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do some study and I’ll get back to you.” The students pick up quickly that the teacher just does not want
to admit that he does not know and puts on a show instead. Students see through the hypocrisy in a
minute. The students then lose trust in the reliability of the information presented by that teacher. It
shakes the foundation under the student’s faith in the teacher.

If you want to be a lousy teacher, just have a “I know it all” attitude. Everyone will see through your
front and know you really don’t know it all. No one does!

6. Sets a bad example.

A teacher is a role model to his students. Students look up to them and
imitate them. In fact, studies have shown that at certain ages, students
look more to their teachers than their parents for guidance. If a teacher
said it was so, then it was so, regardless of what the parents thought or
said. The attitude that a teacher possesses, his manner of life, his
philosophy and beliefs, and his habits create a model that students follow.

In 8 grade I had a teacher who was an alcoholic. He would come to class on occasion and be drunk. He
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had to be taking a “swig” outside the classroom. We could always tell when he had too many drinks
because his hair was all messy and he could not stand on his feet very well, so he sat at his desk. He
certainly was not a role model to the class. In fact, we all felt sorry for him. He set a terrible example of
a teacher to the students.

What kind of poor habits do you have as a teacher? Are you controlled by some substance or bound to
some addiction? Remember this verse from the Bible:

Luke 6:40 A disciple (student) is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like
his teacher.

Do you want your students to become just like you? A lousy teacher could care less. A lousy teacher
does not even try to be a role model. He is too self-absorbed to care.

This section on becoming a lousy teacher is a negative approach to what we DO NOT want you to
become. But we wanted you to see that certain attitudes and behaviors will be detrimental to you as
you try to work toward becoming a great teacher. Remember these negative traits, and avoid them!

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