It is taboo to say I love my students. Because of the safety concerns with children, it has become taboo to express love for students – to hug them or to say we love them. Of course, we want to keep the students safe and to be clear that this is happening in our schools. I also think we have thrown out the baby with the bathwater. It’s time to take back what was stolen from the children – teachers expressing love for their students.

This is the reason why I became a teacher – because I love children. I want to make a difference in their lives. Children need the important people in their lives to love them. Children know which adults love them. It is important for them to hear it. I believe it’s time to break the taboo and to take back this language for our students. It’s time to let them know. It’s time to say we love them.