Visitors from another planet

OK well not really. But I did have visitors today. Not the kind that comes in unannounced and observes your every mistake. I've had really great administrators that try to make these necessary observations as unobtrusive as possible. They are kind and give great feedback after the lesson and have been very encouraging. The fact of the matter is however, your mistakes are on full display and you are only as good as your last game. Well, not really... but since I've been told I'm my own worst critic, it sure feels that way. So... who were my visitors today? They were 2 of my students from last year who came in to say hello, to sit on my couch, and (I suspect) to tell my students that I wasn't as mean as I say that I am.

"Mr. Lin SAYS he's mean, but don't believe him. He's NEVER hit anyone with his whacking stick,"

announced one former student to the class. Apparently she didn't heed my warning not to come visit if she was going to tell the class I'm a nice teacher.

"She's only saying that because she knows she'll be buried under the school with the other 2 kids that stepped out of line last year,"

I said as I glared at her.


No avail however; I'm pretty sure that I've already blown my own cover. With kids, they often do something that is just so out of whack that you can't help but laugh. And once you laugh, they know you aren't the Marine Drill Instructor that you might pretend to be.

I do enjoy having students visit me however. And, I'm pretty sure that I'll get visitors from the previous year every once in a while. I've had a few different students come by this year and I'm sure I will always appreciate and cherish these visits. One of my hopes however, is to have young adults come visit me many years after they are students in my classroom so I can see what they have become. I hope to see them with successful and promising careers. Most of all however, I hope I have been able to model the love that goes beyond our human comprehension to my students - a love which doesn't come from me, but from the One who prepared this career in advance for me.

At a time like that, I'll be able embrace the words of a student that tells me how nice I am. Heck, I may even crack a smile.