Children Need To Cope With Variety Of Teachers
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By VANESSA W. SNYDER
As a teacher, I promise you most of us don’t have time to sit around and think about how much we hate individual students. That’s not to say we don’ t enjoy teaching some students more than others, but I digress…
As a parent, I feel your pain and frustration when it comes to teachers you don’t like or don’t understand.
For parents who are inclined to think a teacher dislikes her child, consider it a teachable moment. When kids make this claim it’s often a convenient excuse to explain their failure to complete their work. Or maybe they’re just starting middle school or high school, where the classes are suddenly tougher, and they need to work harder to get the A’s that came so easily before. Either way, parents have a great opportunity to help their kids learn some life lessons.
I tell my girls that sometimes in life you just have to tough it out. Teachers have different styles and personalities. Deal with it.
We all have fond memories of the teacher that everybody loved because she or he was fun, warm and friendly. But then there are the not-so-fond memories of stern, distant and rigid teachers disliked by everyone.
Kids (and parents) have to learn that they can’t just run away because they don’t like the teacher’s style of teaching. As a parent, you may really believe a teacher has it out for your child. You’re probably wrong. But even if it’s true, that’s a chance for your child to grow.
Barring extreme situations where learning is clearly absent from the classroom, we have to push our kids to cope, move on and not get caught up in their emotions and the teacher’s personality. I know that can be tough for kids. Some struggle to do well in a class when they perceive the teacher doesn’t like them. And, yes, a case can be made that the teacher’s personality impacts learning. However, it’s not always possible to change the learning situation. If you can, should you?
Teaching children to accept and understand that the world is full of diverse people — with diverse personalities, skills, preferences, etc. — is crucial. They will have to navigate through school, college and the workplace, dealing with all kinds of individuals. Many times it will be uncomfortable and downright tough.
If we can teach them early on that sometimes you just have to deal with people you don’t like, and who may not like you, we’ve taught them an important skill about self-control and relationships.
I tell my daughters that it doesn’t matter if a teacher doesn’t like them. Focus on what you’re there to learn and get the work done.
It’s wonderful if you and your child love every teacher, every year. But that’s unlikely to happen.
