Elementary parents and teachers?

Question

What can you suggest to help boost a child's self-esteem and confidence after a year of dealing with a teacher whose comments and condescending remarks to her students have hurt them emotionally? This teacher has a reputation for this kind of behavior towards her students. My usually outgoing, happy-go-luck child has lost her spirit and positive outlook throughout this year. Several parents have the same complaint. School administrators know her reputation, but she continues to teach.

Answer 1

She probably continues to teach because she has tenure. I think that should be abolished, teachers should be graded on their teaching with an evaluation by parents and the administrators each year.

I would just say to my daughter or son, that the teacher was especially hard because she wanted them to succeed and some people alot of trouble telling what they mean so it comes out wrong, like "you should have known to pick up your socks" rather than "could you please pick up your socks" she said things differently, that her communication skills were not that good, and you want your child to learn from that, how to be a good communicator. then when you see her being nice, compliment her with "I like the way you said thank you when I gave you a cookie" those are esteem boosters. She'll get her spark back over summer and hopefully get a good teacher for next fall.

Answer 2

First, you need to get this situation handled! If you have been to the principal and he/she is not doing anything, then the next step is usually the person in charge of elementary schools for the district. Talk to them. If no satisfaction, go the next open school board meeting and air the dirty laundry there. None of the board members will want the district to look bad, and they should take your concerns seriously.

Second, I wish I had a good answer as to how to help the kids. I would tell mine that although teachers are in authority over them in school that doesn't mean they are always right or don't make mistakes. All people make mistakes. Assure them they did the right thing by telling about the problems with the teacher, and they should always tell parents when they think another adult is doing wrong. If you are a Christian, you might encourage your child to pray for the teacher, that whatever unhappiness he/she may have in their life will end, so he/she will treat others better.

Although I would take steps to stop it, it is an opportunity to set an example for your child on how to deal with things like this.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

We had a similar problem with our child. I thought my son was exaggerating the situation until I saw the teacher in action at a school open house. She didn't know we were his parents...it was unbelievable.
We ended up enrolling him in a commercial after school program just so he would be learning something. He was never so good a student that he could afford to basically throw away a year of school.
We used the Huntington Learning Center, but there are a bunch of different ones (Kumon is another). They are expensive, but worth it, because they really stress the positive aspects of learning. Their focus is finding out what the child knows, not on measuring what he doesn't. The kids sub-consciously pick up on this difference because it is actually self-affirming for them, and (naturally) they like that.
Anyway, after barely graduating 8th grade, my son went all 4 years on the honor roll in High School. He didn't get that from me, so I give all the credit to these private after school programs that recognize the value of maintaining a child's self-esteem and confidence.

Answer 4

It goes on and on what ever school you go to; private, catholic, public etc....Document everything you can. Get together with other parents and start a paper trail, take it to the board if you have the steam! Keep the pressure up, if you can......if that is too much..boy, I know! I know it is hard and I certainly tryed to protect my kids from those types until it became too much to keep switching and moving. Try to develop a relationship or get to volunteer to be in the room sometimes so you can work with rather than against. Keep on the then.. Like the other posters say, you have to deal with it on the home front. Show your concern and give your opinion but don't let on to the kid how angry you are. Here is the lesson: (not in child terms, sorry it's late) there are going to be weird, tough, mean..whatever..people all your life. This is one challenge you need to work around. Bosses who give you a hard time, coworkers etc. Kids need to develop coping skills and learn to get through it knowing that their family and friends are the ones who support them. In a couple of years she may have another weird-o and look back and say, well that one prepared me for thist one!

Answer 5

You had two options. 1.Go to the school board meetings ,complain , then demand that your child be reassigned to a different teacher, 2,If that doesn't work then beat the s*** out of the teacher!!! that happened to my child years ago. I didn't get to kick the teachers a** because I was taken out of the school, but the teacher never said anything nasty to my child again.

Answer 6

Don't be afraid to tell your child: Teachers are not always right.

If possible, let your child see you stand up for her. Tell her you are going to or that you have talked to the teacher and to the administration of the school to tell them that what that teacher does is not right.

Perhaps you can sign your child up for an activity taught by a more positive teacher or instructor. Or if she has other, better teachers, tell her to focus on what they tell her and not what the nasty one does.

And of course, let her know that you're proud of her.