The most common element is probably the teacher's inappropriate behavior. This could be anything from yelling at students for no good reason to making inappropriate comments. Another common thing is the failure of the teacher to protect the students. Students look up to teachers for protection, and when a teacher fails to do so, like in cases of bullying or harassment within the school, it becomes a horror story. And also, academic pressure can be a part of it. When teachers push students too hard without considering their limits, it can lead to a very negative and scary experience for the students.
One common element is over - strictness. Teachers who are extremely strict and don't allow any small mistakes can be quite terrifying for students. Another is unfair treatment, like what I mentioned before, favoring some students over others in grading or discipline. Also, a bad temper. Teachers who lose their temper easily can create a very hostile learning environment.
Isolation is a common one. Like a student being alone in a deserted part of the school. Another is the presence of strange noises, such as creaking floors or unexplained whispers. And often there's something spooky about the school building itself, like old, dark hallways or abandoned rooms.
Growth and inspiration are also common. The teacher often inspires the student to be better in studies or other aspects of life, and in turn, the student's enthusiasm can inspire the teacher. In a story of a literature teacher and a student, the teacher inspires the student to write better, and the student's fresh perspective on literature re - energizes the teacher, leading to a romantic bond.
Well, unpreparedness is quite common. Either the substitute isn't fully prepared or the regular teacher didn't leave proper instructions. Also, students' preconceived notions about having a substitute can lead to problems. They might think it's a day to slack off, and when the substitute tries to enforce rules, it turns into a horror story.
One common element is lack of respect for students. Bad teachers often humiliate students in public, like the teacher who called students stupid when they made mistakes.
One common element is unruly students. Often, they see a substitute as an easy target and misbehave. Another is lack of support from the school. If the school doesn't back up the substitute's authority, it's a recipe for disaster. Also, unclear lesson plans can be a big problem. Without proper guidance, it's hard for the substitute to keep the class in order.
Well, often in scary teacher stories, there's the element of excessive control. Teachers might control every little aspect of the classroom, from how students sit to what they can say. There's also the idea of a lack of empathy. They don't seem to care about the students' feelings or difficulties. For instance, if a student is having a bad day and makes a small error, the teacher doesn't show any understanding but instead punishes harshly. And a lot of these stories involve a teacher having some sort of 'power trip', using their authority to make students feel small and scared.
Another is when parents compare their child to others in a negative way during the conference. They might say things like 'Why can't my child be as good as so - and - so?'. This puts the teacher in an awkward position and can also make the atmosphere really uncomfortable. Also, some teachers might be too critical of the child without providing any positive feedback. This can lead to the parents feeling defensive and the conference going downhill fast. There have been cases where the teacher has made assumptions about the child based on stereotypes, like assuming a boy who likes art is not as intelligent in academic subjects. This wrong assumption can cause a huge uproar when the parents find out.
Miscommunication is a common one. For example, a teacher might send home a note with unclear instructions, and the parent misinterprets it, leading to problems. Another is when a teacher has different disciplinary standards than the parent expects. Say a teacher is very strict about talking in class and the parent thinks it's normal for kids to chat a bit, that can cause conflict.
Another is when parents are uncooperative. The teacher is doing their best to help the child, but the parents don't follow through with things at home, like not giving medications on time or not reinforcing the learning strategies. This can be really frustrating and feel like a horror for the teacher who is trying to make progress with the student. For example, a teacher has a student with ADHD who needs a consistent routine, but the parents keep changing the bedtime, which affects the student's performance at school.