Inappropriate Touching
Workday - 8:30am-4:30pm
As a newer teacher, I learned right away that you just can't touch students anymore. No pat on the back, no hug "hello", nothing. It's just better to be safe. Of course, sometimes exceptions are made (not to mention that accidents happen).
Today I found myself literally tugging on a student's arm to get him into choir practice. He didn't realize there was rehearsal tonight and made other plans. This was my way of making it clear that missing it was not acceptable. I yanked him for about 2 seconds before it was pretty obvious he was stronger than I. He then ran down the hall to escape the issue. Or me. I'm not really sure which one.
Then there's the case of my one student who is very clingy with me. She usually greets me by hugging up to me or leaning against me from behind. I think she's a little affection-starved, and I feel sad about that. I generally don't reciprocate just to keep on the safe side. It also makes me sad because I just end up looking cold and rude. At least I'm not in elementary school. I wonder how those teachers comfort the poor little kids. I'm sure most just break the rules. I think it's a little more unusual to be dealing with a clingy 17-year-old.
Lastly, on this topic, my colleagues were sharing some stories from the past today at lunch. I heard about how one of them inadvertently "got to second base" with a student when he turned around and she was behind him. I found the idea of this insanely funny, even though (of course) it was accidental. What made it funnier to me was that the guy ended up completely mortified for the rest of the day.
I told them after how students "bump into me" all the time. When you're in a crowded classroom, it just becomes a matter of fact. I don't give it a second thought now, but I think it's just different when the roles are reversed.
As a newer teacher, I learned right away that you just can't touch students anymore. No pat on the back, no hug "hello", nothing. It's just better to be safe. Of course, sometimes exceptions are made (not to mention that accidents happen).
Today I found myself literally tugging on a student's arm to get him into choir practice. He didn't realize there was rehearsal tonight and made other plans. This was my way of making it clear that missing it was not acceptable. I yanked him for about 2 seconds before it was pretty obvious he was stronger than I. He then ran down the hall to escape the issue. Or me. I'm not really sure which one.
Then there's the case of my one student who is very clingy with me. She usually greets me by hugging up to me or leaning against me from behind. I think she's a little affection-starved, and I feel sad about that. I generally don't reciprocate just to keep on the safe side. It also makes me sad because I just end up looking cold and rude. At least I'm not in elementary school. I wonder how those teachers comfort the poor little kids. I'm sure most just break the rules. I think it's a little more unusual to be dealing with a clingy 17-year-old.
Lastly, on this topic, my colleagues were sharing some stories from the past today at lunch. I heard about how one of them inadvertently "got to second base" with a student when he turned around and she was behind him. I found the idea of this insanely funny, even though (of course) it was accidental. What made it funnier to me was that the guy ended up completely mortified for the rest of the day.
I told them after how students "bump into me" all the time. When you're in a crowded classroom, it just becomes a matter of fact. I don't give it a second thought now, but I think it's just different when the roles are reversed.
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