Shanazel

Eshta, do you think I am mounting a personal attack on you as a teacher or as a human being because I question some advice you offered? Please don't.

I agree with what you wrote about dealing with kids in the classroom with the exception of advising students to tell the teacher they will "spread the word" that the teacher can't control her class. I am not saying you personally intended to advocate blackmail, only that a threat to "tell" could be construed as blackmail.

I have been teaching in one discipline or another since 1977, and I have occasionally had a disgruntled student who wanted me to give them an undeserved A, write easier exams, ignore poor preparation for class, accept poor writing for publication, or banish someone from my classroom who the student perceived, rightfully or wrongfully, as being a problem.

I am willing to address a student's concerns; that is part of my job. Allowing myself to be intimidated is not. If a student approached me and said, "I'll quit and tell everyone you have no control of your classroom if you don't get rid of this person", I'd smile politely, escort the threatening student to the front desk and ask that their pro-rated tuition be returned to them.

If the very same student approached me and said, "Classmate X (or her child) is about to drive me and half your other students up the wall; can you do something?" I'd take a good look at a situation that I had apparently underestimated or missed.

I don't mind having a problem pointed out. I do mind being threatened.