How to Complain about a Teacher or a Class Without Hurting Your Grade in School

There are any number of problems that you can encounter during your education, whether that be in high school or at the collegiate level. Know that there are avenues you can take that will not affect your academic progress.

Things You'll Need

• Patience
• The willingnes to study up on how to go about the process of bringing a complaint.

Instructions

1. First of all, learn the system. What's the procedure for complaints at your particular school? Often times, you will bring a complaint to a counselor or an ombudsperson or someone who is unbiased.

2. Second of all, hold your anger for an appropriate time. The worst thing you could do at this point is take your complaint straight to your teacher in an emotional manner. This will create tension and problems, sometimes resulting in you having to re-take a class. I saw this happen to others in high school and college. Whatever the problem you are going through in a class, try not to take it personal. Step back and try to maintain objectivity.

3. Third, if you still have a complaint, know what you are going to argue for specifically. Don't just go in to whine. For example, I was once required to watch an NC-17 film in a class. I thought that this was not a fair option. So I went to the ombudsperson, presented my complaint, and lobbied for a different option for people who would rather not view an NC-17 movie.

4. Ask yourself how far you are going to take this? What if you are turned down? Is it something you want to fight for, or is it something better left alone? The answer will be different in every scenario. But I will say this, unless there is a genuine injustice being done...sometimes it can be beneficial to get through your class and walk away.

5. If you can, consider waiting to bring a complaint until after your class is finished and your grades are turned in. This is the only way to ensure that your grade has not been affected by the situation.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many things during our educations that we don't like, not everything we disagree with is worthy of a complaint. So think carefully, but also trust your gut.

• If your complaint ever has to do with something serious, such as sexual harassment, racism, or anything else on that level, don't wait until it's too late and your grade has been affected.

• Don't EVER complain in a frivolous manner. This can stop people with other needs from getting help and is an abuse of the system.

• Think long and hard before you get litigious, this is stressful and has endless monetary costs. Litigation is a LAST RESORT scenario.