Many professors can sympathize with Aristides the Rhetor, mentioned in an epigram in the Greek Anthology.
“Salutations, you seven students of Aristides: four walls, and three benches!”
ΑΔΕΣΠΟΤΟΝ.
Χαίρετ’ ᾿Αριστείδου τοῦ ῥήτορος ἑπτὰ μαθηταί,
τέσσαρες οἱ τοῖχοι, καὶ τρία συψέλια.
It hurts too much because it is true…
This reminds me of my Greek teacher – apart from the four walls and the desks he just had two pupils in the senior class.
I have been that greek professor more than once.