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Teachers and the Abuse of Power
If you were born in the 1950s or earlier, your parents likely taught you that teachers were to be obeyed and respected. (You may have even learned that lesson if you were born later than the 1950s.) If you got into trouble with the teacher, you knew you were in deep trouble with mom and dad. (I was a good kid, so I didn’t have to bear the wrath of an angry parent.) The teachers were in the right, and you would lose your TV privileges or be grounded.
More than those rules, teachers were often viewed as caring and compassionate human beings; after all, they were entrusted with educating our children to prepare them for life. I have my own favorite teachers who more than fulfilled that promise, and many of you may have had your own special educators.
But I think we are learning that many (and I’m not saying all) in the teaching profession are betraying their mandate. Whether true or not, they believe that they are being disrespected, needlessly criticized, and have grown to have disdain for parents and children. Much of their disappointment is energized by the teachers’ unions, whose job it is to increase their membership and make sure they’re getting their money’s worth—whether that is through funding candidates or tasking teachers to teach subjects that would never have been included in the curriculum in the 1950s. Now the community sees many teachers as their adversaries, who disdain their students and their jobs.
Compassion seems to be off the agenda.
What happened?
To some degree, teachers may be justified in feeling marginalized. They don’t make the largest salaries; they must often defer to authorities in selecting curriculum; parents defend their misbehaving children against the teachers—we could list many reasons for their being disgruntled. The fact remains, though, that teachers have been given a mission to educate and guide our kids. And for many, being a teacher is more about misusing power, intimidating children, and acting out their grievances. The key area of unacceptable teacher behavior falls under the definition of bullying students:
I define teacher bullying as a pattern of conduct, rooted in a power differential, that threatens, harms, humiliates, induces fear in or causes students substantial emotional stress.
But in particular, the types of bullying that occur among teachers have taken on a whole new meaning. Although there are teachers who physically or verbally attack students, I believe they are a small minority. Today’s bullying is seen in the areas of (1) limiting expression of ideas to a progressive agenda, and when the student steps outside of that agenda, he or she is verbally punished; (2) encouraging, even intimidating students into exploring alternate genders, in an environment where these kinds of student inquiries are encouraged and rewarded; (3) insisting that children who are not black or of other minorities are less than human and repeatedly degrading their non-existent past; (4) alienating children from their parents by discouraging them from sharing their classroom experience with them; and (5) insisting that students who disagree with them are demonstrating that they are as disturbed as the teachers have insinuated. These behaviors by the teachers are demonstrated with the teaching of CRT, gender affirmation, and white supremacy. But the teachers are overstepping their roles; they are indoctrinating through acts of intimidation and power.
These are the reasons that we need to exert our own power toward the teachers and their unions: your interactions with children are abusive and meet the definition of bullying. This type of behavior is unacceptable under any conditions, and if you continue to act in these ways, your job will be at risk. The unions have to be forced into acknowledging these revised expectations for teacher performance.
We must take back education and our children.
Published in Education
I had a friend quite a few years ago who was a teacher and taught a foreign language in a suburban high school. It was in what would have been considered one of the better school districts. He would sometimes have discipline problems in his first year classes where the kids were not interested in learning but in checking off a box for college plans. He found that neither parents nor the administration were at all supportive. The union was the only place where he could find any measure of support.
This was not a recent thing. The problems have been brewing in our culture for quite a while now. After knowing my friend’s situation, I am not too inclined to blame it all on the teachers’ unions.
A while back I wrote a post about teachers, and I had a teacher comment that teachers’ hands were tied due to the unions. I don’t blame it all on the unions. The kids who are coming to school can be belligerent and uninterested. And your friend may be a teacher who is not a bully. If he’s still teaching, I wonder what his curriculum includes?
Yes, it seems like there is more miseducation than education.
