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Every teacher has done it: looked at a heroic portrayal of the profession on screen and nodded knowingly to themselves, “I could do that.” But, as any philosophy graduate (or your students) can tell you, what we perceive isn’t necessarily what others see. Here are five teachers you might try to emulate. And the likely reactions of your students:

1. Mr. Keating - Dead Poets Society
   You think: You don’t play by the rules: you’re a maverick renegade who only has to answer to your two muses of Creativity and Inspiration. Your students would follow you to the ends of the earth (or until credits roll, whichever comes first).
   Your students think: Why are we standing on our desks again? 
   
   
2. Miss Honey - Matilda
   You think: Your gentle nature and visible love for learning has earned you the respect and sweet adoration of your students, who recognize that you’re trying your hardest to care for them in a system designed to spite them.
   Your students think: Pushover. Will buy her a bunch of flowers at the end of the year, though.
   
   
3. Ms. Frizzle - The Magic School Bus
   You think: Every lesson is a WOW lesson and every day is an amazing adventure. Oh, the places you’ll go will put all the other teachers in your school to shame. In years to come, your classes will still turn to each other and say, “Do you remember that Monday when…”
   Your students think: Oh nooo...she’s got her freaking guitar out again…
   
   
4. Sister Mary Clarence - Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
   You think: You’re hip. You’re with it. You’re totally down with the kids and your gritty street-smart realism will break through their tough façade so that together you can go on to win that choir championship. Or sports championship. Really, whatever championship. As long as you can belt out gospel covers when you win.
   Your students think: Try, much? Anyway, who are these All Saints she keeps talking about and what does it mean if something’s “totally rad”? And what’s up with all the singing in PE?
   
   
5. Elizabeth Halsey - Bad Teacher
   We don’t know what you’re thinking, because this is a terrible, terrible idea. (We said heroic portrayal, remember?)