When Kamdyn Piland returned from school one day, his parents saw that he was upset and teary-eyed. They asked him what was wrong, and this 2nd grader attempted to shrug it off. His parents continued to ask him questions until he eventually showed them a piece of paper that had a terrible piece of criticism from his teacher.
Unhelpful Piece Of Criticism
After looking at it closely, his father Chris saw that it was not a helpful critique of his work whatsoever. He saw it as a personal attack on his son, so there was no way he was going to let it go. His response to this went viral, so let us find out what the teacher said!
Unhelpful Piece Of Criticism
A Regular Kid
According to the father, Kamdyn was your regular child. He was not a hyperactive boy, nor did he indulge in video games, TV shows, and sugary foods. It came as a complete surprise to the entire Piland family when they found out that he was getting all sorts of criticisms from one particular teacher at his school.
A Regular Kid
Something Serious
When he saw the note on the schoolwork, Chris started to wonder if this meant that something serious was happening. He began to look into the matter more seriously after this. What he found was alarming.
Something Serious
A Regular School
Kamdyn goes to Valley View Elementary School and is currently in the 2nd grade. When it comes to schools, Valley View is just a regular public school. This boy was not what most people would call an overachiever, however.
A Regular School
Many Complaints
But his parents had been under the impression that he was doing considerably well when it comes to school. They did not see any serious problems whatsoever. However, the complaints that Chris got about Kamdyn started to go up ever since the school year began.
Many Complaints
Good At School
He was a normal young kid in several ways, but his father always thought that Kamdyn was a good student. Just about every child out there hates doing homework. However, Kamdyn did not have any problems finishing his assignments until he started second grade.
Good At School
He Couldn’t Just Watch
It was hard for Chris to simply sit back and watch as his son started to fail more and more. He knew that it was time for him to do something about this. What was going on here?
He Couldn’t Just Watch
Struggling In School
Kamdyn was not an unintelligent or dim child, but Chris could see that his son was struggling. His marks started to go down some more, but Chris did not think that it was in character for his son to do poorly in school.
Struggling In School
Way Too Harsh
When he came home with a piece of criticism from Alyssa Rupp Bohenek, his teacher, his father realized that it must have something to do with the teacher. The note said, “Absolutely pathetic! He answered 13 in 3 minutes! Sad!” Chris thought that this was much too harsh.
Way Too Harsh
Ms. Alyssa
The teacher who wrote it was none other than Alyssa Bohenek, who had been teaching there for a while already. She had gotten a reputation as a teacher who was difficult to please. Kamdyn was in her class, and they clearly did not get along thus far.
Ms. Alyssa
His Teacher
Everything Kamdyn did would catch her eye, and every mistake that he made would get a harsh written warning. This negative feedback clearly had an impact on the confidence and self-esteem of this poor child.
His Teacher
Addressing Bad Grades
No parent out there likes to hear that their kid is doing poorly at school. Despite this, it is usually better if the problem is addressed sooner than later. How one deals with poor grades has always been the topic of debates.
Addressing Bad Grades
Tough Love
There are cases in which spending more time with the child and working them through the lessons will do the trick. Some cases also call for extra lessons. However, ‘tough love’ very rarely works on children this young.
Tough Love
Constructive Criticism Please
Even adults will find negative feedback to be draining. We accept that there will come a time when one has to deal with it, but it is always more helpful when such criticism is given constructively or professionally.
Constructive Criticism Please
A Huge Blow
Getting criticized for kicks will always deal a huge blow to the confidence and self-esteem of an individual. Can you just imagine how much more it would hurt a child when it is given by an authority figure?
A Huge Blow
As A Mentor
It is not easy to be a mentor, but one thing we will all agree on is that one must be a good role model for this job. A teacher is not only someone who will simply deliver lessons and lectures, after all.
As A Mentor
A Leader
It is also important for these people to ensure that they become good leaders who will leave a positive mark on the lives of their students. From the way things appeared, Bohenek was not fulfilling this part of the job.
