Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Angry at Mrs. T.
Dear Guidance Guy,
I have a really mean teacher. On the first day of school she was nice, but now she is wicked. Once after I asked her where to put my paper three times with no response I put my papper in the period D slot since we were period D. Then she asked me where I put my paper and I told her I put it in the D slot. She jumped down my throat, telling me that was not what she wanted. I apologized and I got up and put the paper in her folder on her desk where she asked me to put it. Then I sat down and then she said "you know I can tell we're gonna have some problems, because you don't understand, you don't listen and you can be mad at me all you want, but I'm a nice teacher and you have an attitude which we can't have in here. Go in the hall." I went into the hall and we had a "conversation" she told me to raise my hand. So then later when I raised my hand I had it raised for about ten minutes!
Another time my freind was looking for her folder and actidentally took it so I told my friend who was still looking at her folder.Then Mrs. T. came in and yelled, "You're fooling around and being loud. Go in the hall." Then later everyone was asking me what I did. My freind did not know how to spell a word so my other friend typed it on the laptop for her. Then the teacher started yelling at them, and she told the teacher that she was spelling a word for her,because she asked.The Mrs.T. went off the wall and SCREAMED "SHUT.....................YOU'R LAPTOP AND GO IN THE HALL!!!!!!!"
She did so and then Mrs.T. went out there and started talking to she and she started crying and kept saying she was sorry over and over again, but Mrs.Tragertstill lectured her.Then she made fun of my other friend's writting. She told her she had bad hand writting and was gonna be judged poorly on it and wouldn't be able to go to college and on and on and on we can get you help... blah blah blah.
What should I do?
Can't Stand Teacher
*** *** ***
Dear Can't Stand,
You certainly are angry with this teacher. I had to delete her name, your friend's names and some of the more "colorful" language you used to describe her. And if she's doing something of the more mean spirited things you're talking about (not going to college because of bad handwriting???) I can understand why. Yelling at kids should always be a last resort. If a teacher does it once in a while, it's effective. Too much and it loses its power.
That said, it's also pretty easy to pick out some of the things you're doing to get her frustrated. If you've raised your for a couple of minutes and she's not calling on you, it's a pretty clear sign she's not going to. Keeping it raised for ten is a sign of defiance. I'd imagine some of your anger at her is spilling out in other ways as well.
If you really want things to get better with Mrs. T.,arrange a meeting with her before or after school. You can bring your parents and/or guidance counselor with you, but it might be nice to meet one on one with her. Tell her how her yelling at you and other students makes you feel. No name calling, no accusations, etc. The other students should be able to talk to her for themselves, but if what she does to them makes you uncomfortable, you can say so. Then spend some time listening to what she says - without interrupting. Maybe the two of you can come to an agreement, even if you're not best friends.
If things don't get better you can always tell your parents, guidance counselor or principal about what's going on, including the fact you tried to work it out as a young adult. You'll be taken more seriously and you'll have problem solving skills you can take with you when your time with Mrs. T. is over.
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
I have a really mean teacher. On the first day of school she was nice, but now she is wicked. Once after I asked her where to put my paper three times with no response I put my papper in the period D slot since we were period D. Then she asked me where I put my paper and I told her I put it in the D slot. She jumped down my throat, telling me that was not what she wanted. I apologized and I got up and put the paper in her folder on her desk where she asked me to put it. Then I sat down and then she said "you know I can tell we're gonna have some problems, because you don't understand, you don't listen and you can be mad at me all you want, but I'm a nice teacher and you have an attitude which we can't have in here. Go in the hall." I went into the hall and we had a "conversation" she told me to raise my hand. So then later when I raised my hand I had it raised for about ten minutes!
Another time my freind was looking for her folder and actidentally took it so I told my friend who was still looking at her folder.Then Mrs. T. came in and yelled, "You're fooling around and being loud. Go in the hall." Then later everyone was asking me what I did. My freind did not know how to spell a word so my other friend typed it on the laptop for her. Then the teacher started yelling at them, and she told the teacher that she was spelling a word for her,because she asked.The Mrs.T. went off the wall and SCREAMED "SHUT.....................YOU'R LAPTOP AND GO IN THE HALL!!!!!!!"
She did so and then Mrs.T. went out there and started talking to she and she started crying and kept saying she was sorry over and over again, but Mrs.Tragertstill lectured her.Then she made fun of my other friend's writting. She told her she had bad hand writting and was gonna be judged poorly on it and wouldn't be able to go to college and on and on and on we can get you help... blah blah blah.
What should I do?
Can't Stand Teacher
*** *** ***
Dear Can't Stand,
You certainly are angry with this teacher. I had to delete her name, your friend's names and some of the more "colorful" language you used to describe her. And if she's doing something of the more mean spirited things you're talking about (not going to college because of bad handwriting???) I can understand why. Yelling at kids should always be a last resort. If a teacher does it once in a while, it's effective. Too much and it loses its power.
That said, it's also pretty easy to pick out some of the things you're doing to get her frustrated. If you've raised your for a couple of minutes and she's not calling on you, it's a pretty clear sign she's not going to. Keeping it raised for ten is a sign of defiance. I'd imagine some of your anger at her is spilling out in other ways as well.
If you really want things to get better with Mrs. T.,arrange a meeting with her before or after school. You can bring your parents and/or guidance counselor with you, but it might be nice to meet one on one with her. Tell her how her yelling at you and other students makes you feel. No name calling, no accusations, etc. The other students should be able to talk to her for themselves, but if what she does to them makes you uncomfortable, you can say so. Then spend some time listening to what she says - without interrupting. Maybe the two of you can come to an agreement, even if you're not best friends.
If things don't get better you can always tell your parents, guidance counselor or principal about what's going on, including the fact you tried to work it out as a young adult. You'll be taken more seriously and you'll have problem solving skills you can take with you when your time with Mrs. T. is over.
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
# posted by Larry Hochman : 1:23 PM
