The teacher from Hell?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238342)
Walnut Creek, California
March 15, 2019 4:01pm CST
Man oh man! There's a new teacher at the preschool where I've been working as a behavioral specialist (glorified preschool teacher) and I find her really hard to work with.
She's extremely controlling, and says things to the kids like, "No talking while eating until you're done. We're not here to have fun." This is to a bunch of 3- and 4-year-olds.
Today at lunch, she said "Raise your hand if you want some cucumber." My young friend Chance, a foster kid with whom I have been working closely, said, a few minutes later, "May I please have some cucumber?"
She said, "No, you did not raise your hand." She could undo everything positive that I've done for this kid!
Earlier, she had done one of the lamest teacher-directed projects I've ever seen, having kids (remember, we're talking 3- and 4-year-olds) glue a capital "A" to a lower case "a." She didn't even bring any crayons or markers over so the kids could "enhance" their "art works." (I did.)
I hope the director asks us about her after a couple of weeks. Have you ever had to work with someone whose philosophy is entirely different from yours? I've been trained to let younger children learn by doing, and using a process called "scaffolding" (helping them only when they need it) to facilitate their growth.
I'm a tad frustrated.
25 people like this
22 responses
@wolfgirl569 (135910)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Mar 19
I would go off. He asked politely so should have been given a cucumber. That is great from kids that age.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135910)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Mar 19
@TheHorse Yes he could have been told that he could have them but please try to raise his hand the next time also. I hope they get enough complaints to do something before she does much harm.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238342)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Mar 19
Yep. And he is a kid who has gone from foster care home to foster care home. I've worked intensely with him and his behavioral gains are pretty impressive (and not just because of my work). I want to see him treated well by other teachers.
1 person likes this
@Michellekidwell (29953)
• Sonora, California
15 Mar 19
That sounds like she doesn’t seem suited to work with Children that young!
3 people like this
Wow, just wow . . . she's too militant for little ones of this age. I can't imagine that the children would respond well to this control freak!
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
15 Mar 19
I would not wait, refusal of food would send me on a rant the same day. Sure there are rules but like you said, these are babies learning, and learning about how mean someone can be when they ask for food.
I feel like as long as the kids will eat it, let them, some do not have food at home or some are picky eaters.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
16 Mar 19
I am on the same page as you. I follow the same philosophy like you do when dealing with children especially young ones.
I think she needs some child psychology lessons badly. Such controlling behavior can be damaging to the self esteem and trust of the child.
Maybe she is unaware of it. If I were you I would have approached for a polite talk. After all our children are our priority. I luckily had colleagues who were open to talk and take or give suggestions.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238342)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Mar 19
@arunima25 Good suggestion. I'm not sure at this point.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
17 Mar 19
@TheHorse I would say that it might be causing some hesitation. But think of children and go for a professional and polite talk. I hope she would be receptive as you have experience of working with children. Or if there is some coworker who can be of help??
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51837)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Mar 19
@TheHorse Too bad she doesn't believe in them.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238342)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Mar 19
@BarBaraPrz Exactly. My friend the Preschool Director (where I used to work) and I were discussing the very same thing. One can say all the right things but not do them. If I were a Director (I just got my Director's Permit back after letting it expire years ago) I'd put prospective teachers in the classroom with the kids and see how they interacted.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
16 Mar 19
Some things she teaches are right. As an example "No talking while eating" is correct, because talking with a full mouth is really something horrible and once you get the habit you do not change. Refusing to give the cucumber when the kid asked so politely is terrible wrong. The correct way (is she wanted to be strict) would have been "as you asked so politely I am giving you, the nest time remember to raise your hand).
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238342)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Mar 19
But we've never had them raise their hands for food before. Asking politely is what we've taught. She is new and should check in with teachers who have been there about protocol for certain things. Also, you don't need NO talking while eating to teach a child not to talk with their mouth full. Good "dinner table conversation" is one of the predictors of good language development.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238342)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Mar 19
@LadyDuck Interesting. In my family, we ate and talked and talked and ate. But we kept our elbows off of the table, sad please, and didn't chew with our mouths open. We also "asked to be excused" when we wanted to leave the dinner table.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169505)
• United States
16 Mar 19
She does not seem like she belongs there at all.
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
16 Mar 19
I don't like the sound of that woman one little bit!! If she is like this now... what is she going to be like in a few months??
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
15 Mar 19
Could you possibly just report her now? She should never work with children (or other humans) but I'm not in charge. She could do so much damage in a day. If she was with my children, I'd move to have her discharged.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98072)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Mar 19
I think it is time to rethink about this teacher. She does not sound like someone I would want working with such young children.
1 person likes this
@Junbals (1421)
• Philippines
8 Apr 19
How she teaches the pre-schooler is the problem. Maybe you could approach her and give a feedback at what you observed. This could improve her performance and help the kids, as well. You are a teacher yourself. So you could see eye to eye. My take.
1 person likes this
