No teacher, no pupil? Listener question

When I hear about the observer and the observed being the same thing it feels like there is a deep truth to this. My (very simplistic) understanding of quantum physics seems to point in that direction.  

I teach in a school for a living. So in my day to day experience, it seems as if what I'm being asked to do by my employer is to control the behaviour and (to an extent) the thoughts of others. But really, if there are no pupils and no me this can't really be the case?  

I feel like there is a lot to be seen here and that the classroom I find myself in each day is really a space for expansion. Could you speak about this please?