I’m an elementary school teacher and my principal ordered me to stop telling students how proud I am of them.

Before I get started: I’m really proud of my students. I look at them all day during recess, lunch, class, etc., and I can see so much potential in them. I can tell how much they have grown during the time we’ve spent together. Half of my students are English language learners or were considered special education. I also got a new class at the start of the year, so I first met them in kindergarten.<br><br>Today, my students finished a difficult lesson that I worried they wouldn’t understand as well as I thought, and they did. I said, “Wow, I’m so proud of you. Our whole class worked together and we got it done! I couldn’t be prouder.”<br><br>My principal was walking by and overheard. She was also on campus observing our classroom. Later that day, she called me to the staff room after dismissal.<br><br>I asked if I had done something wrong, and she said she was just concerned that I was saying I was proud of the class too much. She asked if I had anything else to say, and I was dumbfounded. I told her I didn’t think what I was doing was too much. She said that a teacher’s job is to create an environment where the kids can learn, not to brag about them and give them attention.<br><br>I was overwhelmed. I told her that I was a teacher because I cared about the kids and wanted them to learn. She said, “Exactly! That’s why you should focus on teaching them well instead of showering them with praise and attention.”<br><br>I got back to my classroom and I was just confused. I thought we were supposed to be supportive and encouraging as teachers. I want my students to know that they are valued and appreciated, and I am worried that my principal’s criticism will undermine that.<br><br>Has anyone else had a similar experience? Should I follow my principal's advice and stop telling my students how proud I am of them? I don't want to upset my principal, but I also want to make sure my students feel seen and appreciated.<br><br>Advice is appreciated.<br><br>TLDR: My principal told me to stop saying “I’m so proud of you all” to my students because it’s not a teacher’s job to give praise and attention.