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Teacher Code
A humorous look at the hidden meanings behind teachers' comments about children and parents during parent-teacher meetings.
English
United Kingdom
LifestyleCommunicationChildTeacherParentEuphemism
Kerry Parnell
- How can parents tell if a teacher genuinely likes their child?
- Teachers may subtly signal their dislike for a child through overly-soft or saccharine tones of voice while discussing the child. Similarly, a teacher's avoidance of mentioning positive qualities like kindness, could indicate negative feelings.
- How can parents determine if a teacher likes them, or dislikes their child?
- Parents should be wary of phrases like "real character" (meaning badly behaved), "likes to entertain" (class clown), or "has a lot of energy" (can't sit still) as these are not compliments. Positive descriptions from a teacher would include "first-rate mind" or "pleasure to teach."
- What is the significance of a teacher using coded language in references for senior schools?
- An "involved family" in a teacher's reference actually means an overbearing family; whereas "supportive family" is a genuine positive comment about the family's involvement. These coded comments reveal a teacher's true opinion of parents.
- What are some common euphemisms used by teachers to describe students, and what do they really mean?
- Teachers often use euphemisms to describe students, such as "force of nature" for a disruptive child or "enthusiastic" for a child who won't sit still. These phrases mask the teacher's true feelings.
- What are some nonverbal cues that a teacher might use to indicate their opinion of a child or parent?
- The article suggests that a teacher bringing a second teacher to a parent-teacher meeting, or using a timer, indicates disapproval of the parent or the child. These actions signal that the meeting will likely be negative.