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SALT LAKE CITY -- At a backyard playgroup, the moms' conversation turned to the upcoming school year and the teachers. They can't wait to find out who their child's teacher will be. And they are already swapping stories.
Sometimes a different personality isn't a bad thing.
–Dr. Hollie Petterson
"In an elementary school the teacher sets the tone for the classroom and also the expectations for academics, so the teacher is very important to the child," said Tamra Baker, director of school performance with the Canyons School District.
Baker says it's up to each school to choose when to post class lists. In can be at the end of a school year, or right before the next school year begins. She says a lot of careful thought and planning goes into making up each class in elementary school, and the majority of parents and children are fine with their teacher.
But what about the shared stories about that "one teacher?" Baker says give him or her a chance before requesting a switch.
"I would say to parents, if you're still having a problem, talk to the teacher. You may be only getting one side of the story," she said.
She says if that doesn't work, talk with the principal.
Middle, junior and high school students can have up to seven teachers a day. Highland High School junior Tomas Meidell saw his class list online.
"I wanted a different English teacher but whatever," he said. His brother Spencer is worried about a teacher he's getting in the eighth grade. "She's mean," he said. When asked what makes a good teacher, he replied, "Not very much homework and fun assignments."
"When a student says a teacher is hard that means they will challenge me," said Dr. Hollie Petterson, the Canyons' director of evidence-based learning. "Sometimes a different personality isn't a bad thing," she added.
Petterson says school is your child's job, and they need to learn life skills by working with different personalities. But she says teens should and can talk to their teacher.
Tomas does. "Now that I'm in a higher grade, you actually know how to talk to the teachers. It makes it a lot easier."
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
