Hello friend.
There are a lot of misconceptions in teaching.
Two weeks ago, I spoke about what many teachers get wrong about authority.
But this week, I want to talk about another misconception:
Teachers are never meant to get angry.
It’s a funny one, isn’t it?
It’s great to see educators helping kids express and manage their emotions safely.
But we aren’t so good at doing it for ourselves.
Some teachers believe that we should NEVER lose our temper in the classroom – always being ‘zen’ even if we see a chair hurtling towards our face.
We should be exactly the same.
Everyday.
For the rest of our teaching career.
But real life isn’t like that.
What happens when we are:
• Physically sick?
• Feeling burnt out?
• Dealing with personal issues?
• Struggling to manage our workload?
Sure, we’re meant to ‘leave all our troubles at home’, but like gremlins, these guys often hitch a ride with us to our classrooms.
We ‘keep calm and carry on’ while the pressure continues to build internally…
Then that tricky kid from the horrible class you teach says the wrong thing and BOOM!!!
You go off like a landmine, and your whole class becomes a shambles.
Then shame whispers in your ear, saying you’re ‘not cut out for teaching.’
And then you listen. Feeling like the worst human being in the world.
But you can't stay in a stressful state too long...
Research has shown that living in a chronic state of anger can lead to1:
• Heart disease
• Disturbed digestion
• Higher risks of heart attacks
• Increased anxiety and depression
• Higher rates of mortality (basically it can kill ya.)
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
I used to REALLY struggle with my anger and frustration at the beginning of my teaching career.
But I found the most unlikely mentor in the angriest avenger of them all.
What the Hulk Knows About Anger That Most People Don't
I know cinematic universes are old hat nowadays.
But when the Marvel Cinematic Universe released The Avengers in 2012, it was mindblowing!
Seeing Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye, Thor, Black Widow, and Nick Fury stand side by side made my inner nerd freak out.
But my absolute favourite character in the film was the Hulk.
You know the story: Dr Bruce Banner, a mild-mannered genius scientist, had a “little gamma accident" in the lab and turned into an angry version of Shrek that has taken too much testosterone therapy.
(In the comics, it was a ‘gamma bomb’, but we will stick to the movie version.)
Whenever Banner got angry, the not-so-jolly green giant came out to play.
The Hulk was a 9-foot walking weapon of mass destruction. With almost unlimited strength, unpredictability and rage, the Hulk laid waste to everything in his path with venom.
But the Avengers never quite knew whether The Hulk would help them or destroy them. He almost killed Black Widow in a terrifying action sequence mid-film.
But Dr. Banner easily had the best story arc in the film.
Throughout the movie, The Avengers were wary of making Banner stressed or angry, believing that was the key to his transformation.
But Banner understood something critical that is the key to emotional regulation.
As they prepare for the final battle against the overwhelming alien army, Banner and Captain America have this dialogue.
Captain America: “Dr. Banner… now might be a really good time for you to get angry.”
Dr Banner: “That’s my secret, Cap… I’m always angry.”
This is what most people get wrong about emotional regulation. It’s not about ignoring or suppressing your emotions.
When Banner first became the Hulk, he quickly realised that it would be impossible to rid himself of anger.
Ironically, his desperate attempts to cure himself of the Hulk led to more stress, making him more likely to transform into Ol' Jade-Jaws.
Gradually, Banner learned to understand his anger, control it and, unless under extreme stress, could transform at will using the Hulk for the greater good.
Banner began a journey of self-acceptance that, over the course of 20 films, led him to merge with the brute to become 'Professor Hulk', combining the Hulk’s strength with his genius intelligence. The best of both worlds.
What Banner understood is the difference between reactive anger and positive anger.
Reactive anger is when you get angry fast and act without thinking. This is what causes fights and hurt feelings.
Positive anger is when you stay in control and use your anger to fix a problem or stand up for what’s right.
And that minor distinction makes all the difference.
Three Examples of 'Positive Anger'
Anger isn’t purely 'bad' – it’s how we apply it that can help or harm.
Here are three examples of when positive anger can help you.
#1 Resetting Classroom Expectations
When students stop following the rules, it’s natural to feel frustrated.
Positive anger helps you speak up firmly yet calmly, rather than staying silent or snapping.
It gives you the push to say, “This isn’t working—we need to reset how things are done here.”
This positive anger allows you to be assertive and create the boundaries that will help your class thrive.
#2 Taking Action on a Worsening Situation
Our anger doesn't always turn up in a destructive, forceful way. Sometimes it's like a smouldering fire that builds up over time.
If you’re being asked to do more and more—like extra duties or covering for others—it’s okay to feel fed up. This often appears as resentment, as we feel like we are being mistreated.
Instead of addressing the issue, we develop negative feelings toward the person, creating a hostile environment full of conflict and misunderstandings.
Positive anger can help you stand your ground and say, “I can’t take that on right now,” clearly and respectfully.
Positive anger can give the energy and courage to speak up and 'clear the air' - reestablishing your boundaries and protecting you from burnout.
#3 Making You Take Better Care of Yourself
When you’re always giving but never recharging, your body and emotions begin to get out of whack.
You may have weird and uncomfortable physical sensations like:
• Tremors
• A tight chest
• A foggy head
These should be treated like your body's warning lights.
Positive anger reminds you to value your own needs.
It gives you permission to take a break, say no, or ask for space—without guilt.
Perhaps that means not marking on weekends or refusing to take meetings during your lunch break.
Being a great teacher isn’t about being constantly positive. It’s not about ignoring frustration, disappointment, or stress.
It’s about recognising those emotions and channelling them into something productive.
It’s about using your anger like your ‘spider-sense’ to protect your well-being and become your best self.
If you often feel angry or stressed, don’t ignore it— lean into it, understand it, and use it to improve your life.
If you can learn how to tap into your emotions and use them positively, it will give you superpowers the Avengers would envy.
If you are still unsure how to use your emotions to enhance your classroom leadership skills, I got you.
I wrote a whole section about this topic in my first book, ‘The Action Hero Teacher: Classroom Management Made Simple.’
Not only will you get a full explanation of how to do this, but you will also get reflection questions and exercises to help you lock in these skills.
If you enjoy the newsletters, then you will love the book. It’s an easy breezy summer read. Have a gander when you are ready 😎👇🏾
https://tinyurl.com/2jxyzkdd
That’s all for today.
The last newsletter of this academic year comes out on Thursday 24th July 2025
See you then.
Karl
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/ways-anger-ruining-your-health/
