“Just wait until you get to the real world.”

Heard that statement before?

Have you delivered it?

It may be the most damaging statement you can tell a student.

Telling them to wait for the real world is implying the classroom isn’t real. Taking it further, since the classroom isn’t real, it’s not important.

It also takes away the life experience of the student by telling them what they’re going through doesn’t matter. Sure, their problems may pale in comparison to some you may have faced, but comparing wounds is a losing sum game. Somebody is always going to have it worse.

It’s also a statement that sets you up as the teacher.

If your classroom is the training ground for “the real world,” are you preparing your students appropriately?

Will they be able to walk out of your classroom and be able to deal with what life throws their way?

If you’re not prepared to deal with those questions, then take careful consideration over what you may say. The classroom should be a safe haven for students to test ideas and challenge thoughts because they may not get this opportunity elsewhere.

This is the great part of having students attempt new ways of thinking.

Also keep in mind the following:

The real world is changing all the time.

The way we communicate, work, commute and interact with the environment are evolving at a rapid pace. Our social network is now on a global scale and while the industrial era may have given rise to mass production, there’s a move again towards local consumption.

This has all been in the past ten years.

Now think about the number of years it will take for your students to graduate.

What’s the “real world” going to look like then?