Student flattery

                  “Happiness understands that fond memories are only a thought away.” Dr. BLR 

For nearly 25 years, I've had the pleasure of teaching some excellent students who often go out of their way to tease me. If I were very sensitive, I might be hurt by the comments and drawings I’ve endured. But I’m not sensitive because I can both give and take. So, I say, let’s get it on. 

My students know from the first day of the semester that I have a unique personality for a 61-year-old man, who’s very young at heart, even though my physical ailments reveal my actual age. I set the tone by cracking jokes and occasionally using foul language to express myself. The initial look of surprise tells me that I’ve shocked them, which is my goal. By the end of the first class, I knew I had made them feel comfortable and that they looked forward to hearing more of what I would say throughout the semester. 

During my introduction and in a follow-up in my course syllabus, I tell students about my background in law enforcement and that I want to be in the classroom. Still, I don’t need to be there because I have a pension from my retirement, which allows me the opportunity to pay my bills. My point is, I want to be here, but I don’t need to be here. It’s not arrogance; it’s honesty. 

In the past, I’ve taught three in-person courses and one online. Two of these classes mainly focus on police issues, while the other is based on sociological study. I work to keep my classes lively and engaging. More importantly, I ensure my students know they also have a voice in my class and that I value their honesty in all discussions. Sometimes class discussions can get quite contentious, and some students wonder why I don’t shut down heated debates, but I love them and would never do that. 

Sometimes, I notice students get their feelings hurt by what another student says, but I quickly tell them to move on and focus on the future. Most of them are freshmen and will face adversity at some point in their lives, so why not start now? Although this approach may seem insensitive, it's part of my strategy to motivate them to return to class for our next meeting. To say the least, it has never failed me. 

The two courses I receive the most feedback on are my Multiculturalism in Justice and Social Deviance classes, due to the subject matter. For some reason, students are more vocal and willing to challenge their classmates about their expressed perspectives. These interactions fuel my passion for teaching. The honesty and passion I observe show me they are invested and taking the conversations seriously.

As the course progresses, some of my students occasionally invite others to sit in on our class without asking first. This action tells me two things. First, they appreciate my teaching style, and second, they want their friends to see what they've been telling them about the class. This is such an honor and doesn’t go unnoticed. Additionally, because I’m willing to take a joke, some students draw pictures on the whiteboard to tease me and make my head look bigger to get a laugh from their classmates. Honestly, the drawings are funny, and I’ve never felt more loved. I know they do it because they care about me and want to tease or poke fun at me. It’s all good. 

There’s another way I stay connected with current and former students: social media, especially Instagram. I can’t count how many posts I’ve shared with students that I find hilarious. This has sometimes been a daily mission of mine, just for fun. Their responses are quite funny as well, but I’m no slouch in the rebuttal. 

I know they don’t do this for most of their professors, so I definitely feel special. I appreciate what they say and, definitely, the funny things they do. Their actions make me want to keep teaching as long as I can have more students like them. I will never be able to thank them enough. So here goes—thank you more than you’ll ever know. Deadazz. Royster out.