The Meanest Teacher In the World

I came across an article, and it reminded me of  something that happened to me when I first started teaching. It was my first year teaching, and we had just finished eating cupcakes outside. It was at the end of the day so I was going to let the students play outside. However, we needed […]

I came across an article, and it reminded me of  something that happened to me when I first started teaching.
It was my first year teaching, and we had just finished eating cupcakes outside. It was at the end of the day so I was going to let the students play outside. However, we needed to come inside and clean up our faces before parents came to pick up. I told the students to line up and one of them said, “I don’t want to go inside!” I didn’t respond and told the class to walk inside. As we are making our way down the hallway the same student yells very loudly, “You’re the meanest teacher in the world!” The yelling was also accompanied with some feet stomping. I told the students to go to the classroom and sit down and that I would be right back. I turned quickly and began to smile.
You might be wondering why I smiled…Well… it didn’t make me mad; it actually made me very happy. While I was in college, preparing to become a teacher, one of my professors said that it is a great honor to be the “meanest teacher”. It means you are doing your job and that your students will thank you for it in the long run.
So after I took a minute to collect myself, I went back to the class and we proceeded to go outside. The student apologized and we moved on with the remainder of our day.

The article:
I am a mean teacher!

A MEAN teacher insists that each student do the best she/he is capable of doing.
A MEAN teacher insists that students hand in their assignments on time and takes off points for late assignments.
A MEAN teacher does not accept incomplete assignments.
A MEAN teacher requires each student to think carefully and to make her/his own decisions.
A MEAN teacher holds each student responsible for her/his own behavior.
A MEAN teacher makes students keep the classroom, themselves, and their belongings neat and clean.
A MEAN teacher does not allow free time in class until all class-work is done.
A MEAN teacher gives homework regularly, sometimes even on weekends.
A MEAN teacher calls on students who don’t raise their hands to answer questions.
A MEAN teacher requires all students to treat each other with respect.
A MEAN teacher makes life miserable for students by insisting that they always tell the truth.
A MEAN teacher produces students who are respectful, responsible, and successful.
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE MEAN* TEACHERS!
*(MEAN = Making Excellence A Necessity)