Mean teacher caught on tape - Page 9

[bente]

Originally Posted by blessed

You need to not be teaching children, dear.

This is NOT normal. This is not how you are supposed to feel about your students.

Ugh... I was thinking the same thing. Is there not a NVC for teachers programs? I bet that would help not only communication but how they view the kids - not to mention how they view traits that children have because they are CHILDREN! It is normal, but it does not fit well into the system of school as we know it today.

[MattBronsil]

One school I worked at had an observation room. You walk in the door and you're in the director's office right away. The first door on the left was to a small kitchen. The next door is to an observation room where you stood behind a one way mirror and could see the entire classroom. As a teacher, you had no clue who was in there (or if anyone was in there) unless it was a scheduled visit.

It's designed so parents and potential parents can observe the classroom without having to actually be a part of the classroom. (We did allow for parents to come in and observe as well...it just sets up a different dynamic, especially with their child. So for a better overall idea of what happens, it's best behind the mirror).

I never had the feeling I "had" to be good because someone might be back there. That didn't matter to me because I always wanted to choose the right things.

Did I mess up? I'm sure I did.
Did I apologize to the student once I did that? You bet.
Did I try my hardest to avoid making the same mistake again? Absolutely.

This seems far from a mistake. This was a big deal and any teacher should be able to recognize that it is. If they cannot, they're in the wrong business.

Matt

[HipGal]

When I taught one year I was in a "portable" classroom and there was another classrom on the other side of a very thin wall. (The wall was meant to be movable if you wanted to combine classes, though we never did). The other classroom was a 4th grade and the teacher there was one of the favorites at the school. She had been there awhile and was very nice & friendly to everyone. But, that teacher definitely shouted a lot and sometimes had that disgusted tone to her voice. Even if she wasn't saying anything that bad, she sounded like she was talking to someone who disgusted her. It was so sad. Sometimes my students would hear her through the wall and look at me for an explanation. I never could figure out the right thing to say! The teacher would say things like "SHUT your MOUTH".

I wish I had at least tried to talk to the principal about it, but I'm pretty sure nothing would have happened. Everyone LOVED her. And the principal was all about being strict. She once said she wanted my kids to be "well, not like robots, but like that." Um, they were 6 years old!

Anyway, I know there are bad teachers out there and it is scary to think how much power they have while no other adults are around. I wish every classroom had two teachers or at least one teacher and one aide. Maybe an "open door" policy where the principal would be walking by?

[be11ydancer]

I'm sending my babies (5 and 7 yo.) to school this coming school year for the first time and it's crap like this that just really makes me question the decision. If anyone ever spoke so unkindly to my children, well, there would be consequences.

Does anyone feel like sending a tape recorder to school with their kid just out of curiosity? Or paranoia?


-Melissa
Who is having second thoughts

[supervee]

Originally Posted by be11ydancer

I'm sending my babies (5 and 7 yo.) to school this coming school year for the first time and it's crap like this that just really makes me question the decision. If anyone ever spoke so unkindly to my children, well, there would be consequences.

Does anyone feel like sending a tape recorder to school with their kid just out of curiosity? Or paranoia?


-Melissa
Who is having second thoughts

Just keep your ears open and help your kids talk about their days. In my experience, if something is going wrong, you'll notice. You'll see a mood change. I believe the parents from the original story did notice something, and the kid said something... that is why they took in the tape recorder. I wouldn't do a tape recorder, but I would go observe. It is telling what the adults at school think is normal, based on what they will do in front of parents.