What to Do If You Feel One of Your Teachers Has Acted Inappropriately

Many students feel they are picked on by their teachers, but are they really? Pressure from teachers may stem their concerns that the student is not achieving to his/her potential and/or his/her behavior is inappropriate. Teachers, like everyone else, can be caring, friendly and helpful or acting on impulses or false impressions gained from others' comments and behaviors. They deal with minors and are entrusted with their safety and well-being.

Any violation of that trust can be damaging to the child, but children can cause just as much damage to an adult by wanting revenge or a sense of power over an authority figure. No one wants to have negative attention or consequences that are uncomfortable, so it is wise to be completely clear and honest before making allegations or charges against a teacher. When you make false claims, a person's life can be altered and their ability to earn a living can disappear.

Who You Should Talk To

The first and primary defender of a child is his/her parents. If you feel your teacher has been inappropriate, tell your parent who should then call the principal for a conference. If, for some reason, you are not comfortable talking with your parent, talk with your school principal, assistant principal or counselor. You should never talk with another teacher, because that can cause more trouble for both you and the one you talk to.

No matter which administrative/counseling person you choose to talk to, they will talk with their supervisor. Administrators supervise teachers, and they have many requirements for both action and procedures to follow.

What You Need To Say

You need to be very logical and non-emotional when you are talking about the teacher's behavior. You need to be specific about:

What (s)he did,
What series of events (and your part in those events) that happened to lead up to the event (including what you said and did in the presence of the teacher and/or others involved), and
Whether or not there were any witnesses to the event.
You need to be honest and totally truthful to others about what you did and said, because if you are making someone else responsible for actions/words responding to yours, you are partly responsible for the situation. Above all, NEVER EVER LIE! When you lie, no one will believe you then or in the future.

Consequences

There are consequences for everything we do in life. Whether or not you report events to your parents and/or school personnel, you know the truth. The teacher also knows the truth. If there were witnesses, they know the truth. If the teacher has actually done something wrong, (s)he must face the consequences. But you will also have consequences for your role in the situation. Be careful what you say, stick to the truth including being open about how you contributed to the situation, and be grown up enough to take the consequences for something in which you were involved.