One of the big perks of my job is that my students are always happy to see me. They know that my class is a break from their regularly scheduled programming of memorization and homework. They know that we will sing songs and play games and that I probably won't discipline them at all. I like to think that they also like me as a person. Even when they see me every week it isn't out of the ordinary for students to cheer when I enter their classroom, so this week when my students were seeing me for the first time in nearly six weeks, I got a several standing ovations and lots of hugs.
My first and second graders are very physically affectionate. They don't see their parents often, so I think they come to see the teachers here as parent figures in some ways. I'm used to spending time with kids and I don't mind hugging kids even if their nose is running and even if I know there is no hand soap in the bathrooms. Some of my second graders, all girls, also like to kiss me on the cheek when they see me, and although this made me a little uncomfortable at first, I knew that they were just trying to show me that they liked me, so I figured it was ok. But, I have one student (now named Sophie), who really wants to kiss me on the lips. She always mimes this and reaches for my face while pursing her lips. This started last semester and I have so far fended her off. I usually just try to pretend that I don't understand what she wants. I talked with some of my coworkers about this, and they said that it was fine and normal, especially since she's a girl. They all told me that it was fine for the girl to kiss me, but I guess my own cultural perception of student and teacher kissing is too ingrained in me. It makes me feel uncomfortable, but of course there is no way for me to convey this to Sophie other than pushing her away when she tries to kiss me. Obviously I don't want to push her away. I don't want her to think that I don't like her or that affection is bad, but still, I cannot let her kiss me.
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