What 'Idol' Taught Teacher

(CBS)  Anwar Robinson may be the latest singer booted from the "American Idol" competition, but to his former students in New Jersey, he's No. 1.

Or at least that what was written on the signs they carried on The Early Show plaza as Robinson was being interviewed Tuesday about his experience on the talent show. With Robinson's ouster, there are just six contestants left.

Robinson said he didn't exactly expect to be voted off but he wasn't surprised by it either.

"In in a competition where everyone is good, and you're not losing bad singers every week, I think when we got to the final 12 that America was saying this was our favorite 12. And now it's just going to be about losing a good singer every week. And that's what happened, especially from the finals up to this point and what will continue to happen until end of the competition.

How did he handle the regular criticism, especially by judge Simon Cowell?

The 26-year old music teacher with a big smile said he used it to make himself better.

"You know, I would have to say that I took all three (judges' opinions) in, just the same, because it had to be a balance," he said. "And I had to make sure that I didn't make more, you know, than whatever it was, whether it be good or bad. Because they were all there for a reason and I had to learn from each and every one of them.

"At times it was hard to do with some of the negative things, but at the same time, I know they were trying to make me a better performer."

Leaving the classroom to take part in the competition was a big decision, he said, because he didn't want to be known as "a teacher who abandons his students."

"At the same time," he added, "I think there was a lesson to be learned outside of the classroom that they should pursue their own dreams and that they should take a chance, and that, you know, life without risks is pretty boring."

When he took his risk, he said, he had no idea whether he would make it into the top 44, no less the final 10 who are chosen to go on tour.

And still he kept winning, making it into the final seven before last week's elimination.