A Leader
Not Helpful Whatsoever
We cannot blame Chris for getting mad at the comment that this teacher wrote on his son’s homework. It was uncalled for, and she took it way too far. Couldn’t she have offered him constructive criticism instead of personally attacking him like that?
Not Helpful Whatsoever
Only Made Things Worse
Chris wanted his son to perform better at school, so he knew that this sort of behavior was not going to help him at all. In fact, there was a good chance that it was only making the situation a lot worse!
Only Made Things Worse
A Recurring Problem
Could this have been the one negative comment that Mrs. Bohenek gave that year? If that was the case, Chris might have not made such a fuss out of it. However, it turns out that she had been sending the same type of feedback since the start of the school year.
A Recurring Problem
Far Too Personal
Most of them were far too personal than he liked. If the criticism had been balanced and fair, Chris would simply have talked to his son. After finding out all about it, he knew that he must talk to his teacher instead.
Far Too Personal
Took To Facebook
What kind of teacher even calls a student “pathetic” anyway? Chris knew that teachers should treat all of their students fairly. Without a doubt, it was going to be much more helpful if she encouraged her students instead of giving him such harsh insults when they get poor grades.
Took To Facebook
Payback
Chris wanted to make a point and get back at her, so he created a post on Facebook to condemn this so-called teacher for the behavior that she had been displaying towards his son.
Payback
His Viral Post
In the post, he explained what happened and showed the note that the teacher wrote. Chris was shocked to see how much it blew up online. It seemed like the entire country was interested to hear about the saga that was unfolding in the school his son went to.
His Viral Post
Everyone Disapproved
The interactions and comments showed that everyone disapproved of the harsh words that the teacher left on the piece of paper. In a way, Kamdyn and Chris both felt vindicated by all of this.
Everyone Disapproved
Her Responsibility
The responsibility of a teacher is not just to ensure that the students are doing well. It is also important for them to be happy with what they do. It is true that working as a teacher is not a simple job.
Her Responsibility
The Harsh Comments
It must be difficult to help all of these children succeed in life. Chris understood that, but he did not think that it justified the harsh comments she left for his son. Kamdyn was just a child who wanted to learn, after all.
The Harsh Comments
How Learning Should Be
Let us face it. Learning is easily one of the most valuable parts of becoming a human being. It is imperative that you know how to learn new abilities, skills, and tasks if you want to function in life.
How Learning Should Be
No One Likes Negativity
It is also important to remember that learning is most effective when it is carried out in a creative yet inspiring way. Negativity is not going to help anyone… it might only be detrimental to the end goal!
No One Likes Negativity
Launching A Petition
After putting the post up on Facebook, Chris was ready to leave it be. However, it looked like the internet has not yet moved on from this. In no time at all, someone launched an online petition that called for the sacking of Bohenek.
Launching A Petition
Rallying Behind Him
Chris could not believe the way that all of these strangers rallied behind him and his son. He did not once think that this story would mean this much to other people. It warmed his heart to see people stand up for his son.
Rallying Behind Him
Endangering Her Career
The petition turned things into a serious situation. It meant that Bohenek could be out of the job if she did not find a way to protect herself against all the backlash. At that point, Chris was still so angry that he wanted her to get fired.
Endangering Her Career
The Line Has Been Drawn
After all, it seemed like the best thing for the future of his son and the other kids who went to school. There are times when one has to draw a line, and it was one such moment.
The Line Has Been Drawn
Teaching How To Learn
When you are a teacher, it is important to keep in mind that one does only impart the content of the course material to the students. One of the most underrated duties of a teacher is to encourage the learners to enjoy studying.
Teaching How To Learn
Processing Improves
If one can do this, the other parts of teaching will become a breeze. When the learners understand the process, they tend to process the information better and more quickly. Spreading negativity does not do as much to help…
Processing Improves
In Response
After the petition went up on behalf of Kamdyn, it got about 10,000 signatures. However, some teachers started to stand up for Bohenek. According to them, she did not deserve to get fired for what she did.
