At some point, children will express their dislike for a mean teacher and complain about their behavior or performance. While the parents have to advocate for their children's wellbeing they also need to handle this problem without creating more tension with the teacher involved.
The kids could have a legitimate complain about mean teachers that may prompt parents to be argumentative. After all, one percent of teachers do fail to guide and educate their students in class, per the National Center for Education Statistics.
However, the parents' main job in sorting out this problem is to hear the side of the teacher as well to help the child overcome the underlying issue.
Here are some smart ways parents can approach a child who complains about a mean teacher:
1. Gather more details about the child's issue.
It likely starts with the child coming home with a sad story about his mean teacher. For any protective parents, the first instinct usually involves charging and blaming the teacher without getting the details.
However, parents should give it a pause and gather more information to fully understand the situation before doing anything damaging. The child may have misunderstood the situation so ask questions and "investigate" the problem. It's better to talk to the child when they are no longer upset and have decompressed hours after coming home from school.
In some schools, teachers are expected to abide by high standards thus they have the same expectations for their students as well. Some kids may struggle with coping with these expectations and might be offended and frustrated by the teacher's demand for excellence.
2. Emphasize that teachers are the disciplinarians in school.
If the parents are the "bad guys" at home, it's the same role for the teachers in school since they are expected to discipline the kids. While parents should empathize with their kids' feelings, it might be necessary to help them understand that if the teacher is calling their attention, it's because they have not been behaving well in the classroom.
However, if it seems like the conflict has been happening more frequently, it's time to have a talk with the teacher. If the parents find out that their child has been misbehaving, discuss the methods of discipline at home with the teacher because it might help in the classroom.
If the problem persists, talk to other parents and find out if there are issues with their kids. Be prepared for whatever answer you get from the teacher or the other parents. Focus on working as a team to help the child overcome this phase. Document all communication and interaction.
3. Raise the problem to school authorities.
After gathering enough information to conclude that the teacher is actually being mean, raise the problem to the principal as the final resort. The child might need to be transferred to another class or the teacher might be subjected to a disciplinary action. In some cases, the administration has to get involved and mediate before the problem turns for the worst.
