Updated: March 18, 2021
Originally Published: March 17, 2021
When I was in second grade, I struggled with stuttering, and my teacher frequently insisted that I read aloud in front of the class. One day, when I stumbled over a word, she asked me if I was “slow.” It was clear she didn’t like me, and my experience in her class was miserable. After suffering through harsh treatment, including an incident where my head was slammed down on a desk during a class punishment, I confided in my mother. Despite the abuse, my teacher faced only a minor reprimand and continued to teach for another decade before finally being dismissed for bullying a student.
My son faced a similar situation in 6th grade with a teacher who also seemed to have a bias against him. Initially, I dismissed his feelings, thinking he might be overreacting. However, I soon noticed the many calls I received from his teacher regarding trivial matters—like leaning back in his chair or being overly animated close to the holiday break.
As a mom of three kids who are close in age, I have often found myself in the position where one child has a teacher, and another follows in the next year. Generally, I advocate for teachers, recognizing that my kids can sometimes be difficult. Still, it’s evident when they are not connecting with their educators.
When a teacher bullies or unfairly targets a child, it’s something that parents can’t ignore. We need to address the harmful teachers—the ones who create an unsafe environment for our kids and fail to provide the support they need when struggling. A recent Twitter post highlighted this issue, sparking a wave of outrage from parents sharing similar experiences.
This is every parent’s nightmare: leaving their child in the care of adults who should know better. Even if the right approach isn’t clear, educators should never respond in harmful ways. I would intervene if I heard such remarks made to someone on the street, so it’s unfathomable why a teacher would disregard a child’s plea for help.
There are countless dedicated teachers who pour their hearts into their work, yet the presence of ineffective ones is a harsh reality. If our children don’t express their concerns and we don’t stand up for them, who will?
It’s disheartening that these issues persist in 2021. Fortunately, I found that when I brought concerns to the principal about my children’s treatment, they were met with respect and the situations were addressed. This is a far cry from when my mother confronted a teacher in 1982 and nothing changed. My past experiences left me feeling voiceless in my education.
We will advocate better for our kids. Yes, there are bad teachers out there, and it’s important to acknowledge this reality while reminding our children that they have a voice worth using. For more insights on this topic, check out this related post on home insemination.