Be Careful not to Step on Their Toes

As my rapport with students increases, some students try to use me as a means to be distracted from lessons. Mostly a few almost-but-not-quite delinquent boys use this tactic--to side-talk to me--in classses that young female teachers are teaching. (Yes, unfortunately, many young female teachers are victimized by bad boys.) I always tell them to go back to their work, but they always resist. This happened again today, and I felt sorry for the teacher. So I really need to strike a balance between my own research and the teachers' interests/responsibilities.