What's On Your Mind?

[WolFox787]

My teacher and I have had a rough year. I told him I hate him and he took me to the principal. I have spoken to a counselor about him and she helped us sort out our differences or so I thought. After the counselor left he was back to being obsessive. He forbid me to to be friends with some of my friends as he feels they are evil and he talks to me after school just so he can offer to drive me home. He says he does the things he does to protect me. He also tends to completely ignore me for no reason. He promises to keep me safe if I play by his rules. And we used to have a close friendship(which is now off and on) but since he became obsessed I try to avoid him and he doesn't like it when I avoid him, he points it out and asks the other teachers to keep an eye on me.

I have told my parents but they regard it as a teenage problem and refuse to help. He is making me feel depressed, the days he ignores me I have no idea what I did wrong and worry that he is going to send me to the principal again. On the other hand he scares me when he keeps me in his class to talk to him, he tends to have violent outbursts in class and I worry that if I upset him when we are alone he may get violent does get jealous if I talk to other teachers and considers me his star. The principal feels I should stay in his class as changing classes would be a hassle and cause a scandal. Also the principal feels I have no evidence to lay a case against my teacher.

I do not know what to do at this point. I cannot go to my parents or the principal. My teacher is becoming more obsessive and my emotions are going haywire. Please help.

[flamingoccm · Accepted solution]

This is a wildly inappropriate relationship between you two. He has no authority to tell you not to be friends with other people. He is not allowed to drive you home, or at least that has been true in every state I've been in. I mean...I could go through literally everything you've listed here...none of it is appropriate. You don't have to ask the principal to change classes, because that's actually handled by the guidance department. All you have to do is go in and ask to change classes and they can ask you if you've talked to your parents about it, but you can always just say yes regardless of whether or not you have. Regardless of whether or not you have a case against him, if he makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, they have a responsibility to you to respect that. If the actual principal won't listen, tell the vice principal or the guidance counselor. Literally, tell anyone and everyone who will listen. You should also never be alone with him. No matter what.  Understand that he doesn't really have any authority over you and you don't have to listen. Seriously, even if that teacher asks you to talk after class, tell him that you're not allowed to. If he doesn't back off, I would be loud about it--tell him to back off/leave you alone.

Call attention to it as much as possible. It sounds like the principal is most worried about making a scandal. If (s)he's not willing to help you with this situation, then make it a scandal. Ultimately, that principal will have no choice but to listen.

Is there another teacher you can talk to? 

[WolFox787]

Thanks for your reply. I have told him to leave me alone to which he threatened me saying he would make my life hell (which no one believed) soon after he started picking on my friends until I agreed to speak to him. I have tried speaking to other teachers but the only one who believes me left the school. He did try to take me out of that teachers class. I tried going to the vice-principal but when ever I set an appointment with him he stands me up. I will try to get a hold of my counselor to come back to my school and help me sort this out. Thank you 

[stayclassy]

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WolFox787 wrote:

Thanks for your reply. I have told him to leave me alone to which he threatened me saying he would make my life hell (which no one believed) soon after he started picking on my friends until I agreed to speak to him. I have tried speaking to other teachers but the only one who believes me left the school. He did try to take me out of that teachers class. I tried going to the vice-principal but when ever I set an appointment with him he stands me up. I will try to get a hold of my counselor to come back to my school and help me sort this out. Thank you 

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This school is straight up awful. Can you just barge in to the Vice Principal's office?

Can you switch schools? I know your parents don't seem to be taking you seriously but I'd keep putting my foot forward with them.

[WolFox787]

I'm in my (Grade 12) senior year now so changing schools won't be easy. And the rest of the students get treated normally, for some odd reason the weirdoes are just attracted to me.

[stayclassy]

No, it's not your fault. The problem is that there is an issue and the school is not dealing with it properly, it's basically trying to hide and sweep it under the rug.

[apple-tart]

You need to go to your school districts website and send a email to the superintendent.

[starryphoenix]

I would advise you call the county school board and report him

[illusione]

It's really negligent of your principle not not take this problem seriously. There's no way your teacher should be threatening you or looking for excuses to get you alone. It's completely inappropriate, and bordering on illegal. You need to make it very clear to your principle that if he wants to avoid 'hassle' and 'scandal', the best way to do that would be to remove you from that class, because if he doesn't you will take the matter over his head and complain to the school board, or even to the police and there will be a whole lot more hassle and scandal. It's really not difficult for him to take you out of that one class. Nobody even really needs to know why. 

If you are able to record any inappropriate comments (most phones have some kind of voice recorder), or have an witnesses who will support you, that would probably help, but really, the fact that you say you feel uncomfortable should be enough. 

[lucidkitty]