This is a little too much.

A journalist asked Trump if he had any thoughts on who should be the new pope, and he said that he would be a good pope.  Okay, off the cuff answer, kind of a joke.  Somebody used AI to generate this image, and Trump put it up on social media. 

Trump can get to be like that teacher who likes being the center of attention at pep rallies and proms, but takes it too far, and makes everything about himself.

I’m not talking about Matt.  Well, I am, but Matt had other teachers around to explain it to him.  He got the point, and toned it down.

A high school teacher can be kind of a celebrity because high school students are almost like adult humans, but still have a small world.  A teacher with experience and confidence is an adult who is at a different level.  Students can be in awe of a teacher who is a relatively mundane adult.

When I would attend the Spring musical at NoRo, I’d climb up the ladder, and sit in the control booth with the students who ran the lights and sound.  I liked the view.  I didn’t have to ask permission.  Students aren’t going to object, and staff members allow it as long as it doesn’t cause a problem.

I could talk to anyone or do anything, but there is a risk.  The boundaries aren’t clear.  One teacher used his master key to borrow a big pot from the cafeteria kitchen for a clam bake.  He overstepped.  I once went to the wood shop, and as I entered, Norm asked if there was anything he could do for me.  I really just wanted to hang out and chat, but I got the message.

When Matt joined our staff, he loved being the MC at pep rallies, and being involved in student activities.  He liked to ham it up, and students like a good show.

There are two things that I used to tell Matt.

“I know your secret.  NoRo doesn’t even have to pay you, as long as they let you run pep rallies.”

“I’m glad we have a guy like you on staff.  I’m glad we don’t have two guys like you.”

Matt liked the attention and would act cartoonish in front of a crowd.  A high school needs someone like that to lead student activities, run pep rallies and act ridiculous when that’s called for.  Few teachers want that role.  It’s important to step out of the way, and keep the focus on students when they get fired up.  Matt figured that out, and was good at it.

Many people are drawn to President Trump because he has an interest in familiar activities.  Posting about MLB or NFL players shows he is grounded.  Attending a UFC fight, and making a big entrance is fine, because the entire event is a spectacle and Trump’s interest is genuine.

The “Trump as Pope” meme has no currency because religion is not his field, he’s not a Catholic, and picking a pope is serious business.  He should let that conversation go on without him.