My daughters new teacher?

Question

My daughter just started 5th grade on thursday. on friday she all ready made 2 kids cry and my daughter feel like crying. She made my daughter tremble!!! She threatend to give my daughter zeros just because she didn't hear her name when she called her up to show her her work. In the after noon when 1 person didn't follow directions they all had to right "I will learn how to follow directions" over and over again for an HOUR! And if any of them made any noise they would have to write for an extra ten minutes. When my daughter went into her binder to get a piece of loose leaf paper and closed the binder and it snapped she had to right an extra 10 mins. Once she even said _____ is staring at her paper, another 10 minutes". what should i do. Thins is crazy. Whe live in nj can u tell me if that is illegal. My daughter is also in the gifted and talented program so i dont know why talented kids should be treated that wy. HELP!

Answer 1

You need to report this, and personally put that teacher on notice.
Kids should never have to fear a teacher.
It is hard enough to deal with everything else, ( grades, peers, homework, etc)
School is supposed to be a safe place, and there is a policy against bullying in the schools, and it is across the board, teachers included.
Good luck

Answer 2

I've taught for over 30+ years, so I can see the teacher's side (let me finish).

And being the father of two daughter's, I can see the parents' side.

BUT, you are relying on the words of a 5th grader only. If these things are true, you need to verify them with parents of other classmates.

I see a couple of issues here, between the lines. Your daughter was given a zero because she 'didn't hear her name called' in class. Has your daughter ever 'not heard you' when you asked her to turn off the tv, hangup the phone, or set the table? How about non-verbal behavior such as closing a bedroom door a little hard (I didn't say slam) or a semi-silent gasp (not backtalking) when told to do something?

If she hasn't, then you may have the only child on Earth like that. Now multiply that by 20 or 30 children and see how the reasonable teacher can become 'unreasonable'.

Your daughter deserves a caring, responsive, and excellent teacher. Your daughter's teacher deserves attentive, cooperative, enthusiastic, focused students. There's no argument about those two statements. It may all be a matter of interpretation.

By the way, my older daughter was Gifted and graduated from high school with a 4.11 GPA. BUT, if wouldn't use that fact to point out that she deserved different treatment than the rest of the class.

I hope I've been equally fair to the highest and lowest student in every one of my classes.

If you haven't had a CALM meeting with the teacher, then you're not giving the teacher the chance to be heard. And isn't fairness what this is all about?

Answer 3

How long has this teacher been in the school?
Either she is ancient and doesn't belong there, or its a teacher that nobody wants in their school
We had a problem similiar to this (the teacher had been shuffled throughout the District and ended up at our school, due to tenure and not being able to be fired)

I suggest an appointment with the principal, then a follow up meeting with the principal, teacher and school social worker (if you have one) if that does not resolve issues, contact the Schools District office.

Stop in to school sometime out of the blue and check in on the classroom, I have done that and actually caught the teacher doing wrong, the principal was not very thrilled about that, but anyway - the teacher is NO longer in our school. I sympathize with the school she was 'shuffled' to because the mental anguish pushed onto our kids doesn't end by moving someone !

Answer 4

Tell the School board because she should get fired immediately! She is not able to make them write that much plus they are only in the 5th grade. I don't know if that is illegal in New Jersey because I live in Louisiana. She is being to harsh email the school board and also get some of the other students moms or dads with you and go to the school board she should be fired! Gifted people and talented people shouldn't be the problem but who knows. But she should be fired for making kids cry, scaring them, and threating them that she might give them all 0s. Well I think that the last one might be illegal because they have to grade fair. But go to the pricipal, school board, or maybe even the cops, because who knows next she might abuse them. Don't wait on a situation like this, this is serious.

Answer 5

Ok, as a teacher I would say it is unacceptable, on the other hand as a teacher I encourage you to set up a conference first. Children strectch the truth ALL children do it. The fact that your daughter is gfted should not play into the issue, are you implying it is ok for normal or LD, children to do this? I am sure you did not, but they way it came off was vey negative.
Anyways, my point is sometimes children say things or stretch the truth. Takl with the teacher calmly and say that you find it inappropriate if she is doing it. If it happens again after you talk with her, then request a conference with the teacher and principal present. I certainly hope a professional would not really behave in this manner.

Answer 6

An extremely demanding teacher is a challenge. It's likely the teacher set very firm rules and high standards early in the school year, then relaxes them somewhat as time passes. This is a common practice. (It works much better than adding rules as the year progresses.)

Remember, too, that your daughter will need to learn to cooperate with demanding people all her life. She'll have other demanding teachers, perhaps professors, and most certainly bosses. Learning to cope early may not be such a bad thing. It won't be pleasant, whenever it happens.

If this behavior continues at this level, especially if the teacher scares or mocks children deliberately as a teaching method, I agree that you, individually or with other parents, express your concerns, with concrete examples, to the principal and if that doesn't change things, to the school board.

Answer 7

She is a very strict teacher. I had a teacher do that as well when I was in 8th. grade. Only I wanted to be in her class. I wanted to be her student. In fact, I took a course from her the next school year because I loved my teacher because she was an excellent teacher. But, she would not put up with disrespect from any of her students. If your daughter cannot take the heat, she needs you to ask the principal or guidance counselor for a transfer into a different teacher's classroom. If this cannot be done, because of the school only having one 5th. grade teacher, then send her to a private school or move to a different school diistrict. Just make sure that the new school has the gifted program for your daughter to attend.

Answer 8

I've had teachers just about the same and I'm a 10th grader in high school.It sounds wrong and it is wrong,but teachers are getting away with it everywhere.I've learned just to deal with it,yes it's hard to do that and I'm sure much harder since your daughter is only in the 5th grade,I would talk to the principal of the school if nothing gets done there go to the N.J school board.

Answer 9

With a teacher like that who is going to learn anything? You need to go speak with the principal at your daughter's school. If that doesn't resolve the issue, then I suggest taking it to the superintendent of schools. If that doesn't work, take it to the school board. Surely, somewhere along the line someone will "get it" and take action. See if you can get other parents involved in your mission to see this corrected.

Really sounds like the teacher is looking for an excuse not to teach. She needs a big wake up call!

Good luck to you. I know that going to the higher authority does work and make it plain that should your daughter get "punished" for your actions (through her teacher) that you will take further action!

Answer 10

From experience, speak to the teacher first and tell her your concerns. Take some time to sit in your daughter's class so you can personally see how the class is being run. If the problem isn't resolved then take it to the principal. You might not be the only parent concerned about this. Good Luck.