It's one thing for a teacher to discipline children - it's quite another to belittle them.
I remember today with horror how when I was in grade school a teacher encouraged me and the other children to make fun of a child who showed up to school late and who wore an oversized coat to school.
In reality, he was late because his father had left his mother and she was working nights to support herself and her children. He came in to school late sometimes because his mother had to drive straight from work to his grandmother's house to pick him up and bring him to school, since his grandmother couldn't drive but was the only person she trusted with her children.
He wore an oversized coat because his mother couldn't afford to buy him a new winter coat and instead altered one of his father's coats for him.
That teacher was a vicious c***, and the worst part is that she encouraged myself and other 8 year olds to mock and laugh at another little boy who was going through hell.
Thank God my mother is a Christian woman who set me straight on that one.
Excellent post. It's one thing for kids to tease or mock each other...that's part of growing up...it's wrong for adults, especially teachers to do it.
I have no respect for FReepers who think it's OK for teachers to act like children.