My Worst Teacher

[mysid]

gehayi recently told a story of her small-minded, misogynistic third-grade teacher. When I said that it beat my "worst teacher" story, she asked me to tell it. I tried to post it as a reply approx. 30 times yesterday, but either LJ or my internet connection wouldn't allow it. So... I decided to post it here.

My worst teacher was my third grade reading teacher. She believed that threatening students with vicious physical punishments was a good motivator. (She knew better than to carry out her threats, but we were naive enough to believe them.)

I was a favorite target because I never did my homework. Why didn't I? I didn't know I was allowed to bring the books home. I was new at this school, and my previous school had a "no homework" policy in the lower grades.

Every day, I tried desperately to get my work done before the bell. Then I would put away my books and begin 23 hours of terror that the next day would be the day she'd finally hang me from the fluorescent lights by my thumbs or lock me in the cupboard under the sink with the snakes and spiders.

I went from loving school to faking being sick so I could stay home. My mother finally got me to tell her what was happening; I was so ashamed at being in trouble that I didn't want to tell. Then Mom went to see Teacher. Teacher told Mom how uncooperative and lazy I was.

Mom asked, "Did you ever tell her to take the work home to finish it there?"

Teacher replied, "Of course not. Everyone knows that."

Mom explained that I didn't. She also made it clear that if Teacher ever threatened me or another student like that again, she would have Teacher's head on a platter--metaphorically speaking, of course.

Comments

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

God, she sounds like a toad. And good for your mom for standing up for you!

[mysid.livejournal.com]

"Toad" sounds apt; I just realized that she reminds me of Dolores Umbridge. No doubt she would have loved Umbridge's special quills for writing lines.

[rissabby.livejournal.com]

I love your mom.

[mysid.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she can have her awesome moments. (That's her riding the tricycle in my icon, btw.)

[elfscribe5.livejournal.com]

Yay, good for your Mom! So sad that the teacher just assumed you were lazy and didn't talk to you to find out what the problem was. But I'd say that's typical for a lot of people, unfortunately.

[mysid.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was sad--and so was the fact that she threatened to lock me in a cupboard with snakes and spiders!

[elfscribe5.livejournal.com]

Well, clearly that was beyond the pale. Good for your Mom to stand up to her.