When school starts most parents turn their children over to strangers for most of the day. These strangers are teachers whom every parent hopes will be well qualified and will meet the needs of their children. It can be risky business, and many parents send their kids off with a measure of trepidation. They want school to be a good experience that will prepare them well for their future.

Here are 5 things most parents want from their child's teacher

1. That she will sincerely care about my child

We all know teachers have a lot of students to deal with, nevertheless, I need to know that my child will not be ignored or neglected. I will be looking for signs that she cares. That can happen in a variety of ways, but mostly by being on top of how my child is doing, not only academically, but socially. If I receive emails or calls that tell me what's happening I will know she cares.

2. That he will recognize the talents my child possesses and help her develop them

Too many children feel like failures when they see other children put on a pedestal for having some special talent while others are being ignored. I will help my child's teacher know talents my child has and be open to the discovery of new talents he sees that were before unknown to me. School is a place where talent can be best discovered and developed. In the words of Albert Einstein, "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."

3. That she will discipline with kindness and yet be firm enough to inspire good behavior.

I don't want my child to get away with less than what is expected. If he disobeys, I need to know that his teacher will help him understand that his behavior is unacceptable. She needs to let me know what discipline is being used and get my support. She needs to feel that we are a team, working to help my child be the best he can be. That means I need to acknowledge when my child is at fault and needs the discipline, and work with his teacher.

4. That he is fiercely loyalty to our country

I want a teacher who is proud to be a citizen of our great nation, and will stand strong for the principles of freedom it was founded upon. I want her to show respect, even a reverence, for our founding fathers. I would hope that our country's flag would be prominently displayed in the classroom and that the students will be taught to respect it. I hope that she would engender a feeling of pride in being a citizen of this country and that we all have an obligation to do our part in keeping our nations strong by being good, law-abiding citizens.

5. That she will not tolerate bullying

I want to know if anyone is bullying my child and be able to discuss a plan of action with the teacher. I would expect to be told if my child ever bullies anyone. I would hope that the teacher will have a plan well fixed in her mind and that every child's knows what is expected regarding bullying. The children need to know she means business-that it simply will not be tolerated and that any bullying will be punished and reported to the principal and the parents. I hope she will teach what constitutes bullying so the children have a clear picture of what is unacceptable behavior.

6. That he has a faith in God and will respect the religious beliefs of every student

I would hope that no child's religion would be made fun of or scoffed at in any way. I hope that he would teach that freedom of religion is in the constitution and is vital to the function of a free nation. He would teach examples of how to honor another person's religion so they will have a clear vision of how this works.

Conclusion

Being a teacher is one of the most important occupations in the world. Teachers lay a foundation that will remain forever in the mind of a child. Carl Jung said, " One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." That's what parents hope their children will feel from their teachers.