Help! Our School’s Theater Teacher Screams at Kids

Help! Our School’s Theater Teacher Screams at Kids
My students say they can’t report her because she’ll retaliate.
Kelly Treleaven Kelly Treleaven on April 7, 2023

Hello, We Are Teachers

Our high school has employed the theatre instructor for 25 years. Our theatre programme is one of the best theatre programmed in the nation, and Mrs.Fulman puts on an amazing show every year. However, a great number of students have told me about their experiences with her abusive and toxic behaviour. Every year, she puts lead actresses on the Fulman Fifteen diet to shed pounds for the performances and yells at pupils who goof up in front of the cast. and these are a few of the less frightening tales. When I ask my pupils why they don’t report her, they always give the same response: either they have and the administration “investigates” and finds nothing, or they haven’t because they are confident.

Hello, I.N.T.D.

Yikes. If it were only the reports of screams, I may put it down to how loud theatre instructors need to speak in order for a classroom full of children to hear them. But the accumulation of hazardous behaviour-related stories is alarming.

This teacher must be under a great deal of stress, yet it sounds like your school is happy with the way she manages it. Unfortunately, it frequently happens that schools will be kinder to teachers who earn a lot of money or honors.

Although this instructor’s actions are concerning, in my opinion parents should handle this matter rather than a fellow teacher. I do believe you have some duty given your position.

Make sure your students understand that you are a trustworthy person to confide in and that you will always be there for them.

Allow students to maintain ownership of the movement to speak up for themselves while assisting in the facilitation of action. When they criticize the theatre instructor, respond with “I’m sorry you feel stuck. Have you thought of getting other kids to share their stories and putting on a coordinated front?”

To put the diet issue in writing, email your principal. I’m most worried about that one, both for the pupils and for you as a required reporter.

It’s part of our responsibility as instructors to safeguard pupils from harmful behavior, but I believe it’s also crucial to provide them the tools they need to:-

• Make sure your students understand that you are a trustworthy person to confide in and that you will always be there for them.
• Allow students to maintain ownership of the movement to speak up for themselves while assisting in the facilitation of action. When they criticise the theatre instructor, respond with “I’m sorry you feel stuck. Have you thought of getting other kids to share their stories and putting on a coordinated front?”
• To put the diet issue in writing, email your principal. I’m most worried about that one, both for the pupils and for you as a required reporter.

It’s part of our responsibility as educators to shield students from harmful behavior, but I believe it’s also crucial to provide them the tools they need to do so. These pupils may remember your example as a facilitator long after they graduate from high school.

We Are Teachers,

At my school, it’s “letter of recommendation” season, and this week I received a request from a student whose application I don’t believe I can sincerely support. This student has been difficult for me to get work from all year because he always justifies his grade being lower. Particularly for the honors programmed he’s applying to, I don’t believe I can endorse him. Should I just tell him I won’t write a recommendation or should I send a frank (negative) one? —I’d Be Pleased to Write You a Letter of Reluctance.