Annie's Mailbox® by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar

Dear Annie: I am a middle-school teacher in California and would like to thank you for your wonderful response to "Frustrated," who wrote about her son dealing with a "mean and degrading" teacher. You said to first talk to the teacher.

At Back to School Night, I tell parents that open communication between the teacher and parent is the responsibility of both parties, and that if they have an issue with something I am doing, I would appreciate the opportunity to explain myself before they go to my boss. A parent who first goes to my principal with a problem does not set up positive conditions for an open dialogue. I am immediately placed on the defensive.

Sometimes teachers have a reputation for being "mean" because they hold their students accountable, don't give extra credit, etc. I have always told my students' parents that if they have a concern, they can meet with me, call me, e-mail me or send me a note. I have had many potentially confrontational situations defused because parents met with me and allowed me to explain my reasoning.

I'm not saying the teacher in question is innocent of all charges. In this particular case, since there is a waiting list of kids who want to leave her classroom, I would say she is probably guilty of degrading behavior. But in most cases, a reasonable solution can be found. As you said, the first step should always be to talk with the teacher. — A Grateful Teacher in Fontana, Calif.

Dear Grateful: Most of our readers were terribly upset with that teacher, and with good reason. We still believe it's best to approach the teacher first, but sometimes that is not enough. Read on for more:

From Boston: There are a few teachers who enjoy the terrorizing effect they have on young children. When our daughter was in first grade, she often would cry in the morning, asking me not to send her to school. I did not react until the day she came home hysterical.

Washington: If their son is on a waiting list to get out of the class, it means there are other parents who are displeased with this teacher. I'd recommend organizing the parents to take turns sitting in on the teacher's classes to monitor her behavior and speak up whenever she belittles a student or otherwise acts inappropriately. After a few weeks of this, she might get the idea.

Texas: For far too long we have allowed bad teachers to stay in the classroom. Teachers who engage in the behavior that was described leave lasting scars on kids and are not suited for classrooms. We need to encourage public schools to keep qualified, effective teachers and to help others move on to areas where they cannot harm the children. Please suggest that the parents talk with the teacher, and if they receive no response, move up the administrative chain and advocate for their son so that no child coming after him will have to face the same situation.

California: That letter brought up my worst nightmare as a parent. My bright, studious son barely survived fifth grade, his confidence shaken by the horrible teacher who belittled and bullied him. If it had not been for a brilliant, compassionate male teacher in sixth grade, he might have decided school was a bad idea. Tell "Frustrated" to be firm and demand a change to a new class — and mention a lawyer.

Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. To find out more about Annie's Mailbox, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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