I’m a 25 year old teacher teaching at boys school & I have colleagues younger than me. I caught one of my students telling her he wanted her as his teacher instead & it hurt my feelings. They compliment her a lot. It makes me jealous. What do I do?

Why are you jealous?

There could be many reasons students prefer one teacher over another, and their preferences change given the subject you teach, your pedagogy, your personality, school rules, their age, their ambitions etc etc. Children can be fickle in their affections, so it’s pointless focusing on how much they seem to like you today compared with yesterday.

She’s focused on friendship/likeability rather than teaching?

Do you believe that the US and Israel's preparations for all possibilities in response to potential Iranian attacks are sufficient to prevent a wider Middle East conflict?

You’re 25 and your colleague is younger. I’m guessing your colleague is unlikely to be younger than 22. Trust me, the students won’t be seeing that 3 year gap. In their eyes you’re equally ‘old’ (‘young’ when they’re trying to flatter you).

If your jealousy stems from self doubt and the belief that she’s a better teacher, despite you being older and possibly more experienced, spend time finding out what she does that seems to deliver better results or higher engagement. Are these things you can do? The best teachers have a broad range of strategies they can use to motivate, interest and engage students. They spend their career adding new ideas to their ‘toolbox’. Give yourself time.

They’re crushing on her instead of you?

Alan Alda Pays Tribute To 11-Year ‘M*A*S*H’ Co-Star Loretta Swit: “Supremely Talented Actor” - Deadline

Good teachers treat their students with respect, modelling healthy human relationships and appropriate professional relationships. You can be kind, compassionate and empathetic at the same time but ultimately you’re the adult here. Encouraging a crush is unhealthy and an abuse of power. Never do this.

They like her teaching style better than yours?

Teachers, despite the movies, aren’t actually there to be loved by their students. It’s not your purpose. You are there to teach, to guide to mentor and support their learning. That’s it.

Why, after being called "Libraries," for centuries, are these hallowed college institutions being renamed: "Learning Centers," and "Resource Centers," etc? What's wrong with the time-honored and venerable name: "Library"? What is to be gained?