I wish that society had somehow supported teachers in a way that they felt appreciated. I can’t help thinking that a lot of what they are forcing on kids nowadays comes from a desire for revenge, to exert the power they may have felt they lost. I remember the video of teachers ridiculing parents that was shown several times on TV. I’m not saying that represents the bulk of teachers by any means–but enough to have an impact.
Sorry–it wasn’t teachers. It was the school board. Sigh–
With these minor changes, I could tell the same story in the same words:
sub/had a friend quite a few/had a family member a few/
sub/he/she/
Amen.
Could you tell me what point you’re trying to make, dear Mark?
That was so true.
One of my best friends taught 8th grade for many years before becoming a guidance counselor. He lamented the very same thing you said.
“Nowadays,” he told me, “the parents back their Little Johnny up 100% and blame all their kid’s problems on you.”
I was hoping you’d ask, Susan! There are maybe two other people on the whole InterWebs Net who understand me well enough to know that I need to be asked–nay, am longing to be asked–what point I am trying to make.
I meant that our daughter had an extremely similar experience, teaching a foreign language at a highly regarded suburban high school.
Bless you!
Glad to oblige! ;-)
He used a lot of words when “ditto” would have sufficed.
See his comment #9.
Parents weren’t all that supportive in the 1970s, either.
Schools of Education make them that way. I don’t doubt that this deters those who don’t want to be made into social Justice warriors.
I did after I posted my comment. Such is life when one reads oldest to newest comments.
The “new” style of bullying you describe (at least (1), (3), (4) & (5)) was already underway with the “younger and cooler” teachers in the 1970s. By that era my parents were no longer assuming that obedience and respect for school authority was warranted – though as a practical matter remained the default expectation. Those among my friends who became teachers have as many complaints about their colleagues as they have about students and parents.
Before ever joining a teachers’ union, aspiring teachers have to work through initial credentialing via degree programs at “Schools of Education.” These are an integral factor in this mess.
I guess I was lucky, Brian, although I was finished with school by the 70s. I was happy to learn that Gov. DeSantis is working to get legislation passed that says teachers don’t have to join the union or pay dues. I wonder if they will feel deprived or empowered if the law goes through.
I’m thinking that the behaviors I’m describing should not just be called bullying casually, but they should be called bullying formally. Maybe a teacher or two who indulges in these actions will better understand what they are doing.
The great “American Experiment” with its 50 laboratories! Hopefully the legislation passes – then we can see if teachers are willing to pay dues voluntarily.
My last year in education was this past school year. The Janus decision (2018) made it illegal for unions to collect union dues from non-members, effectively making Minnesota a right to work state for teachers and other educators bound by the teaching contract. (So even though I am not a teacher – school psychologist – I was paid as part of the teachers contract.) I was paying the $900 per year dues mainly because of the provided liability insurance, but also, if I opted out due to political differences, I still would have to pay 85% of the dues (supposedly for collective bargaining – but the majority of the dues went to the national and state organizations).
In 2019 I began getting mailings regarding choosing an alternative which would provide the needed liability insurance as well as political support from a more conservative organization. There was only a 30 day window in which to do this (Sept 1-30) each year. Finally in 2020 I had done my research and formally withdrew from the teacher’s union to join the other organization for only $125 per year, and double the amount of the liability insurance. Because I was still part of the collective bargaining unit and contract, I was covered by union rules and had a right to union representation in any dispute with admin. I was not however allowed to attend union meetings or vote in union matters. This was an excellent decision for me, and as I spread the word, more staff members began to explore the alternatives.
As to bully teachers – in my 15 years in education, I can truly say I observed only one teacher was a bully, and she was an elementary school long-term sub. As far as what was taught – I only observed in classrooms periodically, and I must say that the subject matter at the high school level was definitely tilted left. However, I rarely heard of students who believed they were not allowed to express their own thoughts. What I noticed more on the part of students was the apathy and lack of motivation to learn regardless of the teachers’ attempts at ‘relevancy.’
