Karens have taken to arguing that schools must remain open, even during a COVID-19 pandemic, using emotional rhetoric about children being neglected or starving without school education as their justification. Furthermore, Karens frequently make the argument “what about teachers”, which can be particularly toxic.
Principal Karen is played by Rachna Khatau and is known for being an avid supporter of Bizaardvark, much to Paige Olvera and Frankie Wong’s discontent. Additionally, Principal Karen often uses urban slang and dabbing.
How do I deal with my child’s teacher?
If there’s something amiss with the teacher of your child, it is essential that you contact them directly. Most teachers welcome discussions regarding valid concerns with parents and students alike.
Problems could range from being as straightforward as your child struggling in class, to more complex ones like being treated unfairly by their teacher. When communicating with teachers directly or through third party mediators, make sure your emotions stay under control while communicating directly or try having someone mediate the conversation if that proves ineffective.
When meeting with your child’s teacher, be sure to write out what you wish to discuss beforehand. This will allow you to stay focused and address only relevant matters, while preventing unnecessary discussions that could escalate out of control.
If the issue is particularly acute, it may be worth approaching someone higher up in the school system – although before doing this, be sure to try speaking directly with your teacher first.
When discussing an issue, try using “I” statements instead of “you.” Teachers tend to take their teaching duties personally, so any criticism directed towards them rather than their children is likely more effective in producing results. Furthermore, most educators do not pursue education for its monetary rewards; most go into teaching due to emotional gains; therefore they will likely welcome compliments and gestures of thanks as means of showing gratitude.
Many Karens can be classified as what I refer to as “lawnmower” parents: those so focused on providing a smooth path for their own children that they’re unaware of the pileup of crud they leave for other kids or the fact that their own kids can’t benefit from privileges and special treatment afforded other kids.
Karen parents have become notoriously adept at manipulating schools and teachers for their own ends, often demanding preferential placement with any teacher or program despite test scores or teacher recommendations to the contrary. Furthermore, these parents frequently lodge complaints to administrators that one or more of their child’s teachers is biased against them.
What should I do if my child is being bullied?
If your child reports being bullied, listen and remain calm while assuring them it is not their responsibility. Encourage them to tell you immediately if it reoccurs and ensure them that their parents will speak with the school about it; most schools investigate bullying cases thoroughly before taking appropriate actions to solve it. This gives your child confidence that their problem will be taken care of.
Once a bullying situation is identified, discuss it with teachers and principals at school. Make it clear what has been happening, the frequency and effect it is having on your child. Be direct but remain polite as often this will be their first experience of what has been occurring; keeping records of incidents such as dates, names and effects would be helpful as many schools won’t know exactly what has taken place at that moment in time.
As bullying may affect any school environment, it is wise to review local, state and federal laws on bullying as well as school policies and procedures for dealing with it. A complaint can often be lodged with the department of education while your local Parent Training Information Centers (PTICs) can offer advice.
As a rule, it is advisable to meet with the principal, school social worker and, if comfortable, with the parent of any suspected bullies. Document all meetings as well as documents provided from school. If your issue was handled inadequately by school personnel or has gone beyond this initial phase then contact OCR of the Department of Education with your complaint.
Your best defense for protecting the self-esteem and mental wellbeing of your child lies in engaging them in activities that highlight their strengths, talents and unique qualities. In addition to encouraging hobbies and extracurricular activities, try helping your child build community among people who will accept differences without judgment and treat each person with equal consideration.
What should I do if my child’s teacher is lying?
If you suspect your child’s teacher of lying, take a deep breath and remain calm before responding. Reacting emotionally without giving proper thought to what your daughter really wants you to know may backfire; to plan a more effective response ask yourself “What am I really hearing from her?” Alternatively if your suspicions are confirmed then speak with the principal (after informing them that this issue has already been raised with them). Request meeting directly with her while also inviting an administrator who can attest to your teaching expertise as this will provide stronger grounds for argument against teachers attempting to lie.
If your child lies to you, remind them it’s wrong and discuss its effects on others. Teach them the importance of honesty when communicating with friends; some kids might lie simply to fit in or avoid embarrassment from peers, so help them understand why lying is not tolerated by teachers and peers alike.
Parents find it hard to trust their children when they are accused of lying; administrators and school systems find it even harder. Instead, many administrators throw their teachers under the Karen bus as a form of self-preservation or because they have felt unfairly targeted by Karens in the past – an attitude which sends out an unpleasant message that neither students nor parents can trust their school systems.
As COVID-19 sweeps across Southeast Asia, many Karens have tried to maintain schools by placing blame for teachers on children. Such actions often create mistrust, hostility and animosity between school staff and community members.
Goldberg suggests parents speak to both teachers and volunteer in class two days per week (something Etheredge strongly encourages), to gain an idea of what’s happening. If these don’t help, ask the principal for a classroom change; while he may initially hesitate, if you present compelling evidence that your child is suffering he may likely agree to change classes.
What should I do if my child’s teacher is ignoring my child’s needs?
Karen teachers can be difficult to work with. They tend to assume they know best how to teach their students, often having an arrogant superior complex where their methods seem the only ones necessary for students’ learning. Karen teachers may use false victimhood against anyone who opposes them by calling the police or fabricating allegations about how they were mistreated or their children were abused.
When dealing with a Karen teacher, first attempt to resolve your issue through conversation. Be sure to remain calm and polite; do not allow emotions to get the better of you. If that does not work out for you, you might consider filing a formal complaint with the school system; most have their own procedures for filing formal complaints which should be available online or from their offices.
An additional option would be to request a meeting with the principal. Although this can be challenging, requesting such a meeting may be necessary if your child is being ignored in class or is struggling academically. In your meeting with them, be sure to explain your concerns as well as seek an explanation from teachers, before asking if possible that they transfer your child to another classroom; though schools tend not to agree immediately when presented with suffering children – schools may occasionally agree in such circumstances.
Some teachers have had to leave the profession due to the stress caused by dealing with Karen parents. While not solely responsible for high teacher turnover rates, their effects certainly play a part. Low pay, long hours, extra duties, bullying from Karen parents, media attacks against these parents and general absurdity of dealing with these parents may prove too much for many teachers to bear; those with greater resilience might be able to withstand them; others might seek other career options due to mounting stress levels.
