untitled thoughts

(in response to Taryn) I am totally fine with allowing my "profession" of teaching to "define who I am".....to some extent. I'm not saying everyone else should mold their life around the fact that they're a teacher---and always be worrying about what they're doing/how they look outside of the classroom in case a student were to see them. But for me personally, I think that making my life outside of school continually reflect my status as a teacher won't be that difficult. I won't have to give up a lot or make myself into someone I'm not--I'm probably just a very boring person, and I was born already teacherish. :)

I also have the mentality that I really want my students to see that I am more than just an English teacher. I want them to realize that I don't sleep on a cot in the back of my classroom, the librarian isn't neccissarily my best friend, I do go shopping occassionally, I am part of a family, I own a dog, I go to concerts/movies/plays, I go out to dinner sometimes (and I might be sipping a glass of chardonnay, which is totally fine and I would never be embarrassed about!)....all these things make me just another person in the neighborhood (albeit the boring one). I think that students will respect my concern for their future more if they know that I'm not "just a teacher." If I act like I have two lives: in-school and out, and never the two shall meet, and teaching is just a job, just a profession to me...I think my students will be able to see through that mentality and then think of themselves as just part of my job.

But, like I said, I don't have to make major changes to my lifestyle to allow my teacher life and real life to mesh. I won't have to give up crazy nights of getting sloshed, or pack up all my mini-skirts and belly shirts; I don't have to cover up a million tatoos or take out piercings all over my face, I don't have a girlfriend (who I'd have to think about whether I keep secret of am open with my students).....as I said before, I'm pretty plain. I don't think I have to dress like I would in the classroom all the time; if a student saw me in jeans and a t-shirt at the movies with my boyfriend, I'll still be "Miss Koss" 9th grade English teacher, but they'll also see that I have another life---and it's nothing to get excited about!

Whatever, I'm rambling now....but so far I've only written about how I feel personally about this issue as it pertains to me, but I will say that I don't think Taryn should have to pack up all her tank tops that show her shoulders. Nor should any of us feel guilty about wine at a restaurant. Nor should Jeff have to hide the fact that he has a boyfriend (if that were the case)...haha, sorry. I think some level of discretion out to be required of all of us as teachers, in and out of the school, but we don't have to be "teachers" everywhere we go. If you feel like you have to change who you are, or lead two lives by being a teacher, maybe you ought to find another profession? I don't know...that sounds harsh, but I would feel sad for you if you were trying to be someone you weren't just in case a student saw you.