As far as the gender nonsense, it was more of the counselors and maybe one or two really woke teachers who led the way on that. But it was more support and encouragement than indoctrination. The kids made it plain that in general they found these behaviors to be freakish, but would generally ignore it. One of the saddest kids I worked with, only last year, was the young man whose twin brother had decided he was a girl, and was very flamboyant about it (makeup, clothing, hairstyle, etc). Broke my heart to see the pain this caused.
I appreciate your sharing your thoughts, Juliana, but I do have a couple of questions. First, if you were only “periodically” in other classrooms, what makes you confident about what was happening in those classes most of the time? It’s also possible that students didn’t express their thoughts because they learned early not to disagree with their teachers. I am also certain that apathy and lack of motivation was likely a factor with students. Finally, at one point does “support and encouragement” become indoctrination? And some kids might have found it freakish, but what about the others who didn’t? I’m not trying to sound as ardent as I probably come across, but even after 15 years of teaching, I wonder how complete your observations are.
Absolutely.
Hm. I will have to remember that handy shortcut, if I ever get over my need to be asked what I am talking about.
I had a similar introduction into the world of oppressed teachers in the mid 1990’s.
My friend had been a principal in one of the bedroom communities outside of San Francisco. He was so glad when he decided to retire as teaching had become a non-respected career.
His school district was affluent and about the only big crime was if some HS senior felt another student had scratched his new Mercedes.
Although the idea that any student would knife another, or shoot another, was far outside of his realm of pastoral suburbia, the main nightmare for teachers occurred whenever Tiffany or Elliot received any grade other than an A.
Parents would show up at the teacher’s room indignant at the idea of accepting that lower grade as the measure of their offspring’s performance. There the parent(s) would remain for an hour or more, with things sometimes evolving into a shouting match.
Didn’t matter if the student had refused to do homework, tested poorly or even skipped class. Teachers were expected to put all that aside and consider how dimly lit Tiff or El’s future would be if the low mark kept the student from admission to Harvard.
In several cases, Ma or Pa Harvard alumni were determined to offer the school district admins an incentive of monies for some worthy project, if the teacher could be made to see reason.
Back in the 1990’s, as far as I know, such offers were received with “Thanks but no thanks.”
I had a friend who worked at a university in CA, and she was occasionally challenged by a student for the same reason; they hadn’t earned a high grade, but it was an expensive private school and they had “paid” for a high grade. It was very frustrating for her; I expect it’s gotten worse.
I appreciate the questions Susan, but with all due respect, where did you get your information? There have been anecdotal and frightening stories in the conservative press, but this is a large country with many, many schools and many, many teachers. Teachers really only know their own classroom. No one can know what is said in every classroom at all times of the school day. In my experience most teachers are professionals who do their best to work with students to help them learn what is necessary for their future.
When the new principal, a black man, started at the high school where I worked, he stated ‘we are not teaching CRT here.’ I believed him. I saw students wearing MAGA hats without incident; I also observed a math teacher who came to school wearing his BLM earrings. I observed his class a few times – he taught math. Again, I don’t think I can express the lack of interest in learning that I observed. There were many students who were literally in the building just for the social time – I did not understand at the time, or even now, how you could sit in a class and not do ANYTHING. But I saw it. So far from not wanting to dispute with their teachers, I think they just don’t care. I think I may have had more of a sense of what was happening in general than most teachers who were confined to their own classrooms all day.
Indoctrination is a serious word. There are definitely a group of students who are all in on the LGBTQetc, etc. Unfortunately, it is a very dangerous fad. (Around 2015 or so, the fad was to have multiple personalities in order to escape responsibility.) A few years ago, when the first LGBTQ group was formed, they only had ‘allies’- no actual LGBTQ students. Then there were a few, and the last couple of years, it seems to have exploded. There are definitely counselors who will promote this agenda, and it is they that must be reined in – especially when they refuse to involve the parents – or are in middle school. But in my experience they expected the students to come to them – one counselor who was all in on this would not approach a student – she would let the student make contact. I made my objections known directly to assistant principals and in an advisory committee (no teachers – admin, counselors, nurses, school board rep, police reps). Had I not retired I would have been even more vocal regarding the dangers.
