parenting comment...

so a teacher on another site posted soemthing saying something like " its crazy how i don't even have kids yet, and i can parent better than most of my students parents!"
and it got me thinking... do you think teachers in general are better parents than the general population??
i kind of can see it, because teachers have a better idea of how to set limits with kids and how to discipline, plus being around them ALL DAY really gives you a ton of experience on how kids think and how the "work"... what do you gusy think?

Re: parenting comment...

I would never say that I can parent better than any of the parents when I do not even have children, however, I do think that we learn strategies and techniques in the classroom that can help us so much as parents. I think we are by nature more patient which keeps us in control and we are forced to get and stay in control of a room full of kids where some parents have a hard time being in control of 1 kid but I do think most kids show more respect towards teachers than their parents but I don't think that is a fair statement in general.

Re: parenting comment...

Hmmmm, tough question...

I cant side with either side of the question but being a parent now, and subbing and also seeing teachers in action..

I will say that it's a huge plus if you teach before you have kids, just the art of managing a class full of kids, discipline/classroom management in itself is a hard task to master!
never mind all the "unique" personalities that may clash or collide and you have to make it work.

I will always admire the skills of a great teacher.

But I will say that as a teacher you CANT "flip out" as you can as a parent. So in a way, that keeps teachers "in check"...

I dont think it's so much the "more patient by nature" theory at all


Nowadays kids will report back anything you say that they feel is inappropriate, etc.

As a parent, it's your house your rules.

No one will judge you (or if they do, it doesnt affect much!), you will not lose your job, you wont have other parents coming down your throat if they felt you did XYZ to their child...

Does this make sense?

So while I do think it helps that teachers learn to manage children and learn great strategies to making SOO many otherwise difficult circumstances manageable, I also feel that parents have their kids 24/7, and kids are not under "school rules" when at home (yes theyre under "home rules" but let's face it, they all listen better to other figures of authority.

I didnt mean to offend or start anything controversial but Id be interested in seeing if I made any sense in getting out what I was trying to say and if anyone has anything to add.