My Son's Teacher was a Bully

Written by Patricia Gatto


Continued from page 1

Even as an adult, it can be intimidating to walk into a principal's office. But I am a parent who believes my son's physical and emotional safety are paramount. I am able to set aside my own issues to make sure my son is safe.

It's difficult enough to deal with a classroom bully, but whenrepparttar bully is your child's teacher, it's usually even more difficult to correctrepparttar 110627 problem. Most times,repparttar 110628 school administration will view a parent's complaint as arrogance onrepparttar 110629 part of a parent of an unruly child or revenge for a poor grade. Proof is difficult to come by. Yet there are times when a teacher is in fact, a bully.

Lack of safety is one ofrepparttar 110630 top concerns of young people, and bullying is a real and constant threat. A child's emotional development is just as important, if not more so, than academic development. In fact, a safe, healthy emotional environment is essential to academic growth and success.

Humiliation, fear, anxiety and depression arerepparttar 110631 constant companions of a child that is bullied. It can lead to harmful, shocking and unexpected behavior from an otherwise shy or timid child.

Victims feel ashamed and tend to view themselves as failures. They are more prone to stress related illnesses such as headaches and stomachaches. In extreme cases,repparttar 110632 victim of a bully can experience sever depression and entertain thoughts of suicide.

What Do You Do Whenrepparttar 110633 Teacher is a Bully?

Stand up for your child. Don't diminish their concerns over a teacher's attitude or behavior. You haverepparttar 110634 right to question school authorities, and you owe it to your child to do so.

•If you suspect a teacher is bullying your child, request a meeting. •Before your meeting, get as many details as possible from your child. •Speak to other parents to see if their child has voiced any complaints or observed mistreatment of your child. •Take notes and prepare yourself. When you speak torepparttar 110635 teacher or administrator, try to keep calm, but make sure you get answers. •If your concerns are dismissed without resolution, take it a step further. Document your efforts, meet withrepparttar 110636 superintendent, write an article forrepparttar 110637 newspaper, or attend a PTO or school board meeting to voice your concerns.

Our children have enough to deal with; a bully for a teacher shouldn't be one of their problems.

Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print fre.e of charge, as long as you include you includerepparttar 110638 full byline, hyperlinks, references and Resource Box.

E-mail or courtesy link appreciated when you publish mailto:Joyful-Productions@comcast.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Title: My Son's Teacher was a Bully

Author: Patricia Gatto Copyright 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Category: Parenting/Children's Social Issues/Education

Word Count (including Resource Box): 1,100



Patricia Gatto and John De Angelis are the authors of MILTON'S DILEMMA, the tale of a lonely boy's magical journey to friendship and self-acceptance. As advocates for literacy and children's rights, the authors speak at schools and community events to foster awareness and provide children with a safe and healthy learning environment. For more information, please visit Joyful Productions at http://www.joyfulproductions.com


Help! The Kids Are Taking Over

Written by David Leonhardt


Continued from page 1

"What?!" Lady Banker and I cried in unison.

It took me a moment, but it slowly dawned on me thatrepparttar living room had fallen torepparttar 110626 enemy. "Please excuse me a moment. I think this isrepparttar 110627 work of foreign cannibals breaking throughrepparttar 110628 basement foundation again." I didn't know if Lady Banker would buy my story, but I figured it would buy me some time while she considered it.

I rushed torepparttar 110629 living room, and there was Little Sister, grinning inrepparttar 110630 full splendor of her 14 months and holding uprepparttar 110631 handset.

"I was onrepparttar 110632 phone with Lady Banker, Little Sister. She holdsrepparttar 110633 mortgage to our house, you know."

The look on Little Sister's face said it all: "You think that's your biggest problem?"

I tried a few negotiation tactics, finally tradingrepparttar 110634 handset for a limited edition huggy doll.

I returned torepparttar 110635 phone. "The rebels are gaining ground, eh?" Lady Banker asked. I sighed.

It was true. Just yesterday, Little Sister scurried uprepparttar 110636 back staircase torepparttar 110637 second floor. She had been playing right beside me, and I was certain she had just headed inrepparttar 110638 other direction to where her big sister was holding her mother hostagerepparttar 110639 living room.

But I had to make sure. I peaked my head aroundrepparttar 110640 corner towardrepparttar 110641 back staircase. Nobody. Then I saw it. Her little blankie lying atrepparttar 110642 foot ofrepparttar 110643 stairs. I heard a thump above, and Little Sister's lifeless body flashed before my eyes whererepparttar 110644 blankie lay. I raced torepparttar 110645 staircase, uprepparttar 110646 stairs and aroundrepparttar 110647 corner.

There she stood, grinning at me with her "You think that's your biggest problem?" expression again.

The revolution is gaining momentum. They holdrepparttar 110648 kitchen. They wonrepparttar 110649 living room. Now they have a toehold onrepparttar 110650 upstairs landing. It won't be long untilrepparttar 110651 toddlers and their imaginary friends have overrunrepparttar 110652 house and declared it a free country. Bedtimes will be banned and candy will berepparttar 110653 national currency.

When they leave home, I'll need more than a five-year cruise to de-stress. Maybe ten years will be enough.

David Leonhardt is author of Climb Your Stairway to Heaven http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/Item.asp?Catalog=Books&Item=059517826X Read more personal growth articles: http://www.thehappyguy.com/self-actualization-articles.html Visit his liquid vitamins store: http://www.vitamin-supplements-store.net Or his happiness website: http://www.thehappyguy.com


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