25 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 9: Deliberate Mistreatment
abused the children entrusted in her
care. The evil within her is laid bare
in her treatment of the child and the
dead priest. The act of forcing the
screaming child’s head down into
the priest’s coffin erases any doubt
about the nun’s malevolent intent.
Child abuse often finds its way
into the classrooms via teachers who
may have been abused as children.
These teachers may find themselves
terrorizing and humiliating their students
and hating themselves for it,
yet they are powerless to stop.
Insightful teachers who realize
that their behaviors and words are
abusive take ownership of the problem
and seek solutions. They explore
their own history of abuse and unrealistic
expectations of children, their
stress and tolerance level, and their
need to control their life. Teachers are
caregivers and they fall into the same
categories as parents. If they are
SCENARIO 9.2
It’s Snowing Down South
abusive, like some parents, they need
the same treatment as abusive parents.
Caring professionals will get some
help and counseling and will work on
their issues.
Good teachers who have
add ressed their own issues and dysfunction
can provide the care and
understanding needed to discuss
death with small children. Sensitive
teachers know that children’s feelings
run deep. They would not force
children to view a dead person
against their wishes. Death education
is an important part of child
development. This type of education
is best accomplished through bibliotherapy,
social studies of cultural
practices, and religious beliefs about
death. A caring adult in a warm,
supportive environment should
handle death education, exercising
caution to avoid creating anxiety or
stress for the child.
I had an experience of having to go in front of the class to give a book report with my
slip hanging out. Even though the teacher knew about my problem, she made me go in
front of the class anyway. This happened in third grade.
Speaking in front of an audience
can be difficult for most
people. If speakers are aware that
something is wrong with their
app earance, the experience can be
traumatic. The teacher in the scenario
sacrificed the student’s psychological
safety for a book report. She forced
the child to go to the front of the class
to report knowing that the child’s
slip was hanging down. Teachers
who would do such a thing are either
mean-spirited or indifferent to children’s
feelings.
Caring teachers are aware of the
fragility of children’s self-esteem and
seek to keep it intact. Astute teachers
can anticipate situations that may
cause students distress and will
avoid them. Good teachers would
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