By Danitza Lazcano – Chile.

​In my more than two decades teaching English to teenagers, I have learned that my subject is about much more than irregular verbs and phonetics. The classroom is, in essence, a microcosm of society. However, in recent years, this learning space has become a minefield where teaching authority seems to dissolve in the face of a troubling trend: parenting without boundaries.

​The Myth of the “Center of the Universe”

​Today, we face a complex reality. At home, many young people grow up under the premise of being the absolute center of the family’s solar system. But when they cross the classroom threshold, they encounter 30 other “centers of the universe.” That is where our most difficult work begins.

​When a teacher says “no,” “wait your turn,” or “we’ll look at that later,” she is not exercising an act of authoritarianism, but one of distributive justice. Teaching that immediate desire is not always the priority is a fundamental life lesson. Sadly, today, managing that wait is often mistaken by some parents for “trauma” or a “lack of empathy.”

​Frustration as a Pedagogical Tool

​Making a mistake in a conjugation or not getting the expected grade is not an attack on a young person’s integrity; it is an opportunity for growth.

• ​Frustrating with sportsmanship is a soft skill that prepares them for the real world.
• ​The error is the best fertilizer for learning.

​When parents interpret these corrections as “mistreatment,” they rob their child of the chance to build resilience. If we don’t allow them to experience frustration within the safe environment of the school, how will they handle the setbacks of adult life?

​The Emotional Cost of Permissiveness

​A lack of clear boundaries at home often translates into a lack of respect in the classroom. Family permissiveness ends up emotionally hurting teachers. We have seen how our pedagogical expertise is questioned when we try to establish the order that does not exist at home.

​”We teach from academia and from the heart, but we cannot substitute the education in values that must be sealed at home.”

​A Call for Alliance, Not Conflict

​Dear parents: our goal is the same. We want your children to be the best version of themselves, respecting their individuality, their tastes, and their differences. But this cross-curricular reinforcement is only effective if we work as a team.

​If you do not back us up—if the school is seen merely as a daycare where the “uncomfortable” discipline is delegated—the student is left in a limbo of confusion.
​To educate is an act of love, and sometimes, the greatest act of love is setting a boundary at the right time. Let’s make respect the common language between home and school. For them, for their future, and for the health of our educational community.

– English Magazine