Teachers, do you feel like you lose yourself as an individual?

Question

I teach high school students. I am so tired on putting on a false personality all of the time. I have to pretend that I am someone I am not and act like someone I am not. I have to watch every word I say so that I don't get into trouble. I AM a good person but I have to "walk on eggshells" in my classes for fear of saying or doing something not "perfect". I find that by doing this for so long, it carries into my home/personal life. I don't remember who I am anymore until I get together with old friends from BEFORE I started teaching. It is like..wow, I can be myself again, or wow, there is the old me! Anyone else feel this way?

Answer 1

I do tend to feel this way and there are times in which you do have to take on the "proper persona" as in suzie perfect teacher but I think sometimes it does cause too much pressure . I try not to lose myself as an individual and put myself into my lessons but lets face the facts, you became a teacher to set an example but who's to say what the right example is... there are times you slip up and something comes out totally wrong, I teach high school as well and sometimes you have to say " ok get your minds out of the gutter " so that they know your mind is where there's is at times. Its ok to admit not being perfect. I find the more I admit to kids that I am not that perfect outside the school walls, the more they respect me for my self control within the walls. The key is not telling them more than they need to know. Set boundaries but be yourself and know when to draw the line. And you are right I do sometimes find myself accidentally yelling at my boyfriend not to curse. ( he just kind of gives me a look and says are you kidding me? )

Answer 2

First of all, realize that students don't expect you to be "perfect." They want to see you as human. If you mess up by not knowing an answer to their question or something like that, don't worry about it. When you say "I have to watch every word I say so I won't get in trouble," what do you think about saying? What would you say that would get you into trouble?

You seem like you have not been teaching for that long. If you are a new teacher, know that with time you will become more comfortable in front of the kids and with the curriculum. It may take a couple of years just to hit your stride. If it doesn't and it all feels like a big sham, then you are in the wrong career. But, give it time. You'll find yourself again.

Answer 3

I am not an official teacher. But I have definitely entertained the notion. And looking upon the amount of bureaucracy involved these days I can only imagine the difficulties one may encounter.

What type of things is it you want to say but cant?
Is there a point that you want to bring up or express that you feel is related to what you're trying to teach?

If so, I would recommend talking about this to those that you trust, first. Especially if you feel communicating this to your superiors or peers within the institution may lead to a resignation or termination.

Maybe you can better apply yourself in other ways.
Is this a public school? Or private? Or other?

There are many ways to teach. If the current system is inefficient, I wish you the best in ammending this impedement.

Of course, if the above does not apply to you, then I can not help due to my inexperience in the actual classroom.
Maybe it's a little of both.

Answer 4

Playing a part, as in a play, is simply part of teaching. Sometimes you need to be an entertainer in order to catch the attention of a class, so you have to be an actor. Since every class is different, you have to play serveral different roles. You lose yourself if you let yourself get lost.
Unfortunately, the society in which we live demands that we be politically correct, so we must watch what we say and do.That is true whether or not you teach. Don't forget - you are a role model to your students no matter what the times dictate. You teach them about life, relationships, and tolerance (and a myriad of other things), along with and in addition to the subject area that you teach. Teachers have always had a very important, very demanding, and very satisfying job.
There's always someone listening in every job. You won't escape it. In our case, a student reports something to his/her parent/guardian or the principal and it gets blown out of proportions because it's out of context. So we worry and "walk on eggshells".
Don't be perfect - there's no such thing. Be you. Be human. The kids might like the fact that you make a mistake or two in class. (Mine like it. Sometimes I do it on purpose to see if they're paying attention or just copying automatically. I think it lets them see that making a mistake isn't the end of the world.)
Remember, you are extremely important because of who you are. Your students will appreciate you because of the way you are and the way you teach.

Answer 5

I don't know how many years you've been teaching but it sounds like you need to find a balance. It also sounds like you are in an area where you have very active parents who watch your every move. I know what that's like. But here's my advice, if you do your job well you have nothing to worry about. I am who I am...inside and outside of the classroom. I'm a human being that makes mistakes...I once F bombed when I smashed my finger in a door in front of students....I didn't lose my job....

We all have days where we have to put on a smile, that's normal, but if you feel like you are losing yourself, it may be time to find another profession.

Answer 6

I don't run into that problem. I just had to get the words "stupid," "shut up," and "DICK!" out of my vocabulary for 8 hours a day, and I have to make sure I'm not showing cleavage. I have to do this in other social settings where behaving modestly is preferred, but I don't think that means I'm changing who I am. It just means I'm only showing part of who I am. What sort of a false personality are you putting on?

Answer 7

you have to find a way to be genuine at work.
otherwise you are heading for burnout.
you must be able to be yourself at work.
if you can't then you must get another job.
your work is too restrictive on you
because you WANT to do things that are not allowed there.
you do not fit with that job.
happiness comes when the job allows you to be yourself
or when yourself changes to be ok with the restrictions of the job.
also a fake person is not a good teacher
there is no way to be a great teacher while
being inauthentic.
you need to learn to move towards authenticity
and you will be more successful at work
i recommend yoga to start with

Answer 8

Pre-apology for harsh answer!

Occupational hazard. If you desire to "hang" with your friends more than be a role model and teacher, then you chose a bad profession.

I would generalize that you are recently out of college and therefore young? 23? There is a reason for the phrase "young and stupid", perhaps you are not living up to the new standards that you are held to as an educator.

Your user ID "Freespirit" would further indicate I may be on to something!

You sound like a kid who doesn't want to grow up and actually become responsible for everything you do.

Answer 9

I am going to make this very simple for you....
Go teach at a Christian based school!!! You won't have to play the political game with students. Your are in the process of creating damage to your spirit and there is NO job worth that....Use all that God created in you.
Best Wishes.

Answer 10

Yes it is taxing especially now rather than ten years ago that laws are really made to enhance unruliness
Kids seem to quote the what you can do and cant do at you all the time