In Response
Reaction
In terms of how the teacher made 7-year-old Kamdyn feel, he definitely had what to say on the matter. “She made me really sad and upset. I was really mad. And [it was] really mean to do.” No one should make a little kid feel like that if you ask us.
Reaction
Seven-Year-Old
Chris later spoke to more news outlets and said, “You don’t write that on anybody’s paper, let alone a little 7-year-old, second grader’s paper. It said on the top of it that he answered only 13 of them in 3 minutes and that it was absolutely pathetic with a sad face”. “It broke my heart,” Kamdyn added.
Seven Year Old
Unprofessional
Chris had plenty more to say on the matter. He was absolutely furious about the whole ordeal. “I believe what you wrote on his paper was extremely unprofessional and just very rude and she messaged me back and said she was sorry I felt that way,” he explained.
Unprofessional
Punished Not Fired
They could agree that she did something damaging to a young student. Despite this, they felt like she only had to be reprimanded for what she did. They thought that it was too much to fire her for this.
Punished Not Fired
Update
Teachers, parents, and other adults are those who mold these little kids into what they’re going to be in the future. The school decided to look further into the matter and make sure justice is served. Chris posted an update and said, “Thanks to all the efforts and support of the dedicated people who signed and shared this petition, I’m happy to announce that the teacher in question is currently being investigated by the Valley View school board.”
Update
Superintendent
According to a news outlet, school superintendent Rose Minniti has become aware of the remarks written on the assignment. After having a meeting with the Valley View School District and the teacher, an investigation had begun.
Superintendent
What’s Best
As a response to the media, Minniti said, “As always with everything, we’re going to try to do what’s best for the students and what we need to do for the employee under investigation”. Speaking to the same news outlet, she said, “It’s a personnel issue and the results of that are not going to be dictated by social media. It’s going to be dictated by the facts and evidence.”
What’s Best
Personnel Issue
Let’s just hope something will come of it and justice will be done. All the same, a lot of people all around the world are calling for the teacher to be fired. In fact, the petition Chris started gathered over 20,000 signatures already!
Personnel Issue
Some Blamed Him
Some of the folks who took her side decided to turn the issue around and blame it on Chris and his parenting instead. They told him to spend less time on social media and more time on his children.
Some Blamed Him
Helping With Homework
They said that this would not have happened in the first place if he just helped his son with his homework. In the end, however, most people who read the story agreed that Bohenek was the one in the wrong in this situation.
Helping With Homework
Training The Teachers
The topic of education is something that will forever be relevant. In reality, teachers should be monitored from time to time to ensure that they are doing their best. They are teaching the future of the nation.
Training The Teachers
Teaching Styles
It is important to guarantee that they are able to perform their duties and imparting good lessons to the students. Even though the grades of their students can be an indicator of good a teacher is, it is also important to take note of their teaching method, style, and techniques.
Teaching Styles
Teaching The Teachers
An issue became apparent in the debates that happened in the comments. Many believe that teachers require more guidance as well. Just because a person qualified to be a teacher does not mean they are truly ready for the job.
Teaching The Teachers
They Need Mentoring
There are many cases in which the teachers themselves need to be mentored! Each class is different, and each learner has their own issues to work through. As a teacher, one must know how to deal with challenges like this.
They Need Mentoring
Becoming A Mother
The people keeping up with the story learned that Bohenek had fallen pregnant in the past couple of months. She would be having a kid of her own soon! Some thought that the hormones made her act more short-tempered and impatient than usual.
Becoming A Mother
Finding Some Inspiration
However, the story also brought another question into the spotlight. What should she do when she finds herself in the same situation that Chris did? Was she going to let it go or make a point as well? If you are a teacher, you should know that the best thing you can do is to nurture the inspiration of your students.
