For months, Houston residents Diana and Oscar Mijares heard about behavior problems their daughter Megan was having in school -- problems she wasn't having at home. The concerned parents bought a tape recorder and hid it in the girl's 'High School Musical' backpack. Turns out, 4-year-old Megan isn't the problem ... it's her teacher, who was recorded saying things like "I'm going to be mean to you" and "Y'all are just stupid kids." Not surprisingly, the Mijares -- and other Houston-area parents -- are outraged, and are demanding that the teacher be dismissed.
Reader Comments (Page 49 of 54)
721. i think that is was real wrong. ok the teacher had the courage to stand up to the kids but she was also putting in their heads that they are all stupid and worthless. little kids take things the wrong way. they are 4 to 5 year olds. they do not know what is right or wrong. i feel sooooo sorry for ur kids if u talk to them like that. u are supposed to use POSITIVE language to them. NAGITIVE language is why the kids like they are today. u are only teaching them to be mean and act the way they do. but
Posted at 6:01PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Kayla
722. I have mixed feelings about this story. I am a pre-k teacher in a private school with 20 children in my classroom. I have an assistant also. These children are 3 and 4 and come from middle/upper middle class families.
I understand her frustration but wonder where her administrators are, does she have an assistant? A teacher should NEVER allow herself to cross that breaking point, to call them stupid is completely unacceptable.
She should call for help, take a break, ask for some interventions for her classroom. Administrators, assistants need to support the teachers by getting involved and touring the rooms. Our school has classroom monitors and we have phones with direct access to the front office.
On the other hand, the parent in the video says she sees behavior in her 4 year old that she doesn't see at home. That is not necessarily a red flag for the child's teacher. Those 19 other children aren't in your home. The parents need to understand that there are 19 or 20 more children in the classroom. Yes, your child is going to mimic some of the behavior she sees. A teacher cannot change a child's behavior, but the classroom atmosphere can certainly influence a child's behavior. This teacher should not be allowed to be reassigned, she should be on suspension while investigation is taking place. I'm interested in the recording devise being brought into a pre-k room without authorization from an administrator. Before everyone here is so quick to criticize, it is a growing problem and the reason I left the public schools. Parents need to be more involved with supporting their child's teachers in whatever capacity they can.
Posted at 6:30PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by elle
723. So, if the parents are to blame, why should the children have to pay the price? The children are the victims here.
Posted at 6:31PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Monica
724. So, if the parents are to blame, why should the children have to pay the price? The children are the victims here.
Posted at 6:32PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Monica
725. That's just like my 10th grade Spanish teacher... she said I'd never amount to anything and I'd probably end up at McDonald's... These people need to be fired or something...
BTW Isn't that recording like illegal... no one told her she was being recorded... you can't not do that. And that double negative is called for.:)
Posted at 6:35PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Ds1nt3k
726. I thank goodness that my seven-year-old daughter is in a school district where the teachers and parents have a mutual respect, understanding, and support for each other, as well as realizing that the children are our main focus. I have volunteered at my daughter's school for the past three years and have adored every teacher she has had. I believe every teacher should be dedicated to the education and nurturing of a love of learning of our children (as well as every parent) or they should not have become teachers (or parents) to begin with. If someone takes a teaching job simply because they think it's an easy career with summers off, then they should seriously rethink their motivation for wanting to teach and be around children. If someone hates water, they really shouldn't be a lifeguard. And if someone is afraid of the sight of blood, they really shouldn't be a doctor. The same should apply to working with children - love what you do, or find another job, because there are plenty of good teachers out there who truly have a love of teaching and want to make a difference in the future of their students' lives. And I don't care what a four-year-old has done, they NEVER deserve to be spoken to in that manner. That teacher should, at the very least, be put on administrative leave and apologize to the student and her parents. Shame on her!
Posted at 6:45PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Dana
727. Thought she was wrong for what she did, teachers have to put up with ALOT! Even kindergardeners today are terrible. I work in a school and see it everyday. Kids will do what they can get away with, and today since there's no discipline in the schools anymore, they get away with alot. Babies having babies doesn't help either because they want to be friends with their kids instead of parents. Don't judge teachers until you walk in their shoes. You'd be shocked at what they deal with everyday.
Posted at 7:15PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Kore
728. If more parents were outraged like this, the aschhol system would be abolished, and a whole new system be put in place. Teachers can and will get away with near anything, because they have the stupifaction system hierachy behind them, and the nearly all powerful NEA contracts
Just two days ago, my child came home with a "letter to both students and parents ( in that order) to look deep into their pants pockets, behind the chairs and tables and even in the washing machine to bring in money to the schhol for new technologies needed in the school.
