Rant - Teacher Tok
It’s that time of year again when teachers—particularly American “influencers” and content creators—start showing social media everything they’ve bought and decorated for their classrooms. And honestly, I think some of this has gotten completely out of hand.
Please do not compare yourself to these teachers. You do not need a colourful, perfectly curated, Pinterest-worthy classroom to be an amazing teacher. If you genuinely love decorating your classroom and creating that kind of environment, that is absolutely okay! But it is not a requirement for being a good teacher.
What concerns me is the message this can unintentionally send to other teachers, especially new teachers, who may already feel overwhelmed and like they aren’t doing enough. Our classrooms do not need to look like a content studio. They need to be places where children feel safe, supported, challenged and excited to learn.
And social media can be exhausting sometimes. You’ll see comments like, “Where was this teacher when I was in school?” as though the teachers who had simple classrooms, basic materials and less “aesthetic” environments somehow weren’t good teachers. I’m not trying to bash these influencers at all. I’m sure many of them are incredible teachers. My concern is the culture that has developed around classroom content and the pressure it creates.
There was a perfect example of this recently when a video went viral of a mom crying after Meet the Teacher night because her child’s classroom didn’t have a “fun rug.” The reaction was based on an expectation that a classroom should look a certain way in order to feel exciting or welcoming to a child.
And that is exactly where I think we need to pause.
Children do not need a perfectly decorated classroom to have an amazing school year. They need a teacher who knows their name, listens to them, believes in them, teaches them, challenges them and makes them feel like they belong.
My other major concern is the way other people’s children are being used as content for views. These are real children, not props for a classroom aesthetic or content strategy. Their privacy and dignity should always come before engagement, views and followers.
Decorate your classroom if it brings you joy. Buy the cute bins if you love them. Make your room colourful if that’s your thing. But please remember: you are not a better teacher because your classroom looks better on social media.
Your students will remember how you made them feel and what you taught them far longer than they’ll remember what was hanging on your walls.