My art teacher keeps making fun of me.

[Devyn]

So, I signed up for 2D Art this semester with a few of my friends. I got the art teacher I had in 9th grade for the foundations class that everybody has to take at my school. So, I had him in second semester during ninth grade, and then started getting people to call me by my male name and male pronouns during 10th grade (during 10th grade, I went to his class room to eat lunch with my friends a lot.) I'm currently in 11th grade, and I got him again as my art teacher for my current art class.

He passed out papers and said to write our names where we're sitting so that he can make a seating chart, and then went on to say that if you have a nickname that you like to go by, to write it down. So I wrote my male name, which is no where close to my girl name.

He saw this, and made this huge scene in front of the class and started screaming about it while I asked him to be quieter about it. He was going on and making fun of me and it got to the point where the people at my table were feeling bad for me because he wouldn't shut up.

So, last class, he kept calling me "(insert female name here)-call-me-Devyn" and it was really making me mad. Like when he was passing back papers and was calling out our names, he said "Devyn, oh wait I mean ____-call-me-Devyn!" and he's getting really irritating.

I sit between two of my friends, and one of them called him a bitch to his face because he is known for making fun of students but not for reasons like this. He's known at my school for making fun of other students' art and the way they draw, paint, etc. (and no, it's not constructive criticism when he does it.)

I don't know if he actually knows what is going on, but it's pretty obvious once I ask people to call me Devyn because they put my look and the name change together. I've noticed he has stopped calling me and my friend's "ladies", though. He'll pause, and then say "students" or something like that. So maybe he has an idea, I really don't know.

My boyfriend told me to go to the principal about my teacher because he's clearly being rude, but my principal will almost definitely side with my teacher because she is homophobic (not saying that being trans makes you gay, but usually if you're homophobic, you're also transphobic).

[~RoadToTrista~]

You can go to her boss then, because this is really fcked up.

[Arch]

Keep a record of EVERYTHING. See if you can get your friends to do the same. Get your parents on board if they aren't already. Report this ass to the principal.

Go to your school district's website (I assume that there is such a site) and find out their policies. Also, you'll be able to find out what to do if the principal does not give you satisfaction.

If your state or region has a trans legal site, get them in the loop. If not, try starting at a national org. I don't know how many there are. All I can think of is NCTE at the moment. But that's a start.

CA has the Transgender Law Center; if you're not in CA, you might have a similar organization that will send out an attorney, free, to deal with the problem. The TLC was instrumental in getting a couple of jerks fired in my city; their organization is serious business. You might even get in touch with them and ask them if they know of any resources in your specific area.

[Sharky]

You should always stand up for yourself. You don't need to tolerate mistreatment just because he is a teacher and you're a student. Make it clear you do not appreciate his behavior and that it's not a joke to you. If he doesn't cut it out follow the formal complaint procedure.

[Kentrie]

Reading that pissed me off. I would make fun of him.

[420NEKO]

Wtf is his problem? He sounds like a total jackass. He must be a little bitch if he has to resort to making fun of students.

If I was in your position I would try talking to him about it in private, and try to get into a different class if he wont stop.

[Lee]

Yeah, that is seriously not appropriate.  I would bring it up with the principle.  You could bring a couple of people in the class to back you up.  :/ What an ->-bleeped-<-.

[wheat thins are delicious]

I agree with Arch.  Keep a record of everything.  If you can sneak a voice recorder in, like one of those little recorder things.  Get your parents in on it if you can.  If the principal won't do anything then go above her head. 

[malinkibear]

He's a jerk, but if he's known for taking the piss, perhaps he doesn't realise it's not funny. It's awkward and embarrassing, but catch him alone after a lesson, and tell him that it's a serious matter for you, and don't like what he says. Tell him specifically some things he does. If it's a case of just being insensitive, then that should stop it. If not, tell him again that you don't like it, and will report it as bullying if it happens again.  If again, go to every staff member and superior you have to for a result. It's not fun, but everyone will have to stand up for and assert themselves sooner or later, and the self-respect you gain afterwards is invaluable.

[Troy]

I agree with Arch. Go through the system. Also Human Rights Campaign (hrc.org) might be able to help. They are a national nonprofit organization for LGBT.

Troy

[Hayzer12]

Yeah you don't have to just get the school involved, because if you tell him to stop, then he can get in major trouble for harassment, because that's what that is.

[anibioman]

wow he sounds like an ass. i hate people like that. my latin teacher was kind of like that but less out in the open. she called me parker but 'messed up' in the middle of the year and called me by my birth name. however the whole ->-bleeped-<-ing year she very obviously used female pronouns, miss (insert last name here) and called me a "very smart women" and stuff like that i wanted to die every time i was in that class i literally had 6 panic attacks sitting in that class. i hate here and constantly complained but nothing changed until they let me switch classes which was only for last month of school because they dont let you switch for teacher preference.

[Dominick_81]

That is totally messed up. No teacher should me be making fun of their students no matter what it is. He shouldn't be teaching if he's gunna be picking on his students like that. Sorry that happen to you.

[anima.liber]

My GOD. I used to have an Art teacher just like that.
I got him fired, though.

Write a fairly decent paragraph of note that tends to your feelings everytime the man jeers at you and personally hand it to him while keeping a constant eye contact.

If he disregards the contents of the note, then confront him verbally. (privately, or in front of others. A few witty chastising from a student can humiliate a teacher for a long time)

If he continues to shrug you off, then go see a higher authority. If that authority doesn't do anything, go to the authority above that. (Highschool-wise: Teacher < Vice-Principal < Principal < Superintendent < School board monitor)


...I hope this helped.

[Zerro]

Homophobic principal or not, your art teacher is way out of line. Talk to him, and tell him that there are some things that are funny, and what he's doing is -not-. If he continues to give you attitude, make record of what he says, when he says it and then bring it to his boss. If you are STILL given trouble, and your parents won't back you up, then here's my suggestion: start calling him by another name and throw the joke back at him. It's not entirely appropriate, but sometimes that's how you deal with people like that.

[hwytoaster]

I'd like seriously punch him. 

[AprilAero]

you should probably complain to the principal or one of the school administrators.

[Mr.Rainey]

I would have called him sally and pronoun ->-bleeped-<- him till he called me the right name and pronouns.

[AprilAero]

I don't think sinking to their level is the right way to go, I think it is best if you try to deal with the person in private first just have a meeting with them, and just sit down and discuss things like adults, try this first and if it continues you need to submit a complaint in writing to the school adminstrators. having something in writing always helps.

[Da Monkey]

I'd tell him to fck off.

Your school sounds poorly run so would you really get in trouble for putting him in his place? Either way it is just a teacher not a boss so I would say it regardless of the consequences but that's just me.