Should we fear or love our teachers?

As a teacher, am I more concerned with being feared or loved? And by loved, I don't mean LOOVED, I mean respected and open. Should I be putting the fear of my terrible wrath into them to "get it done, and do it right", or should I allow them some grace? I tend more toward the grace side of things. I really think my students, ALL my students, are hilarious, sharp, gifted, talented and sweet. I like them. I like going into class and seeing what new epiphanies and ideas they will have. To me, "winging it" means opening the class up to them and letting them take the lead. And yet I wonder, am I being too hippy-dippy? Too easy? Maybe at the beginning of the year I should rise up like an ancient dragon-lady and pour forth laser-beam glances and vicious sneers. Maybe I should set more of a strict tone in my classroom, reminding my students who is in charge and just exactly how things will get done.

Call me Cuckoo Mc Crazyton, call me Mary Poppins-ranka, but I think students shouldn't be afraid of me. I don't think students learn better if they live in fear of my judgment upon them. I know it is really tempting to be all-knowing and all-powerful, but in the end, where does it get me? I am not all-knowing or all-powerful, so why should I keep my students at a distance from this finite amount of knowledge? What am I afraid of? If I cultivate an atmosphere of respect, openness, and humor tossed in with some good boundaries, then my students won't be afraid to come seek me out for help. My door is always open, and my lunches and free moments are taken up with students who have good questions. I am happy to answer questions, and no question is too silly to be asked. My favorite teaching moments are when I meet with the student who wants to write a better intro, or the student who wants help dissecting a poem.

I want to be loved. Not LOOOOVED, but I want my students to know that I am an advocate for their learning, not a hindrance to their education.