We are drawn to teaching and the work of schools in order to make a difference, to pass something on. Contrary to pop psychology, we did not all come from dysfunctional families. The vast majority of families are doing a loving and good-enought job with their children. At the same time, normal families differ on a number of dimensions and children from these various families come to school with very different assumptions and values. In this interactive talk we will look at our own families, we will examine how the style of our family of origin still affects the way we teach and the expectations that we bring to bear on children.
Parents are vulnerable because they are trapped by their love and their anxieties.
Teachers are vulnerable in the relationship because theirs is an intrinsically difficult profession often devalued by society, and many of them chose teaching because they were interested in working with children, not parents. Dr. Thompson discusses the fears that both parents and teachers bring to every encounter between them and proposes solutions that can help both parties get past these barriers in order to create an effective working relationship on behalf of children. Michael Thompson and the Seminar Participants. However, a small minority, for reasons of narcissism, ambition, anxiety or mental disturbance, act in troubling ways. Teachers need to be prepared to deal with such parents.