Ihateyou.com email(dealing with angry student via email)
The classroom is a reservoir of different students with different personality types, and daily issues. Some students come to class with a chip on their shoulders. These are the one if not too many challenges a teacher must deal with. From the very start, I emphasize communication as the one of the most important tool for success. Whether dealing with positive or negative conflict, or issues, I encourage students to openly communicate their concerns. For the first time, in my nth year of teaching, I received an email from a student with an address IHATEU.COM, I did communicate with this student and did try to ignore the email address that she created and focus on her goals and or issues. I discovered that the was undergoing a lot, and her plate was full. To top it all, she is dealing and coping with a loved ones' forthcoming death. His father has terminal illness and has six months to live. I realized that somehow, students really do not know how and who to direct their anger or hatred. That oftentimes, they are angry with LIFE itself. I tried to redirect her anger by asking her to change her term project topic to the Five Stages of Death.....and explained to her that she, too, is undergoing the same process of DENIAL, ANGER, BARGAINING, DEPRESSION...After she wrote her term project, she came to the ACCEPTANCE STAGE.
I am still keeping her term project, and I asked her If I could share her beautiful and meaningful realization with other students who maybe are experiencing the same. With this experience, I was indeed blessed to be able to encourage students to communicate or open up their deepest feelings, (NO MATTER how negative it will be) to create an email of IHATEU.COM to be free from the bondage of anger and depression.and come to ACCEPT the truth of death.
Hi Emma,
I truly believe that teaching in itself is a blessing. We get paid to make a positive difference in other people's lives.
Patricia
Hi Jacqueline,
Thanks! I certainly love the word you used "Blessed"....I believe that we instructors are also blessed to encounter these students with lots and lots of challenges and lots of lots of anger....
And everyday, I can't stop counting all my blessings because of these encounters.
One of my students wrote and published a book entitled "Enough is Enough!" which I am sure is in the bookstores (about domestic violence, bullying, etc.) Jackie, I am blessed to have this student.
Thanks, Jackie, you blessed my day today! I am very sure that you, too, have had all these "blessed" encounters....
Sincerely
Emma
Emma, this student is blessed to have had you as an instructor! You did an awesome job handling a very difficult situation!
Jackie
I have found that one needs to be professional and write clearly without typos and grammatical errors. Getting to the heart of the student's anger and frustration is key. It is also helpful to be aware of referral services available on and off campus that might be helpful in your particular situation.
Hi Emma,
We really learn a lot from our students. I am sure this student will always remember you.
Patricia
Hi
I learned from this student, as well.; it was and it will always be a rewarding, spiritually fulfilling. We build a connection stronger than the academe. And of course, we share and enjoy this rare feeling whenever this student pay me a classroom visitation. This is the reason why I stayed in the teaching profession for the nth year. I am keeping her term pproject and from time to time, I share this with other students.
Sincerely
Emma
Hi Emma,
Wow, this is so deep! You are to be commended, you handled this exceptionally well. What an awesome idea to have this particular student do her paper on this topic. It seemed to have really helped. This student will never forget you...what an impact you have made. I am just in awe!!!
Patricia
