Well, from yesterday’s entry, I started to think "what makes a good teacher?” I tried to think about what made school the magical place that it is. What made me excited to go to school, and to love Mondays, and not be a sour face, like pretty much everyone else? And what I constantly kept landing on, wasn't what I expected, yet I half knew. It wasn't that my friends were in almost all of my classes. I wasn't that I liked the free periods I have. And it definitely wasn't the 7am wake up to go to class. No, it was that going to class was fun.

Now, I know that's a bit of an umbrella. I mean, I always rave about how school is fun! How is that going to help anyone? So I decided to try and be more specific. What makes school fun? What makes almost all my classes fun to go to? I’ve been thinking about it ever since yesterday and I think I've got it. It wasn’t anything that was considered to be fun. Nor was it the actual subject I’m studying. No it's that the teachers talk and teach us like we're their peers. And not like little children, to look down upon.

Now, let me clarify, I'm not saying that students are smarter than or as smart as teachers. That's definitely not I'm talking about. What I am talking about though, is how teacher would treat their students as a friend, rather than, you know a 6^th grader. And I don't mean personal, best friends. Just a friend you can talk to at lunch. I just want a bit of looseness. To be able to make a few math jokes once in a while, or to say "fuck" and them not give a crap. Because let's face it. They probably use it once in a while. I want it to be like I'm talking to a friend, rather than just another authority figure.

It lets me be more open. To ask more question, and to give answers when the class is being brain dead (can we say 8am classes?).

And I think this does happen. But not soon enough. Teachers are friendlier to students in Year 12 and 11. I even saw some students drinking coffee with their teachers before class. And I think that works great. I see better discussions in class in Year 12 classes (I'm doing Year 12 Bio) than I see in my year 11 classes. And I think, due to that, the kids are having a better time and learning more.

See, I think teachers should start treating kids like that from Year 7. To show them that we think they're mature. That they're adults. I know, we may already say their adults, but how often do we treat them like that? I remember my favorite classes, and the classes I would consider more beneficial, had teachers that I could treat as a friend, rather than just another authority figure. I had more fun in those classes, and I’ve learnt a whole lot more. I even respected them a lot more. I didn’t speak as much, because I knew that I wouldn’t want to make my friend’s life unnecessarily harder.

So schools, stop making teachers these authority figures we have to listen to. Stop putting them on a pedestal. Let them drop down a notch. We're teenagers. We're going to rebel against authority. If the teacher doesn’t step down, we’re going to pull them down.

So, any future teachers out there. Treat your class like you would your friends. Let them swear once in a while. Let them get away with that comment, that their mum won’t let them get away with. Let them make a few jokes. And reap the rewards as the best teacher, as voted by students and teachers.

Also, I’ve noticed that the older teachers already kinda do this. And normally, they’re the best teacher teachers I’ll ever have.