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13 Things Teachers Should Never Say
Educators need to speak carefully…
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Some teachers have the gift of language down pat. They know how to use their words in a way that everyone around them feels good about themselves and motivated to do their work. However, there are some teachers out there who let their adult sense of humor and frankness go too far. What one person may think is perfectly acceptable language, another may find rude and hurtful. I asked my education colleagues and members here on TheApple to share quotes they’d heard but wish they hadn’t. Think about your words carefully, because once you’ve spoken, there’s no taking it back.
gucci
9 days ago
482 comments
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ddjjww50
4 months ago
4 comments
I have heard these things said and more. Educating people to be good teachers is a on going thing and we as teachers must be aware of the words that are used with students and parents. No one wants to make a student or parent feel bad but often they go away feeling frustrated. So let's use these comments to make a differences in schools today.
mdmann00
5 months ago
28 comments
And just because some teacher said some of these things doesn't necessarily mean they are bad people or bad teachers. Teaching is an incredibly frustrating job, not just from the poor pay but because parents and society in general are often working at cross purposes to the goals of the school. Teacher are human. Humans do lots of things they wouldn't normal do or think of doing when they get frustrated. I once told one of my students to get the "F" out of my classroom after she made me extremely angry with her behavior. I felt AWFUL for doing that after I calmed down, but you know what? It didn't hurt my relationship with this student or any of my other students one bit (I just saw this student two days ago, and she seemed very happy to see me). Despite what some of you may think, students DO UNDERSTAND how thankless a job teaching can be and even how aggravating and annoying they can be. And I think they actually APPRECIATE a teacher they trust showing that they are HUMAN, which means prone to make mistakes. I think it is very wrong to try to set yourself up as this pristine, always right, perfect being dispensing knowledge from on high. Students need someone to whom they can relate.
When I entered teaching from my $100,000 a year job, many students thought I was crazy. When I quit teaching because I couldn't afford it anymore, many students were very sorry to see me go and said they would NEVER become teachers because they thought it was not worth it. That wasn't a message I conveyed to them, so I think they get more of this than some of you seem to realize.
That isn't to say that you go around saying stuff like this to students all the time, but if you slip up in a "heat-of-the-moment" kind of situation (which WILL happen regardless of what you try to do), it is NOT the end of the world if you've built a good relationship with your students and present yourself as a real human.
cuff88
5 months ago
2 comments
@jaysprout Please believe that teachers say these things- I was "educated" by them. Fortunately enough for me, my parents were very supportive of my education and encouraging when my teachers tossed aside their compassion as frustration led them to say things like "I don't care whether you learn or not, I'm still going to get paid!." This is a sad but true reality. So please do take the fact that you learned nothing form this article as a good thing. Just because you are a "good" teacher doesn't mean they all are...
jaysprout
5 months ago
2 comments
I thought I would learn something from this article ... but ... I just can not believe any teacher would say any of these things ... I certainly wouldn't. I was hoping for something I could apply. I suppose I should take this as a good thing.
Genxer65
6 months ago
2 comments
This article should have been read by a number of teachers I had in school. In elementary school, I was frequently reprimanded for "asking too many" questions, told by my grade 8 art teacher that I had no talent and in grade 10, a teacher asked me "Are you stupid?" My parents tried in high school to work with my "guidance" counselor. He told them they had better hope someone marry me, since I wouldn't amount to anything.
Mrs_P
6 months ago
8 comments
This was a good article for new and experienced teachers to read and think about.
fmeehleib
8 months ago
12 comments
Ideas presented here are wake-up calls not just for teachers but for parents as well.
halpey1
8 months ago
60 comments
Yikes. Do teachers really talk to children like this? Here's hoping I NEVER do.
http://halpey1.blogspot.com/
priyajain072
11 months ago
6 comments
Thanks for these nice advices,they would definitely improve the education standards through teachers.
artistjan464
about 1 year ago
8 comments
There are ways and then there are ways of saying something. I believe a person can say just about anything if they weigh their words carefully and not just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. When talking to students the tone is very important. If you are constantly saying things you regret it might be better to say nothing.
ricksand
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Never criticize another teacher or his teaching.
Never challenge the administraion or board policies even if you don;t necessarily agree with them.
eCubed
about 1 year ago
2 comments
That was interesting. I'm surprised those things are common enough that they're documented. Here are a few that I think are inappropriate:
1. To Student: "You are wrong."
2. Supervising teacher to student teacher: "There are just students who are better off digging ditches than being here."
3. Teacher to colleague: "You suck but not as bad as you think."
4. Teacher to colleague's student: "Why are you even in his class if you can't even [skill from a prerequisite course]?"
5. Teacher to student: "Your parents are wrong." (even if true, don't say this.)
6. Teacher to student: "(A student's classmate) is really annoying."
7. Teacher to student: "I can't believe that (a colleague) taught you that way. That's so wrong!"
8. Teacher to students: "I'm really not trained to teach this subject."
9. Teacher to students: " (person who is widely known by your students) is so hot!"
10. Supervisor to teacher: "(A colleague of yours) failed the state certification test for (endorsement)."
Honestly, I was a witness of those wherever/whenever I was as either a student, student teacher, teacher, or someone whom a parent complained to about a teacher.
bluelabador
about 1 year ago
4 comments
With your permission, and the permission of my principal, I would like to post these 13 gems in the teacher lounge as a source of daily reflection and motivation. (And to let the rest of the staff know about your website.
tibu720
about 1 year ago
26 comments
To add to this list, I have heard teachers reveal way too much about their personal lives. I think a good rule of thumb is if you have any doubt about whether or not what you are about to say is appropriate, don't say it! And don't ever say anything negative. A positive approach will do you, and your students, wonders.