abusive teacher - how do I take care of it?
924944
Be involved in your son's daily school activities to personally see what's going on.  Have you actually talked with the teacher?  Sometimes kids will make up stories to avoid talking about their discipline situations at school.  Being there will allow you to make up your own mind about what's happening.  (Taking off work or whatever your personal activities are will bring the quiestions to answers sooner and well worth the effort so it doesn't go much farther.)
30632
newstudent is right. You should report the abuse right away to the police, Social Services, CPS, a teacher. Whoever is appropriate for the type of abuse should be notified. There is NEVER a reason for any type of abuse!
974028
Can you clarify something for me?  Are you a middle, high, or college student....OR....are you a Teaching Assistant employed by a district?  I ask this because you may need to handle the situation differently if you are a student who assists your teacher from time to time.  When an adult, and employed through the district as a Teaching Assistant, you have every right to ask your CO-WORKER if you could talk with her privately after school re: your feelings/observations of her behavior.  Ask her if there is anything that you can improve upon within your role as an assistant.  This may cause her to share that her behavior has nothing to do with you, she may be going through some personal issues (which is still no excuse, but may help you to understand where she is coming from);  or she may completely deny any responsibility for her actions and start to work on it;  or she may point the finger at you and tell you she is frustrated with how you are assisting in the classroom (if this is the case, she should have talked about it at that moment in time, in a respectful manner while demonstrating how she wishes for instruction to be administered to students).  \n\nIf you are a student depending on a grade from her, that is a different story.  If her behavior is seriously concerning you, ask her if there is anything that you can do to improve upon your performance as her assistant (once again).  This will open things up for her to provide suggestions if there are genuinely areas in need of improvement.  Try not to bring up her behavior, as you are not officially considered a co-worker (even though her job would be much more difficult without your assistance). I also highly recommend that you DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT these occurrences of unprofessional behavior on her part, as well as what her responses were to any question you may ask her re:  your performance.  This will be extremely helpful if you need to dispute a grade, or recommendation.   If her behavior does not improve, DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY!  I have been an assistant, and a teacher and I have worked with many individuals who should not be in the profession (unfortunately, it is the truth).  There are many educators who do not realize that it is also their job to lead by example, and treat students, assistants, and other personnel as they would wish to be treated.  I hope this has been helpful, and once again, do not internalize her behavior!!  It is likely that her behavior has nothing to do with you, or your performance.
331718
I'm a teacher in the UK and very aware of bullying in my class/school.\n\nThis is such a big issue. I never suffered bullying as a kid, but I am suffering as an adult at the moment. What has helped me is a special phone line and friends that I can talk to about it. I have also told my union and human resources and they are giving me help and support.\n\nI try to instil in my classroom ethos a sense of respect and rapport for others. We use circle time to tackle issues and I am known as a teacher that will listen to both sides of an argument. I do not have favourites.\n\nThat is not to say that I do not have children in my class who are not being bullied. It is unfortunately a characteristic of human behaviour.\n\nRecently I noticed a child behaving out of character, very withdrawn and depressed. When I tried to talk to him he would not share his thoughts with me. Later that day I was told by the head that the parent had complained about her child being bullied. I was upset to think that: 1) one of my children was suffering. 2) neither the child or parent had confided in me.\n\nHe did confide in me later and we eventually were able to work on the problem.\n\nWhat I have learned as a teacher is:\n- that the victim needs support as soon as it is noticed, but it may take some time before they are ready and willing to face the situation/name names/admit there is a problem.\n- that the children need to have a way to communicate with you. They need to know that they will be listened to and taken seriously.\n- that the children need to know what true bullying is. They need to try to avoid the 'cry wolf' syndrome as it leads to parents/teachers/adults not taking the true cases seriously.\n\nIt does help to have an overt school policy that has a no tolerance attitude to bullying.\n\nIdeas that have been suggested in out school are:\n-playground buddies\n-school councillors/mentors\n-bully boxes (this tends to be abused)\n-assemblies about bullying\n-secret buddies (where the children pick someone's name randomly from the class list to be nice to them that week) At the end of the week the children try to guess who their secret buddy was. They suggest the name of someone that has been nice to them that week. Names that are mentioned over and over again are praised and rewarded).\n\nThere are no easy answers to this. We have to be supportive and patient with the victim and firm about what is acceptable behaviour and what is not to be tolerated.
