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A teacher of my son is only 21 and I am not comfortable with this?
I just found that my sons English teacher in tenth grade for this semester is only 21 years old (female), My son is 16. I do not feel comfortable with my son having a teacher that young and a person that young being in charge of a class that includes young boys 15-16 years old.
She probably looks no different than a student/kid.
I went and confronted my son about this and told him about my discomfort and how I would prefer to switch him to another teacher. He told me not to do so in almost a desperate type of way. This makes me suspicious. Why would he care so much about having to switch teachers?
Should I pull him out of this class or take any other type of action? People called me names and made fun of me when I asked about this elsewhere, but I don't care. I bet there are more people who feel the way I do, they are just too afraid to say it
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Funny I had the exact same situation when I was in High School maybe even more so. I went to a school that was both a JR.(middle school) and Senior High School. When I was in twelfth grade one of the teachers, for me it was math, was a senior when I was in eight grade. Not only that she lived and of course had grown up in our town. We saw her at the town pool each summer in her bikini.
I will say all of us boys had the hots for her even the ones who had her for math. She was the most strict teacher in that department. Now she handled our ardor for her in a most unique way. During the senior lunch period she walked in with her boyfriend a Marine Gunnery Sergeant in full Dress Uniform. That cooled us all down.
From my point of view, having been in the same position, you have little if anything to worry about. Yes I understand what you might be thinking. Not all 21 year old teachers, male or female are or have child molestation on their minds. Most if not all are excellent teachers.
If she is using her youth and sex appeal to keep the boys attention, as long as it is only for keeping their attention on the subject matter. I see nothing wrong with keeping your son in her class. To pull him out will leave him open to ridicule from others something far worse than your present fears.
Monitor your sons activities. If you see any dramatic changes and suspect anything is happening between him and this teacher that is not course related. Report it to the principal. Just make sure of your facts for you could be sued by her if your wrong. Even pulling you son out of her class would require you to tell the principle why, which could place her job in jeopardy. This too leaves you open to being sued if she is dismissed over your objections to her teaching.
As I said I understand your concerns. Legally concerns are just that. Facts on the other hand can stand up to scrutiny. If you don't have facts to back up your concerns you place your own financial well being in jeopardy.
Just as a side note: The young teachers are better teachers as they have not yet reached the burnout stage. They are energetic and want to teach. They are up on all the latest teaching methods and class room studies. Most of all they too must continue their education for another 5 years to earn their full teaching credentials in most states after leaving college as a Masters in Education is now required by moist states plus in service education.
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You shouldn't pull him out of the class.
I do understand your feelings, but taking action against this teacher because their age would be wrong.
Your son doesn't want you remove him from the class, because he knows it's you are being prejudiced against his teacher due to her age (and, the fact she is female and you are assuming that means she must be attractive to teenage boys). If you take him out he will suffer for it. He'll be made fun of, and maybe be accused of having a crush on her - or worse - if you move classes ONLY because she's young.
Judging someone who is a professional to be unqualified ONLY because of their age (and gender!) is discrimination, and it's ugly.
I am not a teacher, but I've worked with teachers most of my career and I'll tell you this: There are 20 year old 4 foot 1 women who can command a classroom of teenagers without breaking a sweat, and there are 6 foot, 40 year old guys who can't. A person's age, gender, height, have no baring on whether or not they are skilled teacher. Some of the most skilled teachers I've met are the ones who are not able to physically intimidate or demand respect based on age - they have to earn their students respect the hard way, by being constantly worthy of it and demanding it - and that makes them better at.
YOU might not see much a difference between a 21 year old and teenager, but the 21 year does, and so do the teenagers. Clearly, so do the professionals and school authorities who choose to hire this women.
You have a right, as a parent, to express your concerns to the school staff (no matter how irrational or unfairly judgmental those concerns might be). So if you feel the need to do that, go right ahead. If you speak to the principal with an open mind, you might even find yourself reassured about this teacher's credentials and skills.
But don't take your son out of the class because the teacher is young. You may have a right as a parent to do that as well, but all you'll be doing is exposing your son to ridicule and telling him that its okay for his mother to judge someone as unfit, without knowing them or their skills, based solely on their age. You'll be setting an example that discrimination is okay, and that younger adults can't work hard, and perform well at the jobs they have been trained to do. Don't set that kind of horrible example for your son. He'll think less of your for it, and he'll be right.
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To honest I'm more of your sons age than the teachers.
Nowadays there are lots of younger high school teachers around. In my last year of school I had a science teacher age 22, English teacher 23 and currently have a lecturer at college who's 22!
What I can assure you of is that the young age of the teacher will have crossed the mind of the headteacher when employing them too. In my experience the younger teachers are stricter, and also tend to assert their authority more. Especially if its like English where it's compulsory, I don't think they'll be a problem.
Just think, this teacher being only 21 would've had to fight tooth and nail to get where she is-I highly doubt that she'd use her sexuality in this instance.
I know if I was pulled out of the class because of the teacher, then I'd be upset-like your son may be. Because: 1)I'd have made friends in that class 2)Everyone would ask me why I moved, and I'd have to lie because I'd be too embarrassed to tell them it was the teacher.
I think it's actually quite good she's young, because young teachers are getting more and more common due to being more qualified. Moreover, as you well know, you're son is nearly an adult-in a few years time it wont be up to you who his boss is and/or who is teacher is. I understand that you want the best for your son, but I think you need to trust him in this case. It's a good way to learn self discipline.
Finally, it'd be unfair on this teacher if he moved class-because its presupposing an event before its happened.
Hope I helped
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I just want to let you know that most parents are not afraid to say what they think and this statement becomes more true as the parents get older.
So odds are that you are the only parent who has a problem with the teacher. You need to realize:
1. She is just doing her job. She doesn't control who's in her classroom
2. Your son is 16! Are you afraid that his teacher is so pretty that it might be a distraction for him? SO WHAT! He's growing up. And when boys grow up their bodies are coursing with horomones.
It's the teachers job to maintain the classroom environment. And maybe your son doesn't want to leave the classroom because maybe he has friends in there that he rarely sees or maybe she is actually a good teacher.
I think maybe it's time for you to realize that your little boy is becoming a man and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Every kid at this age has had a little crush on their teacher before at this age but it usually goes away after a while or when they get a girlfriend. So as long as your son isn't obsessed with his teacher, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
I hope this puts your mind at ease a little bit.
~Andrew~
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