Is your child being harassed by a ...teacher?

This is a topic I have wanted to write for quite a long time, before this blog began. It will be on a general level as this topic can be discussed at much more length, but for today let's start here.

The thought of an educator of any type badgering a child/young adult is abhorrent. Does this happen? Yes.

Whether the person is a school teacher, day care teacher, instructor of any kind, they are working in some capacity with young people and must conduct themselves accordingly.

There are those teachers who go above and beyond, staying after school to work on special projects for the class or taking work home to do the same. Teachers who book trips, outings or other extra-curricular activities not required by the Ministry. Adults who love nothing more than to see the joy and happiness on a child's face. Those teachers make a difference, forever.

Unfortunately there is the flip side. The adult who behaves like a child. The frustration that is allowed to escalate into a temper directed towards children. Words hurled and damage done. As upsetting as this sounds, it's happening. In schools, after school programs, day cares. Disturbing, isn't it?

Often one hears how a child is "good". But if a child isn't told they're "good", then they must be "bad". It's logical. Remember the previous post regarding positive and negative words? This can be seen here as well. "bad" is very detrimental to a child. So, why not eliminate it? There is no such thing as a "bad" child. There is one who isn't listening, or who isn't nice, simple as that. If a child grows up believing they are "bad", they will live that life, why not? Everyone had told her/him they were bad so they must be. Adults are always right...wrong! But tell that to a young person that the adult they know is wrong. Young children will have a hard time believing it, unless the issue is abuse. That is for another day.

Older school agers will quite often take it. Often they will talk among themselves, knowing the teacher/instructor is wrong but they have no choice. They are bullied into submission. The adult throws around their "power" and the child must succumb or be punished. Forced to put their noses to the wall, sit in silence for long durations, yelled at, not allowed to talk, being left out of the special activity, made to do extra work, this list goes on.

Remember, children are behaving as children, learning, exerting their power, figuring things out. That's what it's like to be a child, explore, learn, grow and have fun.

Educators are the ones in the wrong when they harm a child in any way, physically, mentally or emotionally. Often the thought process is one of "that's how I was raised..." This doesn't make it okay, it makes it acceptable to the adult. They are able to justify their actions as they received the same treatment. Quite often the adult is damaged themselves. No, this is not an excuse. Too often I have seen and/or heard of this behaviour from adults. Do I say anything about it? Absolutely. Adults are the ones that need to control their emotions, not the other way around. When adults complain that the child is being mean/rude/not listening. etc, it is their job to educate the child how to handle these situations, how to best deal with their emotions. It's surprising to hear how some educators are mad when a child behaves...like a child. Frustrating to say the least.

What do you do? Listen to your children/tweens when they tell you what is going on. Ask them questions about their friends, teachers, etc. Be specific. If you're general "How was your day?" they will be too. Do you know the teacher's name? Their instructors? Day care teachers? What is their experience? How long have they worked in the field? Ask, ask, ask. You're the parent/guardian/relative, etc. Be nosy. Take what your child says as truth and investigate, ask other parents/friends if they've had the same experience. Talk to the supervisor/principal. Do some digging. If all else fails, go to the Ministry of Education.

These are our children. Aren't they worth it?

We are all Mother Nature's Heroes, all deserving of life, together.