Are you in favor of teachers showing favoritism in school?
By abatencila
@abatencila (970)
Philippines
March 21, 2011 8:06pm CST
My daughter is in the 6th grade and graduating. When she was in her 4th grade, I noticed that this teacher really favors one of her student, I'm so disappointed. She keeps on choosing the very same girl for every occasion, not giving a fair chance to others...I believe that every student has their own talent to share and as teachers,it is their duty to encourage shy ones to participate and give a fair chance to others...Happy that school is over and I'm planning to enroll my kid in other school this coming year..Is it favoritism or appreciation of talents?I don't know but please treat each student as fair as possible.
2 people like this
22 responses
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
14 Apr 11
Changing schools will not solve the problem. Favoritism is a teacher's weak point. Your daughter will only be the one to suffer because she will be adapting to a new environment again. Children need to have constancy in their childhood. The peers are important. If you believe the teacher is not fair, go tell the principal or the admin. Fight for your daughter.
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
15 Apr 11
I think I had my fair share of meetings with Guidance counselors and the coordinator for discipline in grade school. My daughters got involved in some situations calling for disciplinary measures. I was 
. My daughters couldn't be brats. So I investigated and discovered that the coordinator simply do not favor my daughters because of vocal I get whenever there are meetings concerning the children. And of course I fought it out. My daughters couldn't fight yet, so I did it for them. When they were in high school, I showed in school less and less. My daughters could handle their teachers without me. In college, they dealt with their teachers accordingly. Of course there were situations wherein their grades took the blow, but hey, they gave teachers the fright. Keep in mind that the teachers are there to educate the children. The students are the life of the academic institutions. The students, over and above anyone in school, must be the one cared for.
. My daughters couldn't be brats. So I investigated and discovered that the coordinator simply do not favor my daughters because of vocal I get whenever there are meetings concerning the children. And of course I fought it out. My daughters couldn't fight yet, so I did it for them. When they were in high school, I showed in school less and less. My daughters could handle their teachers without me. In college, they dealt with their teachers accordingly. Of course there were situations wherein their grades took the blow, but hey, they gave teachers the fright. Keep in mind that the teachers are there to educate the children. The students are the life of the academic institutions. The students, over and above anyone in school, must be the one cared for.@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
15 Apr 11
Actually, my daughter doesn't want to transfer that is why I've not decided yet. I've been to her school last week and talked to the principal and told her about my concerns. I'll let my daughter stay there for another year but if the same problem arises again, I have no choice but to transfer her to another school. I am also considering the emotional aspect of my daughter.
1 person likes this
@agrim94 (3805)
• India
22 Mar 11
Hi abatencila,
What you are telling is a very common site everywhere you go , be it school, college, office or anyother thing where some peopl are favoured more than others. Now thing is why do they choose those person to show favour. Well i think that girl must be much more well behaved, would do like teacher wants her to and teacher has a comfort level with her knowing she would grasp things very easily or work very hard to what teacher wishes. I think these points would make anyone think twice to choose someone else.
@agrim94 (3805)
• India
26 Mar 11
Well if money is talking then it is different and also being good in theatre and good in study is totally differnt things. As i said it may be case of teacher feeling more comfortable with that kid. But now thing of donation has come then it is totally different thing. Money talks not only in school but in every sphere of life.
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
25 Mar 11
I don't think that's the case in my daughter's school.Appreciation of one's person, if that's the case I'll understand BUT It's a different story here. I also realized that for two years the one who got the award for the young missionaries club are the one's whose parents are donating so much to the school. It's not the performance of the students inside the club that matters.Money talks...Do you also think that the student who got a score of 29/50 in the exam ...be part of the outstanding class at the end of the year. That is almost a failure for me, 21 mistakes, that's bad.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
26 Mar 11
no, of course not. even if the teacher's favorite would be my niece or would be my child i would be totally against it.
I want the teacher to be fair, after all, she/he should be able too impart fairness and equality amongst the children or their students. showing favoritism may only give that negative impression that may even affect a child's emotions.
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
26 Mar 11
I agree. It also affects the credibility of the students and the school's reputation is at stake also.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
4 Apr 11
No one likes favoritism..even at my daughter and son's school we also noticed that such exist. It is a shame but then it happens. 
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
4 Apr 11
I'm so sad it could happen in the innocent world of children wherein they became victims of this unfairly circumstances.
@doreenvinson (20)
• Philippines
25 Mar 11
no i don,t favor them because i've always hated teachers having favorites in class and not noticing other students with potentials...i guess you are having a great decision if you transfer your daughter to another school...
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
25 Mar 11
Thanks for feeling the same way, it really matters to me.It's okay if they have favorites as long as they will give fair decisions and good grades to deserving ones. Besides, my daughter worked so hard for this...
@mallu30 (461)
• India
15 Apr 11
No. it is not correct. The teachers have to treat all the children equal. Being favour to some children is not proper. The teacher has encourage all the children without favouritism according to their talents. The problem can be solved through discussing with the teacher.
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
15 Apr 11
Sometimes it is hard to discuss it with the teacher because they wouldn't admit they have their own favorites and eventually they will take it too personal and my daughter might suffer the consequences.
