Dealing with Difficult Teachers

We all have dealt with difficult teachers at one time or another. Chances are, you may encounter one again. As it is, most experiences with such teachers are the significant low points of an otherwise wonderful school and college memory.
But is it really the teacher who is difficult or is it you?

Often, teachers who work hard on their students are labeled the worst nicknames and are considered monsters. Only later do we realise that these teachers were really golden gems. 

These are not the kind of teachers I'm talking about. The ones I am talking about are the ones with some level of racial, societal, or religious bias towards you. Teachers may even have academic bias towards students. These teachers interact more with their star students and only throw taunts towards the slightly slower ones. 

It can be really frustrating to deal with an unresponsive and difficult adult, especially in the later years of your academic journey when studies are more difficult and the importance of a good teacher is significant.

I will share some tips with you on how to get your work done with a difficult teacher. This will help you in other parts of your life because meeting people with rather undesirable personalities is a common occurrence in practical life. 

1) Don’t Argue:

You end up coming to class 2 minutes late and your teachers give you a lecture in front of the whole class. It's natural for many people to get defensive in such situations and start giving explanations or excuses.

Many students immediately start arguing with a teacher and the reason why you shouldn't do that is because, in the end, it's always the teacher’s say.  Arguing with an unfair person in authority is the same as hitting your head against a wall. The most intelligent thing to do would be to stay quiet until they let you sit, and if they tell you to leave, just do that. Don’t argue or start a conversation with a difficult person. Additionally, don’t hang your head down or look at the floor. Maintain direct eye contact and an expressionless face whenever such people try to instigate or incite you into misbehaving. This will show you are not intimidated or scared of them, and that you have more maturity than them. 

2) Stay Calm:

Many students feel overwhelmingly stressed after a single class with such teachers. The taunts, the abrupt questions, the demanding tone can make many students feel embarrassed in front of her friends. This can lead to immense anxiety and stress before the class starts. It may seep into your other interaction and classes as well. So always remember to stay calm and relaxed during these difficult times. I understand these meetings can be difficult but make sure you employ methods of stress removal such as hanging out with friends, playing sports, deep breathing, reading books, or just anything else that makes you feel happy and fulfilled. This will let those teachers know that their words or actions are meaningless to you and you are above their vain attempts.

3) Complain:

You can reach out to your parents to talk with the specific teacher and convey your concerns through them. This is very beneficial because such teachers usually wither away at the first signs of seeing a student's parents. Don’t wait for PTM or Parent Teacher day. Have your parents call or email them inquiring about you. Let your parents show some passive aggressiveness during the conversation and let them put stress on that teacher to help you get a good grade. Do this many times, as it will keep such teachers at bay once they know that your parents are involved in your life in different ways. 

These are simple steps that you can take in order to get your work done with difficult people, especially teachers. The most important thing I would like to say in the end is that the best way to deal with difficult people is to ignore them. Communicate where absolutely necessary and stay quiet otherwise. Like Mark Twain said “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience”.