It’s not uncommon to hear a student complain about a teacher. Most of the time their complaints are a result of a teacher not taking late work, or giving the student a bad grade. Sometimes though, these students have a valid reason for complaining.

I’ve witnessed a teacher yell in a student’s face, grab or push a student, or publicly ridicule them in front of a class. Most of the time, these teachers go on without being reported. And I see why — there’s not really a well known protocol of what to do when a teacher harasses a student.

Often what happens instead is multiple students will complain to another teacher about the situation. And in turn, these teachers do absolutely nothing. I’ve heard a teacher excuse these complaints by saying things like “oh they wouldn’t do something like that.” But how would they know? They don’t take the class, and I’m sure the teachers don’t talk to their fellow teachers the way they talk to students.

Since nothing ever seems to be done about these teachers who bully students, there should be forms that are handed out in the beginning of the year. These forms can be handed out in the information packets with all the rules, or even at back to school nights. Teachers shouldn’t have a problem with it, if they are teaching and treating their students well they should have nothing to worry about.

If a teacher seems to be getting enough complaints, a principal or administrator should have a meeting with them and go over common complaints with them. This way the teacher will be given another chance to clean up their act.

If they don’t end up changing the way they act, they should be warned again via another meeting. If that doesn’t work, then they should be sent to a “workshop,” similar to the ones teachers go to for teaching.

I’m really tired of seeing teachers bully their students. Not only does it affect my learning, but it makes me uncomfortable when it happens. It makes sense for teachers to be evaluated periodically, wouldn’t parents want to know that their kids are in safe hands?