That said, I am not a fan of public schools. When you are graduating students from high school and only 50% of them can read at an 11th grade level, there is something very, very wrong with all parts of the system.
Change Harvard to West Point and I had the exact same experience teaching my first class, just a summertime Speech course. The parent called me and yelled some, then called some other people. The student earned a B+ and that’s how it stayed. That was about seventeen years ago.
It was an elite private school and I actually just wrapped up a two-month, fill-in job for middle school science there. Some bad grades were earned and some excellent grades. As for me, I developed the habit of bringing Newton’s Laws into every discussion. And I just did it again…[sigh].
Funny story. We paid a small fortune to get three sons and one daughter through private Catholic school K-12. All four are as clever as the devil, though their grades at times did not reflect that.
Had I challenged a teacher on a grade, or a project, I do believe those kids would have never spoken to me again.
Which is not to say that I never challenged a teacher; son #3’s extra credit for fasting on Ramadan being a perfect example.
But even in these small, parochial schools, 25 years ago, I saw the creep of what is now ubiquitous. The 8th grade boy who on “twin day” (when you showed up dressed like someone else) who showed up wearing a mini skirt. And the principal and office staff congratulating each other that he was “comfortable” changing his clothes at school so his dad wouldn’t see.
I had more than one teacher attempt to explain my child to me, like I’d never met him. Teachers inserting themselves between the child and the parent is evil. As I told one teacher, unless you’re leaving the key under the mat so my kid can let himself into your garage, butt out. (She feared about his “intolerance”) I’ll be forever grateful for the principal who suspended son #2, then very sternly told him to go into the hall. Then crumbled in front of me and asked for my opinion on whether I thought the punishment was appropriate. (borderline, but I knew that kid well. And it was time for a smack upside the head)
Which is a long way to say that at some point teachers began believing their own press. They’ve taken on a lot of duties that have no accountability, while not doing the job for which they were hired: please, at a minimum, can we get kids writing and reading a friggen grade level?
[snip]
We should be so lucky – these are the epitome of compassion, attempting to save children from the toxic ideas of their parents.
It is not enough to educate students, they must be reeducated to confess their complicity in racism, to ally with the ever expanding rainbow, and to renounce their cowardice in not experimenting in alternative sexualities.
Turning kids into ideological foot soldiers is a time-honored tradition among socialists of every stripe, and denouncing parents internally or externally is a vital part of this.
There is, in the human psyche, a great capacity for doing great wrong for righteous reasons. From the Spanish Inquisition to the Milgram experiment we see that free-spinning cognitive dissonance can dig deep ruts.
They want to help in the worst way.
Thank you so much for elaborating, Juliana. What you say makes a lot of sense, especially from what I’ve heard anecdotally. It’s a mixed bag and I am concerned for our education system and the future of this country, so I may seem a bit zealous. Thank you for being one of those who spoke up, too. We need to see more of that. BTW, you’re right to challenge my information. I tend to rely a lot on the work of Christophere Rufo and Abigail Shrier, but am also influenced by others’ assessments.
I’m probably going to come under fire for saying this, but I’m going by averages here. The average student in a “school of education” is part of the intellectual dregs of whatever college or university he attends. It is a well established fact that students majoring in education have the lowest average SAT scores. They generally do not major in a subject to teach, but in “education of mathematics/science/history.”
(I once had to explain to a sixth-grade teacher how to properly divide fractions; in response I was told a student could just use a calculator. I responded that one cannot learn physics, chem., etc., if one does not know how to manipulate fractions on an abstract level. She looked at me as if I had five heads.)
These teachers get the pay and respect they’ve earned.