705447
Tell him that you would appreciate it if he didn't publicly humiliate you and that you are simply doing your work to the best of your ability. I'm assuming you are in high school, and high school teaches sometimes will try to intimidate students if confronted. Don't let him push you around, stand your ground and speak to school administrators if he continues to give you trouble. Any further actions that he takes in an effort to embarass you would constitute harassment and school officials need to step in. This is actually a serious matter and should be handled as such.\n\nGood luck handling this. Just be confident in yourself and don't let him talk down to you.
785547
You definitely have a right to talk to a principal; they may be able to explain to the teacher that they need to change their methods.  If that doesn't work, you, your classmates, and/or your parents could talk to the principals and the school board of your area.  I know I've had horrible teachers like that.  I wish you the best.
93864
Yes, and you should do it immediately.  Most likely he himself has been abused, so some intervention is needed now.  You also need to get your daughter in counseling - immediately.  Personally, though some may think it is drastic, I would change my daughter's school and probably drop her off too.  How would you feel if you had to see someone that did that to you everyday?
879189
first, make sure your teacher tells them that it was her who reported it, and not you. Second, get yourself a posse who will stick with you in case of another run-in, because if these numb-skulls are like any others, they won't care either way. try to avoid them.
525743
You didn't explain exactly what is happening, so it is difficult to give a specific response.  If a teacher is bullying a child, it is a serious situation, and unfortunately it happens more often that we who are, or have been, educators, would care to admit.  anyone can be a bully, including a teacher.\n\nThe best scenario would be if you could calmly talk to the teacher, explain what is happening and how it is affecting the child, and give an opportunity for the teacher to change - but not weeks, only days.  If that doesn't work, then the next step is the principal.  The principal is the person who has most chance of doing something about this.  \nAgain, it is key that you maintain your calm and composure.  You probably won't be taken seriously if you are upset, angry, etc., even if you have every right to be.\n\nI'm not sure how old the child is, but is he old enough to write dowm what has happened?  If so, that might be the next step.  I would get the child to do that, describe the incidents that have happened in his own words as he understands them, in a letter to the principal, copied to the teacher in question.  The teacher has to receive a copy of the letter.  That makes it official and it has to be addressed.   \n\nIf at all possible, I'd have the child in any meeting between parent, teacher and principal.  Prepare the child to be there, to be able to tell what happened even with the teacher there.  Bring an impartial advocate with you if you feel you would need that support.  If the child is not in the meeting, there is only the teacher to describe the situation with no one to really say, "But I was there and that is not what happened."  An alternative might be to videotape the child telling his version of the events.\n\nThere are always at least three sides to any story - the child's version, the teacher's version, and the correct version.  So keep that in mind.  The real truth may be hidden somewhere in the emotion of the whole situation, but it is also possible that the child's version is mostly the truth.\n\nYou might also want to discretly seek out other parents to see if anyone else is aware of what is happening.  If a taecher is being a bully, everyone in the class knows it.  Actually, if the teacher is being a bully, most likely everyone in the school knows it, or at least has a sense of it.  If you have more than one parent or child making a complaint, it will be taken more seriously.  But still make yhour complaints through channels - teacher first, then principal if at all possible.\n\nIs there a counselor at the school?  Could you and the child bring this issue to the couselor?  The school counselor might know the best route to take this in your particular school and area, and might be a good support.\n\nMost principals want to know if a teacher is being a bully, and the principals usually want to sort it out.  Best of luck in getting this issue taken care of.
206121
Talk to someone at your school, like a counsellor, who can put forward to the teachers that you feel this way.\n\nAs a teacher I appreciate knowing about my students and try to find ways around the hurdles put up to stop them learning.
