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 50 of 54)
736. Sadly,
OUR world is twisted. Does anyone know what the child did before the teacher went off? It is unreal the treatment that teachers are required to endure, yet, if a teacher tried to make a recording ( video or otherwise) of an unruly child, he/she could be fired. How is it then that the child can blatantly record a teacher, yet, have no repercussion?
I have had some students be very disrespectful to me, calling me names that are undesirable, yet, we teachers must be so gentle and careful not to hurt student's self esteem. After awhile, after asking a student to please sit down and will you please put away the cell phone, it does get upsetting.
I realize that the incident involved a young child, however, what are we teaching them? That is it ok for children to disrespect their teachers? Maybe the lady had a bad day. She surely chose the wrong words to say at a moment of conflict.
This is an instant where the teacher should have sent the student to another room until both parties calmed down and were able to proceed. I have a "buddy" on the hallway, where I can send a disruptive student for 10/15 minutes which helps a lot. I often have students return with apologies later in the day, simply because I did not lose my cool or say something negative to them.
Our students now have so many pressures. HOWEVER, mom and dad should have met with the teacher to try to sound out the issues before taking matters into their own hands. I strive and many others to keep contact with the home, and to reach out to see students succeed through support from home.
We have come a long way, but, there are so many issues that need to be addressed. IF students are allowed to mistreat a teacher at the low level, I cannot imagine what will happen later on in middle and high school.
I say shame on the parents for not reaching out to the teacher to express concern and make a plan to drop in unannounced to actually see what the students are doing in the classroom. I welcome parents visits. It is like they say in Missouri... Seeing is believing!
There are always 2 sides to every story.
Posted at 10:55PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by carolyn
737. Didn't sound like anything different from what I heard in school. Big deal!! Some parents are such candyasses!! They are turning their children into weaklings who are unable to cope with the varied personalities they'll meet in their lives. The Mijares are disgusting, over-protective dummies.
Posted at 11:02PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Cisco
738. Interesting how there is only parts of the tape played? Where is the rest? What made the teacher say what she said? I hardly believe the kid was innocent regarding the suspensions. Also , it is against the law to tape someone without their permission. I hope the teacher sues the parent.
Posted at 11:33PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Sue
739. Sounds like my daughter's 6th grade teacher. Get rid of tenure-now there is a real solution
Posted at 11:35PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Donna
740. As much as I do respect the right of privacy, I do feel in this day and age, it's a good thing to monitor the classrooms, not only the behavior of the student, but of the teacher, as they are human and may have had a bad day, or just don't know how to handle a crisis or an behavioral problem child without causing further conflicts. In this respect, the school administrator teacher,student/s and parent/s can observe and work on the issues in the classroom together for the well being and safety of all involved in this classroom. If the teacher's are doing their job, have patience and empathy of the student's needs, then they have nothing to hide or worry about.
Posted at 11:57PM on Mar 2nd 2008 by Kathy
741. 89. To Laura, This teacher wasn't "set up". Why should it matter if the teacher was being taped if she had nothing to hide? If conditions are so bad in the classroom that a teacher needs to worry about being taped, then there is a problem that needs to be investigated. If she is doing her job properly and treating her students properly, then why would she care who tapes her?
Posted by Jane
HEY JANE IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT, IT'S A VOILATATION OF HER RIGHTS. THAT'S WHY COMPANIES TODAY SAY YOU MAYBE TAPED, SO THEY PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM LAWSUITS, TAPING SOMEONE WITHOUT PERMISSION IS STILL ILLEGAL UNLESS YOU HAVE A COURT ORDER. END OF STORY PEOPLE DON'T GET IT, TEACHER WAS WRONG, PARENTS BROKE THE LAW SO MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO THE PARENTS, LIKE SUE! OH I BET THE TEACHER WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 12:02AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by HATERS
742. I think this is actually pretty mild for a public school teacher. I also believe this is more the rule than the exception.