But I get off point, here, wait until the Health and Children's Welfare comes into your house launching a full investigation alleging child neglect
and child abuse, which will turn out to be grounless.
Don't believe it.?? You'd better- it happenned to me.
Parents "man up" NOW. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE DOES NOT FULLY AND OUTRIGHT OWN YOUR CHILD. . But They Would like to, and intend to that very evil act.
Posted at 8:17PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by CT
729. rebecca shaw....get real about what? these are children! maybe you have the same mentality that this ignorant teachers has! I mean c'mon YOU GET REAL !!
I hope this teacher and this school district get the pants sued off of them! rebecca....go fly a kite! c'mon!
Posted at 8:20PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by richard
730. The teacher should not use the excuse that it was her nedication she had taken,if she were sick stay home,we all know when we are sick we hurt all over and do say things we should not say. The mother stated her child was in trouble a few times prior lets look at the kid also. I do not for one minute think she is the sweet child they portray if she were the teacher would not have to correct her. I am so sick of parents blaming the teachers and the school.Try to teach your kids at home manners and respect for teachers. They are not at school to baby sit your unruley brats. Also, why didn't the parents meet with the tacher and principle prior to this Sounds like another case where someone thinks they can make a quick buck,transfer your kid out.
Posted at 8:22PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by tracy
731. Tracy....read post 713.....If you are a teacher, you should be more like Dana. If I caught you talking to my child like this I would sue the pants off you too! I have GREAT Kids who know the difference between right and wrong and who have been taught well to respect their elders. As far as making a quick buck off of kids? Hey, maybe you really are one of thos unqualified but MAN we need somebody in the classroom teachers! I hope nobody ever speaks to one of yours like that!
Posted at 8:45PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by richard
732. This is outragous behavior on the teacher's part. Unfortunatly, this is happening all over. If the child was acting up and being disruptive, she should've been sent to the principle's office instead of being belittled and made to feel terrible about herself. The teacher could then call the parents and discuss the situation with them. One of the saddest things about this is that some of the people posting comments are siding with the teacher, saying she was justified in this behavior. I wonder if these people have children and if they do, how they would feel if it happened to one of them...and if they say "its ok if they deserve it", they are probably treating their children the same way at home as this teacher does in her classroom. Then we wonder why these kids are growing up confused, rude and even mean. SO SAD!!!!
Posted at 9:06PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by D
733. I cant BELIEVE that some of you are actually blaming the children. Since when is it ok to blame a 4 year old for the behavior of others...especially someone who is supposed to be an older, wiser professional. I sincerely hope that those of you who blame the child dont have children of your own. This is just like the school blaming my child for her inappropriate education...( she was 7 yrs old at the time ) and, of course, my lawyer loved that!!!
Posted at 9:57PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by D.D.
734. Let me break it down for y'all. In the big city, these scum ghetto families are on welfare. So, the teachers who have to deal with all these trash children are feeding them through their tax dollars. They should get a thank you just for that. Then, these crack hoes crank out these crack babies like rabbits ... do you think No Child Left Behind made provisions for this? I wish everytime they misbehaved, the teacher could bash them over the head with a bat.
Posted at 10:11PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Dale rogers
735. I am a substitute teacher. Every day there are students that are rude, disruptive, loud and hateful to me. But, i just bite my tongue and go on about my own business. These kids think it is appropriate to treat subs and teachers like crap. I have also been a teachers aide from time to time and listened to the kids time after time disrespect the teacher. While the teachers are not supposed to call the kids names, why are they expected to just let it roll of of their back and tolerate it? I have been threatened by junior high school kids, disrespected, called names by kids of all ages. mabye that poor teacher had all she could take. And, now you are probably wondering why I am subbing if it is that bad, my husband is on disability, and while everything is going up--his check isnt going up. And I have to have off to take him to the doctor when he has to go. This job allows me the freedom to be off when I need to be. I dont schedule myself to work if I have to take my husband to the doctor whereas a regular job you have to go through forty eleven channels to get a particular day off once in awhile. So, this is the ideal job for me, but it is wearing me out to do it. So, i will hang in there until school is out and see what happens when it starts up again in the fall. Thanks for reading all of this, and have a great day. If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to let me know.
Posted at 10:43PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Shirley Hensley