What to Do about a Bad Teacher

We all start off each school year hoping our kids get "good" teachers, and usually, we're not disappointed. Most teachers enter (and stay in) the profession for the right reasons and have their students' best interests at heart.

Occasionally, though, there will be a bad apple. Whether it's a teacher who doesn't teach the subject competently, who is "mean" to individual kids or the entire class, or who ignores particular children in favor of others, these teachers can have effects that last far beyond the classroom.

Take, for example, a kid who starts off eager to learn a subject but whose efforts are consistently belittled and compared to those of others. Not only will the child begin disliking the teacher and dreading the class, interest in the subject matter itself may well wither and die.

What should parents do in such situations? Often children are afraid to talk to their teachers when there are problems and worry, sometimes justifiably, about reprisals. When, for whatever reason, a child hasn't been able to work out the issue with a teacher himself, parents should consider getting involved.

The first step is contacting the teacher and, if possible, setting up an in-person meeting to clarify the situation. Sometimes a child's perception of what's been happening can be distorted, or there may be other factors playing into the situation that a parent hasn't been aware of. Often, a single meeting—or even phone conversation—with a teacher will be enough to get things back on track.

On occasion, however, just speaking with the teacher won't be enough—the child will continue to report instances of poor and even psychologically damaging teaching. If this is the case, parents should take their concerns to the school principal (and, if necessary, higher authorities). Perhaps the child can be moved to another class or, if that isn't possible, the principal may be able to speak with the teacher about the problem and indirectly improve the situation.

In extreme circumstances, if all else fails, parents may have to consider switching schools. Although such a step shouldn't be undertaken lightly and is disruptive to everyone, in the long run it may be the best course of action, both for the child's current and future educational progress.