At the end of the day, one of my students approached me.
"Mrs.M, my mom and I went to a restaurant last night,and we were sitting by three teachers. They were talking about their students and saying mean things. They were calling them stupid, weird, and ugly."
I told her that it's unfortunate that she had to hear that. I told her that I talk to my husband about them, but never using those words. And I would certainly not talk about them in public in that manner.
But, on the drive home, I started thinking, "Do I do that?"
Am I guilty of talking about my students in public in a negative way? When my colleague and I head out to Happy Hour after a trying week, am I conscious of what I am saying? Am I conscious of the woman with her 8 year old child sitting next to us, as we let off steam?
Did that little girl approach her teacher on Monday and repeat our conversation?
This really made me stop and think. Yes, we are off. But, is a teacher ever really off? When your kids run into you after school, or on the weekend, you know you are still their teacher.
It just gave me pause. And I promised myself I will be a lot more careful of what I say around others. And If I really feel the need to vent, I'll whisper. :)
photo credit: Maga Soto via photopin cc