DR. WALLACE: You told a student that he would be wasting his time trying to get a teacher fired by getting fellow students to sign a petition urging the school administrators to dismiss her because she was a terrible instructor.

Are you not aware that petitions are a nonviolent way to accomplish a goal? That student has every legal and moral right to do what he can to get an ineffective teacher fired. After all, if a teacher is not effective, it's the students who suffer. —Mary, Boston, Mass.

MARY: My problem with complaining about a teacher by petition is that it means very little. Students are as likely to dislike a teacher for foolish and immature reasons as they are for valid ones. For instance, teachers who are firm disciplinarians and demand that their students work hard to earn good grades are likely to be unpopular, even though, in reality, they are terrific teachers.

I do think students have the right to seek redress or try to get a teacher removed if he or she is, indeed, a "terrible" instructor. A far better tactic than a petition drive is for a group of students to meet with the principal and have an open and honest discussion. That way the principal can evaluate the nature of the complaints and make an informed decision regarding the teacher's effectiveness.

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN

DR. WALLACE: A 19-year-old daughter was trying to discourage her 40-year-old mother not to return to college to earn her teaching degree because she thought her mother was too old. Hurray for your answer that, indeed, her mother was not too old, and that mom could become a wonderful teacher because she would have an abundance of life experiences to add to her formal college experiences.

Life really does begin at age 40! I earned my college degree and, at the same time, earned my teaching credential when I was 41. That was my goal. I then taught English and Geography for two years, during which time I got a school counselor's license. After that, I got an administrator's credential and was a high school assistant principal for 10 more years. During that time, I learned to water ski, square dance, play an electric organ, and I also traveled through the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. At age 86, I am still having a great life! —Eleanor, Riverside, Calif.

ELEANOR: Congratulations on your exciting and wonderful life. I am a firm believer that if people have the determination to succeed, they can reach their goals. You are living proof! Continue to have your great life. You earned it!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.