Finding Some Inspiration
A Creative Approach
It means that teachers have to be inspired as well. If they feel dispirited or are dealing with personal issues, there is a chance that they will bring this vibe into the classroom. An inspired teacher will be more upbeat and positive, which encourages more interaction from the students and fosters better results.
A Creative Approach
A Great Teacher
It is the reason why a teacher should work hard to be inspired! There are times when teachers will use more creative methods to make the best out of a struggling student. Those who have teachers like that are lucky since it is hard to find mentors like that.
A Great Teacher
Children Are The Future
Perhaps that is the true issue of the story. It is important to ensure that teachers are also in the right state of mind since they often have such a huge impact on the development of the children and other learners.
Children Are The Future
The Lesson
Have you ever gotten lucky enough to land a truly inspiring teacher? If so, you probably know that a little will go a long way. Teachers do not need to be at the center of their attention or anything like that. However, looking forward to teaching the class already helps.
The Lesson
Extra Attention
There are definitely times when paying more attention to the students will give the confidence boost they need. Bohenek should have definitely opted for that instead of what she ended up doing. At the end of the day, these kids are the future, and they need good role models.
Extra Attention
Important Lesson
At the end of the day, this was a very important lesson for the parents and teachers to learn. Even though we all know teachers are meant to behave in a certain way, we shouldn’t forget that they’re only humans after all.
Important Lesson
Mistakes
Of course, everyone makes mistakes, and no one is immune to this. However, as parents, it’s important to take an interest in your children’s education. Make sure to help them study when they need it.
Mistakes
Bully
People’s reactions online were mostly negative towards the teacher. As you’d expect, people had more than enough to say on the matter and went on to comment their opinions on the post as well as the petition. “A teacher bullied […] a second-grader,” said Peckville resident Beth O’Brien. “I think they should be fired.”
Bully
Shouldn’t Happen
Chris explained that all he was doing was looking out for his kids. He wasn’t simply trying to make someone lose their job. “It’s something that shouldn’t happen and shouldn’t be tolerated at all,” he said. On top of filing a complaint, Chris was having Kamdyn moved to a new class.
Shouldn’t Happen
Taken Seriously
Part of his reasoning for speaking so openly about this issue was to raise awarness, Chris said. However, he had another reason for it as well. “Maybe it’ll be taken seriously now and it’ll keep it from happening to other teachers and other students,” he said.
Taken Seriously
Comments
The comments from people online were very varied, but still mostly on the same page. Yvonne here was just as angry as Chris about what the teacher did and how she handled the situation. Clearly, she’s one of the commentators who definitely agreed the teacher should no longer be teaching.
Comments
Ill Spirited
There will always be those people who are mean for no real reason, and social media is overrun with those kinds of people, unfortunately. For instance, this guy decided it would be smarter to comment on Kamdyn’s math skills rather than the matter at hand. He doesn’t seem to realize that the problem here is the teacher’s behavior, and not Kamdyn’s skills.
Ill Spirited
Not Bad
Another commentor, Rose, had the same thought as Chris did, and honeslty, most people did. Answering 13 math questions in three minutes at age seven in the second grade isn’t bad at all. Surely not bad enough to warrant a comment like the one Kamdyn got.
Not Bad
Strong Words
Some people did not hold back when it came to their opinion about the teacher. Erona truly did not think Alyssa should be a teacher anymore. She spoke about how a teacher would never put down a student, let alone a child.
Strong Words
Personal
Stating a very good point, Margaret said Chris mentioned that the teacher had been rude to him all year, which begs the question as to why. It seems more personal for the teacher, otherwise why go to these lengths to be what is considerably rude.
Personal
Apologetic
Brittney here felt bad for Kamdyn more than anything else. She wrote that while she agrees the teacher should be let go, it’s the teacher’s job to encourage the students – not make them feel bad about themselves.
