintaining the fabric of society. I find it disheartening that manners seem to be going the way of the dodo and the typewriter.

To address the second part of your question, in a classroom setting I have to be talkative - I teach. Teaching is much easier to accomplish when I use the spoken word. Try to imagine learning how to do quadratic equations if your teacher had to explain the concept by playing pictionary.

I also would like to point out, that the world revolves around the sun and not you. Please grow up, exercise the manners your parents taught you, and move on to the next crisis. Furthermore you should have your English teacher proof-read your questions so as to eliminate grammar and syntax errors.

Answer 4

Some teachers need the time to collaborate with colleagues and have a hard time separating the professionalism with fellow teachers and the rapport with students. None the less, a teacher should be able to greet you with more than a hello.

Answer 5

One of my teachers once told me that "teachers are the most attention obsessive beings in the world" lol, I laughed when I first heard it but it actually makes sense.

Other than that one of the reasons I know of when they don't respond is because they're talking about important issues like grading policies and student performance.

The last one I can think of is that teacher to teacher conversations are more peer-based, whereas a student-teacher conversation is more parent-child based. So teachers need to 'ignore' children when they're conversing with collegues because as peers they need to be respectful of eachother.

Answer 6

actually, it's very very wrong to do that.. whether a teacher or student or anyone else for that matter, it is common courtesy to reply... i think mayb they want to keep the authority of a teacher.. or most of the time, they dont want other teachers to know that they are close to the students.. they might get laughed at in the teachers' lounge..

Answer 7

Teachers are basically snobs. The create their own circle of friends and rarely join the general public in clubs, organizations or churches. They consider themselve high about the general population. They don't want to associate with anyone who doesn't have a teaching degree. Their attitudes are horrible and they need to come down a peg or two and realize they are not in the "high echelon" they think the are. Sorry that you are snubbed, maybe it's what should be done back to them, see how they respond, it might put them in their place. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Beats me. I love saying hi to my students. It DOES, however, drive me crazy when I'm eating lunch and they come up to ask stupid questions. My rule is that you don't come up to me unless you're bleeding or barfing. I have NO non-instructional time during the day, so the least my students can do is give me time to eat lunch with my co-workers.

Answer 9

they have to maintain the illusion of authority.
and they never think of themselves as your friend, even if they say so. just treat them as teaching people.

Answer 10

Theyre talking crap about you behind your back