1159841
I'm sorry you are having a tough time.  You probably are not teaching very much since both you and the other children are being so distracted.  Just tell yourself that this is affecting everyone, and it is okay to just STOP teaching if you have to, in order to deal with this situation.  You might even have to go back to the beginning and re-establish your role, the rules and consequences.  Pretend it's the first day of school again.  \nHere are some general ideas that have helped me:  \n\n1.  Find out what they want and take it away:  \n\nDo they thrive on attention from you?  Don't give them any.  When you have to discipline, be as calm and discreet as possible.  \n\nDo they thrive on attention from each other?  Separate them.  See if your director or another teacher can take a child when he is particularly unruly.  Then AS SOON as you see a negative behavior--remove them from the classroom.  \n\nDo they want control?  Give them choices that YOU can live with.  For example, if they use a bad word, say, "Do you want to say that again using nicer words, or do you want to sit by yourself?  (If they won't sit by themselves, unsupervised, don't give them that choice.  Maybe they could go sit with another teacher instead.)  \n\n2.  Make sure they understand what will happen if they misbehave.  Give them predictable consequences.  For example, when they make a mess, don't let them do anything until it is cleaned up.  You might have to go to extremes to let them know that you are serious.  If it is outside time, have your director or someone else sit with them in the classroom while they clean up instead of going outside.  If it is time to go home, leave the mess and make them clean it up the next day, first thing.    \n   \n3.  Just remember that you cannot control what these children do.  Only they can control their behaviors.  Your job is to set it up so that they WANT to behave nicely.  Make life miserable for them if they are bad, and glorious if they behave.  \n\n4.  Be as predictable and as consistant as possible.  Once you know they understand the consequences, don't let them get away with anything!  The phrase, "If you do that again..." should never leave your mouth.  Get them on their first offense.  \n\n5.  Hang in there!  It may seem like an overwhelming challenge right now, but it will get better little by little.  Take it one day at a time--even one situation at a time!  Remember they have to re-learn what to expect in your classroom.  Focus on the most distracting or dangerous behaviors first (like hitting or running away from you).  Take time to think about what your consequence will be and then just wait for it to happen.  They'll learn.  \n\nGOOD LUCK!
845480
Firstly tell your parents, make sure they are aware of the situation. Don't fall for any of this "You mustn't tell the teacher" nonsense. The guy sleeps happy at night, so why shouldn't you? And don't apologise to anyone for sticking up for your rights, they are your rights, people fought for them, and this bully shouldn't be allowed to take them away.\nNext time he threatens you tell him there will be trouble if he tries anything, but, and this is the important part, don't tell him or even hint what actions you will take, let him guess. His imagination will do the job for you. Just smile. \nNext, get some witnesses to back you up.\nIf they guy touches you then lay a complaint with the Police, and if they ask why you didn't speak to the school say they refused to protect you.\nAlso learn a few basic self defense moves, like kicking him "where it hurts most". If he tries anything, do that, and when he's on the ground crying his eyes out ... like I said, don't apologise.\nSince the Principal won't do anything, write to the school committee asking them what their policy is on bullying (it will be they don't allow it, but you have to ask the question) because you are being bullied and the Principal won't address your concerns. \nIf the bully is threatening others, which is probably the case, make sure you state this as well in your letter. \nThird, next time it happens, go down to the school office and tell them you are going home because they are unable to provide a safe environment for you at school, and tell them to ring you when it is. If they try and stop you ask them why they don't stop the bully. Tell them to call the cops and walk out. \nAlso, can do you know of any "dirt" on the guy. For example, does he bring cigarettes to school or is an illegal immigrant? \nShop him. \nAnd lastly, always look confident when he sees you, not frightened. Look like you are a person with power, because you have something he doesn't have - the law is on your side.
130331
I am a teacher, and they tell us it is high.  Any type of abusers were usually abused themselves.  Talk to a psychologist or psychology teacher for more insight on this.
934472
Mentally Affected Teachers Harassing Students!!!
962531
You need to understand that the more you defy authority, the closer eye the teacher will have on you.  If you stop drawing attention to yourself and behave yourself in your class, it could get better, but once you are on someone's bad side, it's tough to change.  You're making it out like he's just got a dislike for you, but you need to understand that teachers have 5-7 classes a day with 20-30 kids in them.  They cannot allow kids to just be smart a**** or it will just distract the entire class & they lose precious time with those who want to learn.  Try paying attention, answering questions, stop talking to your girlfriend... you can hang with her at lunch or afterwards.  This is soooo important, adults just can't explain how important it is to do your best now for your own future.  Good luck sweety :)
900129
How is she abusing you? And you need to tell someone. Tell your school principal or call the police. Tell someone.
459756
Have her talk to someone at her school (teacher, counselor, etc.) -- they have to take action if she reports abuse. Separately, she can call child protective services or, for an emergency situation, the police.