Jennifer Horgan: Teachers are not your children's friends. They are far more than that

"A teacher is a guide, a facilitator, an instructor, a clarifier, but above anything else, a teacher is a protector, a safeguard."

I’ve been watching the Wonder Years on TV. It’s perfect for the times we’re living in – a daily dose of lost innocence and longing. Kevin Arnold’s little shirts and his earnest little face make me smile every time.

In last night’s episode, Kevin asks his teacher for help with maths. Seemingly cold and formal, the man meets him every day after school, until one day, he doesn’t. Bewildered and unaware that his teacher is unwell, Kevin looks up at him with his inimitable puppy dog eyes and croaks “I thought you were my friend.”