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Well, that can make school a bit more
difficult and unpleasant. Unfortunately,
not everybody is going to like us. I would
hope teachers don't let their opinions
of students affect their grades, but it
does happen. So, it's up to us to determine
how we are going to react.
We cannot control how other people think
about us, but we can control how we think
about them and how we respond to them.
With the Golden Rule, Jesus gave us a
way to treat others: "And as ye would
that men should do to you, do ye also
to them likewise" (Luke 6:31). We
need to treat others, teachers included,
as we want to be treated -- with respect
and appreciation. We don't need to take
the bait and retort with a defensive remark
or a resentful attitude. If we do, we
become caught up in a cycle of frustration
and anger which only hurts us more. And
with a person of authority, that could
create a bigger problem that we simply
don't need. Our job in school is to learn,
and we don't want to let anything interfere
with that, including emotions and opinions.
So, we need to keep our thoughts free
and open to God. I often tell my students
to put on their "emotional rain coats"
and let insulting or mean comments slide
off of them without hurting them. It's
amazing how our calm response to another
person who is acting intensely can calm
the entire situation.
There's a reason why Jesus said, "For
if ye love them which love you, what thank
have ye? … And if ye do good to them
which do good to you, what thank have
ye? for sinners also do even the same"
(32, 33). It's easy to like people who
like us. But, the people who really need
our love are those who don't treat us
very well. Teachers are people, too. We
don't know what people are dealing with
in their own experiences unless they tell
us. The teacher could have nothing against
you. You may have just walked in at the
wrong moment when the teacher could've
been dealing with a different issue. Or,
maybe the teacher is going through problems
at home. But, if a teacher, or anyone
else for that matter, treats us in a way
that is not too nice, then we have the
opportunity to see that individual correctly
-- as God's loved child. Our expression
of love could take the form of doing what
is asked of us, or listening, or asking
if anything is needed.
The poem, "Child of Light"
reminds me to see myself and others correctly:
I see myself as God’s own child,
As perfect in His sight.
I see my brother man as well
A perfect child of light.
Then to complete my prayer,
I see him seeing me aright.
I see him seeing me see him
A perfect child of light.
-- Author unknown
The only opinion that we should really
care about is God's opinion. And God loves
us all dearly and deeply.
So, in summary, the way to work with
a teacher who doesn't appear to like us
is:
- Don't react (put on your rain coat);
- See the teacher as God's child and
see him or her seeing you as God's child;
- Treat the teacher with respect (use
the Golden Rule);
- Trust God to take care of the situation
and to take care of your future.
As you trust God more, you'll find that
tough situations will right themselves
sooner or later.
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