25 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make and How to Avoid Them

Teacher Confessions of Worst Treatment of a Child
9.6. Do you ever think about this incident? If yes, approximately how
often since the occurrence(s)?
One–five times for 5 years.
9.7. If faced with the same or a similar situation, what would you do?
The same thing.
Commentary
This teacher suffers from the omnipotent-teacher syndrome. He acts allpowerful
and all-knowing. He’s in charge and a mind reader, knowing what
the player was thinking. He is authoritarian, expecting immediate obedience
to his request; when he did not get it, he passed judgment and administered
punishment in a split second giving the child no opportunity to explain. The
child could have been hesitating for another reason. Although the coach felt
that he was correct and the child was wrong, I question his unwillingness to
examine his behavior and seek alternatives, particularly when he admitted
he overreacted and he used physical force to make the student sit down. To
avoid the omnipotence syndrome, teachers can adopt a more authoritative or
diplomatic way of dealing with students that does not demand unquestioned
obedience. Whenever possible, teachers should give students an opportunity
to explain their behavior.
Mistake 4: Public Ridicule
Teacher # 10
A Scenario of a Teacher’s Worst Treatment of a Student
I told the students in my class to get in groups for a project. There was one student
who nobody wanted to work with because she was “weird.” I made another student
get out of his group and work with her. I yelled at him and ridiculed him in front of
the class. He was so angry at me and embarrassed that he turned bright red and
wouldn’t look at me for the rest of the class period. Previously, he would come to my
classroom after school and help me in class. After this incident he never did it again.
Motive Probe
10.1. Describe the problem and your specific role in it.
I didn’t consider his feelings. I took out my anger on him.
10.2. Why did you do what you did?
I felt badly for the little girl and I also wanted everything to be my way.
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