* Harmful Comparison: "Johnny is so much better behaved than my own child. He's a dream!" This is inappropriate. It's unfair to the student, potentially damaging to the teacher's relationship with the student, and unprofessional. It reveals bias and sets an unequal standard.
* Neutral Comparison (for self-reflection): "I found myself using a similar strategy with Sarah that I use with my own child when they're frustrated. It seemed to work well." This is acceptable. It's a reflection on teaching strategies, not a judgment on the child's inherent worth or abilities.
* Helpful Comparison (hypothetical, for planning): "If my child were struggling with this concept, I'd try explaining it this way. I wonder if that approach would work with Tom as well?" This is also usually acceptable. It demonstrates a teacher using personal experience to inform their professional practice, but remains focused on student needs.
In short, comparing students to their *own* children should primarily be for internal reflection and strategy development, never for public judgment or to establish a hierarchy of worth amongst students. Any comparison should focus on learning and teaching strategies, not on making value judgments about the children themselves. Making negative comparisons is explicitly unacceptable.