• Question: Has any teachers ever put you down?

    Asked by tucker2011 to Anna, Craig, Richard, Shane, Sue on 16 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Sue Carney

      Sue Carney answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi tucker2011,

      Thinking back to my time at school (a long time ago!), I don’t think that ever happened to me, no. Is that something that has happened to you?

      If something like that did happen, maybe you could try talking to that teacher about it in private, to try to understand why the teacher said what they did (maybe it was a misunderstanding?) and to explain how you felt about it. If you don’t feel comfortable with that, maybe there’s another teacher you could talk to about it?

    • Photo: Anna Williams

      Anna Williams answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi Tucker2011,
      Sue has written a very good answer with very good advice in it. If you have been in that situation, you need to know whether the teacher was aware he/she was doing it, or really meant it. I know that teachers are often tired, overworked, and stressed, and they have a lot of students to deal with, and sometimes it appears as though they are putting you down, when really they’re just being grumpy, and didn’t mean it at all. But if you’re sure it was meant, then you need to talk about it with your parents or another teacher or staff member, as Sue has suggested.

      When I was at school, I had one history teacher who didn’t think I was very good at history, and told me so, so I took great pleasure in proving him wrong, and getting an A in my A’levels!

      I hope that helps!

    • Photo: Shane Pennington-Cooper

      Shane Pennington-Cooper answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hello tucker2011,

      Yes I had a teacher who put me down at school, it was my biology teacher (funny that considering I did very well), he had an mbe and boatsed about it. If you are being treated badly at school by a teacher I would speak to him or her and explain that is making you feel worthless and he/she may realise what he/she has done and change. Teachers can be very cruel to chidlren either because they have had personal problems or it has been a long day. My advice would be if you are is prove them wrong. I certainly proved my AS biology teacher. Passed A Levels with flying colours, completed an honours degree, becamse a forensic science mentor, got accepted on IAS and have strong research in naturally killing cancer cells.

    • Photo: Richard Case

      Richard Case answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi tucker2011,

      It would be very important to distinguish whether someone is putting you down… or could be offering constructive criticism or trying to motivate you.

      The problem is different people have different approaches and skills in managing people.

      I had teachers who did not know how to talk to and motivate the kids… but this wasn’t aimed at one child, it would be all of us. Things don’t change when you get older…. you will have different bosses through your chosen career… some of them will bring the best out of you… and others won’t.

      Now, if you have a teacher that you believe is only directing negativity at you… and for no apparent reason… then you should make your feelings known as soon as you can to get the matter resolved.

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