Teacher Behavior: Is Yelling Acceptable in Middle School?
Is it normal for a middle school teacher to yell directly at their students?
I want to share my experience from my previous school. I had a teacher with a strict rule against putting elbows on desks or tables, which I initially thought was just a matter of respect. Everyone generally followed this rule, but if someone made a mistake—like me—he would yell so loudly that I would end up in tears.
Is it appropriate for teachers to react this way? His tone was often aggressive, especially when he said things like, “How many times do I have to tell you all?” All it took was one mistake, and he would unleash his frustration.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Is it just part of teaching, or is it crossing a line?
I’m really sorry to hear that you had to go through this kind of experience. It’s definitely not normal for a teacher to yell at students in that way, especially to the point where it makes someone cry. While it’s important for teachers to maintain discipline and have rules, effective classroom management shouldn’t involve yelling or making students feel scared or belittled.
Every student makes mistakes, and a good teacher should be able to correct behavior in a constructive and respectful manner. Yelling can create a hostile environment that hinders learning and can severely impact student confidence. It sounds like your previous school environment was not supportive, and it’s great that you recognized it and made the decision to switch schools. Remember, everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and positive reinforcement tends to be much more effective than aggression. How has your experience been in your new school?