Apologetic
Arguments
Things can get very messy, very quickly on social media. Since it’s a free for all and the comments are open to everyone, things can spiral very fast. One complication took place in the comments when Erin wrote a comment that incited a reaction from other people.
Arguments
Trauma
Sandra here decided to go all out and give her advice to Chris that he has to move Kamdyn to an different classroom with another teacher. It was in everyone’s best interest to keep the second grader from becoming traumatized.
Trauma
Toughen Up
David had very direct advice for Chris: toughen up your kid, the world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. He thinks if Chris would help Kamdyn with his math, things like this wouldn’t happen in the first place. Accusing people just isn’t the best way to do things in general.
Toughen Up
Pathetic
Here, Lori talks about the use of the word ‘pathetic’ specifically. A lot of people took offense to this wording since it’s very harsh. It’s hard to imagine two adults calling each other that, let alone an adult calling a child that.
Pathetic
Still Employed
After this entire battle, it turns out that it hasn’t yielded much of a result. According to the school district’s website, Bohenek is still employed in the elementary school. But who knows, maybe she’s learned her lesson from the whole ordeal.
Still Employed
Tender Age
One woman wrote in response to the story, “Such a tender age to be scarred from this form of abuse. There are a lot of so-called ‘teachers’ that are working in schools that don’t care for children and aren’t fit to teach … Little to no training or love for the profession. I’m a former teacher and has taught for 20 years, I can truly see why many students and families are turning to homeschool and other non-traditional learning opportunities”.
Tender Age
Censor Thoughts
Another person was horrified by the teacher’s actions. “I’m disgusted by this teacher’s actions and she should be fired if she doesn’t know how to censor her thoughts as well as promote the kids learning with positive feedback.”
Censor Thoughts
Not The Only One
This problem isn’t that rare. Many children have been in similar situations like Kamdyn and had issues with a difficult teacher. This situation happened similarly to Karen Eubank’s son.
Not The Only One
4th Grade
Karen’s 9-year-old son was complaining about his mean teacher, but she didn’t take it so seriously. She figured he had just switched schools and needed time to get used to the new environment. This is common for children moving schools at a young age.
4th Grade
Another Reason
She also wasn’t entirely convinced given that children always call people mean when they are being mean. For example, a young student may get the impression that their teacher is harsh when they instruct them to do their work.
Another Reason
Not What She Thought
Unfortunately, Karen was quite misunderstood in her assumption. She figured everything was fine and his teacher wasn’t being mean to her son. Turns out this is exactly what was going on, and he had every reason to be upset.
Not What She Thought
Avoiding School
Karen visited the new school before she decided to move her son there. She was so happy with it from the beginning. Unfortunately, her son didn’t feel the same and complained that he did not want to attend school. He said every day that he was feeling sick, and each time she picked him up after school he was in a terrible mood.
Avoiding School
Adjusting
She rationalized it by saying he had just moved to a new school and he was just struggling getting used to it. With time she was certain he would be okay. Around Halloween time the truth was revealed.
Adjusting
The Truth
Karen asked a child in the classroom next to her son about how school was. He told her that her son was not enjoying himself because his teacher is constantly yelling at him. Although he wasn’t even in the same class he could still hear it!
The Truth
Taking Action
After hearing this, Karen was determined to get to the bottom of it. She scheduled meetings with the teacher and principal to understand the problem. The teacher explained that her son was not attentive in class, and the principal refused to take action. Karen was getting frustrated especially when they both told her they were worried about her son.
Taking Action
Listening
They stated that her son could not pay attention in class, so she brought him for a psychological evaluation to handle the situation. In the end, it was confirmed that he had no problems at all, despite their claims.
Listening
Resolving The Problem
Karen conversed with other parents in the class and they admitted that they never once saw the children’s teacher with a smile on her face. Her son added that the teacher would pick on him and was mean. He admitted that he does pay attention but said, ” but I look out the window because I’d rather look at trees and listen than look at her angry face.’” After a few days, Karen decided to home school her son.
Resolving The Problem