This is true. However, there are definitely forces that compel teachers to act like cops (administration and reactionary societal factors paired with a teacher’s dominion over over a roomful of students are some of the forces).
The biggest example I’ve personally seen was in a university setting, where sometimes too many absences would result in letter grade reductions; that shit drove me nuts. I don’t remember or have teaching experience with pre-university education, although I’m sure examples abound.
Students are owed an environment conducive to learning, and this leads to a fine line between cop and not-cop behavior in many circumstances. But I do think that teaching, partly due to its history, can foster an environment of paternalism which, if unchecked, can get way out of hand
This is true. However, there are definitely forces that compel teachers to act like cops (administration and reactionary societal factors paired with a teacher’s dominion over over a roomful of students are some of the forces).
The biggest example I’ve personally seen was in a university setting, where sometimes too many absences would result in letter grade reductions; that shit drove me nuts. I don’t remember or have teaching experience with pre-university education, although I’m sure examples abound.
Students are owed an environment conducive to learning, and this leads to a fine line between cop and not-cop behavior in many circumstances. But I do think that teaching, partly due to its history, can foster an environment of paternalism which, if unchecked, can get way out of hand