Posted at 12:45AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by MnTexas
743. Some of you are defending this teacher? You're all kidding, right? No right-minded person can possibly think that there is ANY situation that could justify a kindergarten teacher speaking that way to a classroom full of children.
Posted at 12:47AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Dan Grimes
744. I used to think that I could trust other people who held office or were professionals such as teachers when I was younger. Now I am older and wiser and realize that NO ONE is my king (democracy as opposed to the old way, monarchy) and that anyone who tries to control the actions of others or their thoughts is really just trying to be their king. I remember being a kid and thinking back, some of my teachers were doing bad and imposed their evil on us in the classroom. F#ck that. When I had an idea that differed from their Nazi regime, I was "corrected". I was right then and am still right today, but because the teacher claimed "kingship", we were wrongfully tought that they controlled us. NO ONE controls me. This is America, not Great Britain. I obey LAW, not people.
Posted at 1:01AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Christopher Warren Street of Illinois
745. you know what? its the teachers resposibility to help the kids mature, not to insult them. these kids are at an age where they are easily influenced, and can cause irreparable damages. and if the supposed "teachers" cant handle it, go get another job, losers
Posted at 1:40AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Louisa
746. What all of you people defending this teacher are failing to realize is this is 3 & 4 year old children. Not elementary school children. If she doesn't want to put up with the behavior of 3 & 4 year olds then she should teach another grade. She should be thankful she isn't teaching my child. I have a 4 yr old. He is not perfect he has bad days like adults do. However, how would you like to be told by your boss on your bad days that you are stupid and mean and deserve to be treated that way. You would have HR in an uproar. Small children are not innately BAD they are influnced by how they are treated and what they are told. We have a WONDERFUL Pre-K teacher and she has bad days but she never calls them mean and stupid. It is uncalled for and verbal abusive. She should get her medication in order and be carefully watched before she is allowed to teach again.
Posted at 7:54AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Kim Burba
747. Is corporal punishment legal in Texas? It is in some states, but I'm not familiar with Texas.
At any rate, the teachers words were uncalled for. After all, teachers are supposed to be morally and ethically perfect. Always show up early, leave late. They're supposed to do the parenting for the parents. Be role models in and out of the classroom, of course. Always patient and endearing. Naturally, they must treat every single child with the utmost of respect, even if the child shows none in return. Of course since parents nowadays can't teach children how to behave properly in public, teachers should do that, too. It fits in with what they're teaching anyways. Of course they're responsible if any student does not perform well. And let's not forget, they need to be paid as little as possible.
Get real.
Posted at 8:23AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Strados
748. Only in Texas would the teacher not get suspended or fired but... reassigned??? It might be true that kids these days can be awful, and it might be true that parents these days don't know how to raise their children; but I personally have worked in the education field and have never witnessed a teacher acting like a fool after a bad day to their kids the way that this hick did. Come on, the kids are four and five. Yeah, they might be demon seeds, but they are four and five, why anyone would talk to a four or five year old like that (unless it was the parent) is beyond me. Even if it were the child's parent calling the kid stupid, there is still a huge difference than a teacher calling a kid one.
Posted at 8:35AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by whatever
749. THANK YOU! I too had to resort to something very similar... it IS ABUSE! The "teacher" should not be allowed to teach now or at anytime!! There is NO excuse for this...scars our children for life! Thumbs up to you both for doing this! Very smart! After "bullying" my child in the school...I too had to do this..."Oh we don't see/hear this" He is making it up... Well, We are now only our childs advocate but an advocate for others... We have to do what is necessary and again...SOOOO Glad you did! Keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers! ~ Momof3 ~
Posted at 9:27AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Mom of 3
750. oh i would have given this woman a really good slap before i turned her in! at the age of those children....this verbal abuse is most likely something that they wont forget. i'd be lobbying with every parent in there to make sure this woman isnt allowed within 10 feet of a child again!
Posted at 9:31AM on Mar 3rd 2008 by gigi