Friendship vs. Professionalism

So today at work I was all alone. Not a single student came from my class for the last day of school. Which was a bit strange; I was (I think) the only one in that situation. Certainly the only one in my Grade.

Watching the other teachers laughing and joking with their students made me wonder: is it good that I've generally tried NOT to get too close to my students? I'm not a great person at relationships, and don't generally think that I give good advice. But still...it was pretty hard not to feel jealous watching them, and to be sitting there, all alone.

But on the other hand: for the REST of the year, I had by far the fewest problems in my class. Discipline forms were far fewer, I believe suspensions were a lot less. My attendance suffered, but in that case I _know_ it was not due to teacher relations. Actually, I figured out as I went along that all by 4 students were actually showing up most of the time...just that only 11-12 of them would do so on any given day. It worked out.

I treat my students with professional respect and courtesy, rather than looking to make friends with them. I want to earn their respect rather than their friendship: it's going to be better for them in the long run. But still...at the end of the day at the end of the year, it hurt to be alone.

Giant Robots generate tremendous respect! But all we really seek is love...