@mansha (6298)
• India
21 May 12
yes it happened to us and it always happens even now. there was always some other kid everyone liked. its not appreciation of talent but just favoritism and it leaves me sad each time, as other kids start getting neglected and for new things first chance is given to the brighter kid. As Einstein said if you test the fish on its ability to climb trees it will spend its life thinking that its stupid. so we all have some or the other talent and we can learn as we grow always. Its good that you are changing school now, hope the one you choose now is a better one.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
22 May 12
Since when is life fair. Kids had better learn the truth early. Teachers are human and will have favorites. You as an adult should already know that. Keep out of it and let your child deal with their teachers on their own.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
22 Mar 11
I don't think that teachers show good judgment if they show favoritism of one one student over another. it isn't fair to the other students in the classroom. Every student should be treated with the same opportunities.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
22 Mar 11
That would not be right! All teachers are suppose to teach equality and although some seem to favor it is not fair on the rest of the students. I would say to speak to the principal but it sounds like you will be transferring your daughter.
It may be wise, if matters do not worsen, that at the end of the year you somehow let the principal know your thoughts. Perhaps other parents feel like you and can sign some form of together letter for the principal. The principal may not be aware and the childrens self esteem in this teacher's class can be affected.
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
23 Mar 11
Maybe you are right that I have to talk to the principal regarding this before I'll transfer her to another school.Anyway,many would benefit from it if they change their ways.Actually some parents knew it already before me. I don't know what's with them really, it irritates me to the extent that I started not to attend to the meetings and participate to the schools affair.
@madp_071983 (228)
• Oman
22 Mar 11
I have been a basic education teacher for half a decade prior to promotion as school principal. Favoritism is a word which must NEVER be found in a teacher's vocabulary! I personally abhor this term. So as not to have misinterpreted actions, the teacher must maximize the pupils' talents and efforts in class, not just for a selected few. The teacher's role is to encourage, not to suppress; to motivate, not to belittle; to touch lives, not to tease them. Pupils will always be pupils. Their feelings are still young and naive. Those kinds of teachers whom you're referring to need to retrain themselves and revisit their child psychology course back in college. After all, not all teachers can teach. I strongly abhor favoritism since it will always ring a bad signal among parents and pupils themselves.
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
22 Mar 11
I'm so happy after reading your response. Happy that there are still teachers who treat students as fair as possible. I believe in what you are saying that teachers are there to encourage,to motivate and to touch the lives of their student.I'm speaking not only for my daughter's welfare but for others also who was a victim of this kind of system inside the campus...Actually, I'm proud to say that my daughter really worked hard for her grades not like anybody else, na kinukuha sa pakiusapan makapasok lang sa honor.
@kwylima (451)
• United States
22 Mar 11
I think it is sooo stupid from those theachers...They are there to treat every student same. It helps the kids thinking and make funny the other kids..and it is really bad for them...what those kids that are never called to do anything feel"? it is sooo unfear.
if i was a teacher I never would done something like that.
@sashakiddo (1102)
• United States
22 Mar 11
There was a study related to this subject by psychologists Rosenthal and Jacobson. Their experiment involved giving teachers their students' scores on a Harvard test that predicted academic "blooming". The test was actually not a Harvard test, and the scores were not the students' real scores. The scores were falsely recorded for purposes of the experiment.
As predicted, the teachers gave more attention to the ones who supposedly did really well on the test. And these students made the most improvement based on a real IQ test given at the end of the year.
Since the scores of the first "blooming" tests were completely random, there should be no reason that these scores would relate to the IQ scores at the end of the year. It seems clear that the attention given to them by their teachers was a major influence in how well they improved in the year.
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
22 Mar 11
I honestly believe with what you said that if they feel they are appreciated and loved by the teacher, they study harder..that's the case when she was in grade 3..THIS TEACHER HAPPENS TO BE THE BEST BECAUSE SHE TREATS EVERYONE FAIR. The student feel also if they are loved by the teacher.
@melvelasco (356)
• Philippines
22 Mar 11
No of course I am not favor for those teachers showing favoritism in school, If ever I've witness or discover that one of my children teacher shown this kind of attitude I would say I really make a move to give a confrontation for that teacher if ever. That's not fair, we know our kid and their capacity to learn. So it not favorable that our kids would experience that kind of situation....
@angelkarah050182 (4980)
• Philippines
22 Mar 11
I'm not also in favor of favoritism. I'm a teacher and I also have a child of my own. I hope that teachers won't show any favoritism because some children can feel if there is some favoritism goin' on in their class. They'll feel that they are neglected, etc. Teachers should be fair enough to focus their attentions to all their students not only to their favorite ones. That's why they are having classes with a certain number of students , not a one-on-one class.
@sang25 (61)
• India
22 Mar 11
favoritism has a deeper effect on children than what teachers realize.its natural to feel more for some people,but teacher must learn to maintain fairness.if those not genuinely interested in teaching, takes it up as a career,such mishaps can occur.this will leave the children scarred
@allknowing (130195)
• India
22 Mar 11
Not just in schools I cannot tolerate favoritism anywhere. It is very disturbing when one is totally neglected and another is put on a pedestal. This happens with siblings, at offices and even in forums where there are groups.
@kheydia (882)
• Philippines
22 Mar 11
i am not in favor of teacher showing favoritism to a student, that is so unfair, so are so right.. Teachers should be fair in treating all their students as the parents were trusting their children to their care, parents are expecting that their children will be learning from school and be appreciated as well, if teacher has a favorite in the classroom they aren't teaching the children whats right.
