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"I HATE MY TEACHER":
EVEN SAYING THIS IS paap (sin) as per veD
There comes a time in every parent's life when the child says: "I hate my
teacher" or "My teacher is not good".
What does a parent do?
At Prajapati Vishva Aashram Foundation (PVAF)
it is very important that all humanity is empowered to have
KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EDUCATION... And
PVAF has a number of on-line programs and resources to empower humanity to have
education...
In addition to the PVAF education programs, this empowerment comes through
different life activities....and the two most important life activities
affecting a child's education is THE PARENTING
and THE TEACHING.....
As a matter of fact in the SCIENCES OF CREATION AND
LIFE called veD, the
humans owe a permanent debt to their parents and the teachers. And the third
permanent debt is to the daevtaao who
are creator bRH`m's shktio (powers) that enable humans to function
in their bodies and also the rest of the creations which nourishes the human
bodies....humans call the daevtaao
by infinite number of names of gods and goddesses....(preceding written by
SRii chmpklaal Daajibhaai miisTRii of Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada)
Education expert and former teacher Eva Ostrum
has some tips to know when to take these complaints seriously and what you can
do if a problem with a teacher really exists. Please click on
MSNBC NEW:
PARENTING to read her advise or click on
the next line to read her article on this web site.....
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When your child hates his
teacher
Tips on when to take this complaint seriously
Today show: Oct. 18, 2004 -
MSNBC NEW:
PARENTING
Parents around the country are already hearing these timeless words, less
than two months into the school year. Education expert and former teacher Eva
Ostrum has some tips to know when to take these complaints seriously and what
you can do if a problem with a teacher really exists.
What the complaints really mean
Growing up, we all had teachers that we didn’t like... and some that we
probably only liked after getting used to them or their style. But as a
parent, it may not be easy to tell when your child is just venting, or when
there are legitimate issues that need addressing. When your child comes home
and says “I hate my teacher!” What do you do next?
Responding to concerns requires balance — you don’t want to dismiss your
child’s concerns, but you also recognize as a parent that sometimes kids base
their reactions on emotion or on peer pressure. They may be saying that they
hate their teacher because of frustration they are experiencing in that
teacher’s classroom or because other students have labeled the teacher as mean
or unfair. You first need to figure out what your child is really saying, and
whether or not your child’s concerns have merit.
Determining if complaints have merit
Specific steps that parents can take without much effort can determine
whether or not a child’s complaints about a teacher have merit.
Kids speak in hyperbole and also in code. To get beyond the confusion, parents
need to get to the hard facts and probe the specific sources of the complaint.
If your child says that his teacher gives him too much homework, check the
workload yourself: How much does the teacher assign? Look at your child’s
assignments and class notes and see exactly what s/he has to do each night.
If your child says that the teacher is too strict, check the rules yourself.
Ask your child to show you the teacher’s classroom rules, which are usually
posted visibly in the classroom, on teacher handouts, or in class notes from
the first day. Evaluate whether or not the rules sound severe to you and ask
your child how the teacher enforces them.
Teacher responses to complaints
Students sometimes came into my class prepared to hate me based on what
they had heard others say. I had complaints like: “I heard you keep our
parents’ phone numbers on speed dial.” “I heard you give so much homework I
may as well lock myself in my room right now.” “Last year you suspended kids
for laughing.” I was a tough teacher: I gave lots of homework, it was hard to
earn an A in my class, and I believed in strict enforcement of discipline. I
never suspended kids for laughing, but once the rumor circulated I used it to
my advantage!
I realized early on that outreach to parents went a long way towards putting
student complaints into context. Parents got to know me independent of what
they heard from their children. I remember many saying that they expected a
school-marmish woman with her hair in a tight bun based on what their children
had told them about how tough and strict I was. My reaching out to them helped
them see me as a committed, effective teacher who cared about their children.
The students themselves also frequently revealed as the year went on (or when
they came back to visit me the following year) that they valued the high
standard to which I had held them in my class.
I had one student — Nathan — whom I taught when he was in ninth grade. He
wanted to pass history without putting in any work and requested to be
transferred to another class. His mother and I teamed up and both refused to
sign the transfer form. On the last day of school, I was giving students their
grades for the year and he was sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear if
he had passed. I finally told him he had and would therefore not need to go to
summer school. He rushed up to me, this big football player, and said, “I know
I’m not supposed to do this, but I can’t help myself.” He then threw his arms
around me and gave me a big hug. On his way out of the room, he stopped in the
doorway, turned to me and said, “If I could pass this class, I can do
anything!”
I’ll never forget that moment! It stands out as one of the highlights of my
teaching career.
When parents should step in
Going to the teacher is a great idea, especially after you have reviewed
your child’s assignments and class notes. Once you have that basic
information, then you have the basis for a specific and helpful dialogue with
the teacher. A good teacher will want to work with you to make your child’s
experience a positive one. I learned as I advanced in my teaching career that
students who complained about workload in my first few years of teaching had
been right: as a beginning teacher I assigned too much work. No teacher is
perfect, and input from parents can help improve teachers’ practices.
Go to the principal if the teacher refuses to meet with you or if, in a
meeting, the teacher did not respond to your concerns. Also go to the
principal immediately if there are any allegations of improper behavior. I
heard a teacher shout at a student once, “You’re so stupid you belong in
special ed.” Well, that teacher should have been brought up on charges
immediately.
Generally, though, effective educators value constructive feedback from
parents and welcome the chance to speak to you about your child. It’s one way
for us to improve what we accomplish in the classroom, and help your kids get
the best from their educational experience. And don’t wait until it’s time for
Parent/Teacher conferences - set up an appointment with your teacher as often
as you feel is necessary to keep yourself, the teacher, and your child in the
best communication.
In addition to teaching for almost a decade, education expert Eva Ostrum is the
founder and CEO CollegeBroadband.com.
© 2004 MSNBC Interactive
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