teachers? what did you tell students?

i am a high school teacher who is very open with her students. i have great relationships with my classes. But, do i want to share the details of this with them? what if they ask? any teachers out there want to share their experiences with me? i would appreciate it. thank you!

As a person that has worked with teens and had my own stepson, it is not advisable to have this very personal and possibly scary issue before them.
You are their teacher, and though you have great rapport, there are boundaries that must be respected.
As an authority figure, any adult needs to set limits and not burden them with concerns that do not pertain to them.
A simple "I'll be out for a while caring for my health", or some such comment would be enough and greatly appreciated.
As a parent, I would not want my child to be informed of these things by a teacher. No matter how wonderful a relationship you have with any of them, don't forget they are just kids, and some one else's at that.
Please do not think this is a scolding. I have seen situations where the teachers have gotten parents very upset by sharing too much of their private lives with their students, and it would be sad to have your reputation as a great teacher fly out the window by a parent's complaint.

Hi, Viezel,
I am a high school teacher, also. I have an easy relationship with my students, and while I wouldn't say they are privy to details of my private life, when I am leaving them for 4 weeks in the hands of a substitute, I thought they deserved more of an explanation than "I'll be taking care of my health." Each teacher must decide this for herself...you are the only person who knows yourself and your relationship with the students you teach. I knew my students would ask me what was wrong, and I told them I needed a hysterectomy and would prefer not discuss the details of it...they weren't too excited about asking for more details! However, some of the girls were quick to say privately that their mothers had had the surgery and were very happy and healthy, and wished me luck.
I have taken great care to prepare my students for my absence, and knowing that I am gone for a good reason is part of it...now, this is just my approach to my situation. It won't fit everyone's situation, of course.
Good luck with whatever you decide,
Miniroadster

Boy, am I glad you asked this one!!

I, too, would feel okay to talk about my surgery to older kids, but didn't know what to say to younger ones. I'm going to school to be a teacher's aide and help out with 3rd graders, and left that up to the teacher. But I teach K-2nd at church on Wednesday nights and didn't prepare to tell them anything (was so busy getting my own home prepared and things ready for the people who took over for me, that I wasn't prepared for the questions from the little ones and just told them I was having surgery and it was personal and I didn't feel comfortable to discuss it).

When I go back this week, if any of them bring it up, I think I will discuss how it can be rude to ask too many questions sometimes and how somethings are personal and private and how we need to "let go" when someone doesn't want to tell us something. It was mainly the older ones who wanted to know what kind of surgery I was having and I agree totally that children don't need to know everything.

Any advice from other teachers would be greatly appreciated!