My seven-year-old son’s teacher beats him up together with other children a lot. Imagine him being beaten for “bad” handwriting and for talking in class etc. I find this abusive, but I don’t want my child to end up with no teacher or being sidelined if I report her to the school head. How do I go about it? – Mai Shingi
Dear Mai Shingi
If I were you I would learn to accept my son’s teacher as his mother when I am not present with him. I do not want to think that this teacher hates your child and is being abusive. What I feel is a teacher trying to shape your child into a good man in the future.
I was once beaten for bad handwriting by my Grade Three teacher and I look back to that day with my smile as today I am proud of my handwritten work. In Grade I was beaten for forgetting the Shona textbook at home and was sent back to get it.
On my arrival home I expected to get the comfort of my mother and to be told that she would deal with my teacher, but she laughed at me and told the teacher to beat me more.
I am not encouraging teachers to beat up kids, don’t get me wrong. I know as a parent you are full of love for your son and probably you have never disciplined him with a beating before, but I advise you to learn to trust your son’s teacher. It helps to meet her and get to know her better.
She needs to know she has your support in raising your son into a better person. Reporting her will make her feel cheated and unappreciated because in her mind she is trying to help. You don’t want her to end up side-lining your kid. Know that she is doing it in good faith, being cruel in order to be kind. – Aunty Lisa
Post published in: Lifestyle