BULLY TEACHERS and WHAT TO DO

Most of us can remember a teacher that we thought was "mean" or "scary", but as for me, I don't recall a teacher that every crossed the line into bullying although this is a reality for some children.   I found it difficult among all the statistics on bullies, to find a statistic about teachers who bully children.  Does this mean that it is not a big problem "NO".   Check this out.

Am I saying this is happening everyday, probably in a physical way but there are more methods of bullying than physical.  Check this out.

If you don't believe this can happen to you then you are sadly mistaken.  Here are 10 tips on what to do a bullying teacher.

1. LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN - This is a reoccurring theme in my coaching.  If you are lied to on a regular basis, you may have communication issues that you may need to look at YOURSELF as the parent to solve.

2. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING - From the very 1st story your child tells you about the situation.

3. REASSURE your child that you are on their side.  Never make statements like "Did you deserve it?".. No child deserves to have their parents fighting against them.

4. SELF ESTEEM CHECK -Often bullying of this kind, especially from an authority figure can destroy a child's self esteem to the core.  (((ALERT))) Double check that you have not and are not contributing to destroying your child's self esteem by over talking them, insulting them and talking more than you listen.  Talking more than you listen just establishes a pattern of bad behavior and confirms that all adults are not worth talking to.  If at this time in your childs life, you have not enrolled them in an esteem building activity such as Karate, Music, Art, Drama, Clubs or Sports, it may be time to think about this.

5. TALK ABOUT THE PLAN - It is not a good idea to have a teacher parent meeting without discussing it with your child 1st.   This goes back to making sure that you are COMMUNICATING with your child as you run the risk of embarrassing your child if they find out about the meeting later.  Also, you need to discuss several game plans should the teacher choose to retaliate.

6. FOLLOW THE CHAIN OF COMMAND -If you go to the top too fast, you may be asked if you ran this up to the principal of the school 1st and why not.  Also, by doing this, you will have documentation from the immediate administrative staff and it will be easier to make a case as you go up the line.

7. TEACHER MEETING -This is only if you know you can control yourself.  If you feel you cannot, request a meeting with the teach and 3rd party. In this meeting make sure that you allow the others to speak as well as you.  You do not want to be seen as a bigger bully than the teacher here.

8. COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CHILD - Through out the process, keep the level of communication open with your child.  You need to know if the meetings or awareness level of the situation has changed the circumstances in your child's environment in any way, good or bad.

9. SET GOALS AND TIMELINES IN YOUR MEETINGS - With each party you speak with, set goals such as "I expect to see something done about this by the end of the week".  Setting a goal like this in a meeting will prompt your school's ISD to know that you are serious and it will prompt an answer that will either show how serious they are taking this or not.

10.  GET INVOLVED -  Be sure that you are seen by your school every chance you get.  May be time to join the PTA, PARENTS GUILD, VOLUNTEER MORE.  Once an ISD knows you are not going away and you are watching them more, the more EVERYONE will step up.  Remember, by calling a teacher bully out, you send a message to other teacher bullies who may have been guilty of the same crime but never been caught...................


The intent of this article is not to berate and belittle teachers, my wife and my sister are both teachers. The purpose of this article is to help kids and parents who may have or will deal with this INSANE behavior that teachers can have.

Be Beautiful People and Be the Change you want to See

Coach J