Teaching humanities without being human

People can stigmatize male teachers showing affection all they want, but I always tell my students I love them, especially when they get in trouble. "Claire, I love you, but you're not in my class this period. Go away." Today I told a young man to leave my class because he was being too loud. Dragging his feet out the door, he turns around and softly asks, "Mister, do you still love me?" "I still love you, David. Come back when you've calmed down." About five minutes later, he came back in and quietly took his seat. I work in a poor school. Many of the parents here don't care about academics because they're substance abusers, in jail, or working two or more jobs to make ends meet. It hadn't even occurred to me until today that I've been telling "my kids" I love them for so long, and it's probably the only time many of them ever hear anyone say it. Yet everyone tells me not to - that I'll lose my job for it someday. It just takes one petty kid or vindictive parent. So I don't tell them I love them unless there are other people around.

source: Article 'Teaching Humanities Without Being Human' by 'Nikadesh'; imgur.com/gallery/jPVtQ; Album on Imgur; 13 May 2017