I was given some good advice from a mentor before I started teaching. "You are not the student's friend, you are their teacher. You can be their friend after they graduate." We are trying to help these students achieve their goals, not show them a good time. That being said, I think the teachers that can accomplish this while showing the students a good time are the best ones. If I were to err, and I do frequently, I would err on the side of being strict.

Josh Walker
Educator/Instructor
St. Louis Community College
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA