25 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make and How to Avoid Them

186 Teaching Style and Behavior
SCENARIO 25.3
Biting Remarks Beget Big Bucks
I was in geometry my sophomore year in high school. I sat around several guys and yes,
we did talk a lot. This one particular day my pencil fell off my desk and landed under
one of the guy’s desks. I asked him to get it for me. Well, guess who heard us talking?
I tried to explain that my pencil had fallen under his desk and she said, “Why didn’t you
just get it?” I said, “Well, because it’s under his legs.” Then she made the comment, “I’m
sure you’ve been there before.” I did discuss this with the vice-principal because I was
an aide for them. Of course, nothing came of it, it just blew over.
This teacher made a lewd,
sexually suggestive comment
that could cause her to lose her job
in today’s environment. The new
Supreme Court ruling would hold the
school liable because they ignored the
student’s complaint and did nothing.
They might bring themselves into
compliance if they established policies
that prohibit any form of harassment.
Competent teachers would encourage
students to come forward without
retaliation or repercussions.
These teachers would actively investigate
and try to remedy the situation
immediately.
SCENARIO 25.4
Bottoms Up
Skilled teachers would offer
conferences with students in a
confidential manner that preserves
their anonymity. However, no school
personnel should be encouraged
to take corrective action without
previous investigation. These suggestions
are adaptations of EEOC
guidelines (Huston, 1993). The
teacher’s remarks and the school’s
indifference toward them could cost
the school a great deal of money if
they are sued. Schools and teachers
must become hypervigilant in their
efforts to combat harassment in
any form.
The classroom was long and narrow with long tables pushed together down the middle.
The students sat in a row on either side of the tables. I guess I was up on the chair
with one foot, to reach something on the other side. Leaning over a table, the teacher
slapped me on the bottom. I had a dress on. I guess my panties were showing. I was
embarrassed and humiliated, and it is the only thing I remember from first grade,
except that I learned to read from a book about Dick and Jane and Spot. I don’t remember
having any other interactions with the teacher.
It is not clear if the teacher in
this scenario is a man or a
woman. It really does not matter
because sexual harassment laws do
not discriminate; males and females
are equally liable. Slapping a child on
the bottom can be construed as a
form of sexual harassment. It was