A new school year is upon us and that can mean many new and wonderful experiences for your little scholar. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. If your child has come home cranky or upset, obviously you as a parent want to find the cause of his or her distress. Many times that problem isn’t with a fellow student. It is instead being caused by his or her teacher. If you are faced with this dilemma, don’t get upset and definitely do not just assume the problem will simply go away. Your child needs an advocate now more than ever. Here are a few ideas to help get your child back on the path to academic excellence.
Sit your child down and ask him or her about the teacher in question. Ask for specific incidents, not general complaints. This might be difficult if you are speaking to a child who is younger than seven, so adjust your approach accordingly. Write down everything you hear. If you believe your child has a list of legitimate complaints, it is time to inform your spouse or a trusted friend. Ask for another opinion. Many times a mother’s judgment can be clouded by her innate protective nature.
You need to confront the teacher but not in an aggressive way. Instead schedule a parent-teacher conference. Enter into the conversation calmly. Never begin with any accusations or bring into question the teacher’s abilities and competence. Remember that you are there to bring an end to any conflict, not to add fuel to the fire. Allow your child’s teacher the opportunity to tell his or her side of the story. Many times they will appreciate your candor and be more than willing to reach a resolution. This is, sadly, is not always the case.
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If you have been nothing but the picture of civility, and you are greeted with hostility, then it may be time to contact a superior. Begin with the school’s principal. Once again, walk into the situation with a level head and steady voice. This is where the issues list you wrote earlier with your child will come into play. Forming a structured argue based on legitimate grievances will help make you seem like a concerned parent rather than a raving lunatic. If the principal is unwilling or unable to offer you assistance, you may have to take the final step, and contact the school board or that district’s superintendant.
For the most part, this is the final step you will need to take. Worst case scenario? You will have to find your child an alternate teacher, or even another school. This is a rare occurrence, but you have to do whatever is best for your little one. Never let the actions of one flawed human being sully your opinion of all teachers. Most are hard working individuals who want to see your child flourish and become a well educated, responsible adult.
Tags:
parenting,
education,
children