Send
Dealing with Authority Figures 223
not to grant extensions (as you told me in our conversation), but I
would really appreciate it if you would consider my request. I’ll do my
best to turn my paper in one week past the deadline. Please let me know
if this will be acceptable. Thank you.”The nice thing about writing a letter is that it gives you time to carefully
choose what to say, without the AF standing there and watching you struggle to
find the right words. It also gives the AF time to read the letter and think about
the best way to resolve the issue. Just be sure to reread your letter before you
give it to the AF—even let it sit for a day and then read it again. You may want
to have a parent or another trusted adult read the letter and give you some feed-
back, too. You can decide whether to make any revisions.
What happens if conversations and letters don’t work? Is there any other
way to handle problems with authority figures? Yes: question their authority.
I don’t mean that you should resort to rudeness or defiance. But in some cases,
it’s perfectly appropriate to go above an authority figure’s head. If you and a cer-
tain teacher can’t see eye to eye, for example, it may be time to get the principal
involved. Or if you and your coach can’t resolve a particular issue, you may
want to ask a parent for help. Some situations are too difficult to handle on
your own, and there’s nothing wrong with getting help or support.
Although communicating with people in authority can be challenging,
you’ll feel better about getting your feelings and opinions out in the open.
There’s satisfaction in knowing that you acted maturely and did what you could
to handle a problem or resolve a conflict successfully.
I shot off my mouth to a teacher
Hey Terra,
I’m in seventh grade, and the other day I had to go back to my locker to get a book. The hall-
way was really crowded, and I dropped my binder in the middle of everything. It opened, and
all the papers came out. I tried to pick them up, but kids were stepping on them. Then this
really tough eighth-grade teacher yelled at me to get out of the way. I was stressed and yelled
back that I was going as fast as I could. She gave me a really dirty look and asked my name