This is part of the Monday Mission. We're to leave a voice mail. Check out Painted Maypole's spot for more...
"Hi...umm...Mitch? It's Julie, Julie from high school. I doubt you remember me; we only knew each other for about five minutes. You mowed our lawn a few times, dated my friend's sister, and were in my AP English class senior year. That's why I'm calling---about what you did in the English class. It made a lasting impression, really made a difference in my life. That probably sounds dramatic but it's true. You see, I'd spent a lot of years being the kid who fell through the cracks in school. I think by high school I'd gotten tired of being the good enough and compliant student. Senior year, I was one inch from dropping out, and I probably would have if I'd had the guts or I thought my parents would let me get away with it. Instead, I just created a lot of unnecessary sturm and drang for myself, and cut school so much that by the end of the year there was a question about whether they'd let me graduate. Wait..it's cutting me off...I'll call back..."
"Mitch? It's Julie again. So anyway. So that AP English class. It was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I'd had enough of terrible teachers in a horrible school system who couldn't care less about whether I learned anything, and that teacher was the worst of all. Maybe this will help you remember who I am: I was one of the girls she sat on the far side of the room. She made a row of us, and told us we couldn't think or write our way out of a paper bag. She told us we were a waste of her time and a waste of space in the class. She said she felt sorry for herself that she had to teach stupid girls like us. She told us we'd never be able to do anything better than C work. She called us the C Row. We made a joke out of it. We called ourselves the Crows and we'd make caw caw noises. Does that ring a bell? The irony is that she said this to three girls who served as student body leaders (one vice president, one secretary, one council representative), one homecoming queen, AP track girls across the board, all of whom graduated with good class rankings, and went on to great universities. Wait...cut off again...I'll call back..."
"Mitch? Julie. Okay. I think you know how even though we laughed, it hurt. I think you know what it did to us inside that she never called on us, or when she did, she mocked our answers, reinforced us as stupid. I think you know how much it troubled us that she encouraged the others to laugh at us, too. I think you know because of what you did, and I want you to know how much it changed everything, even after you'd gone. In the middle of one of her obnoxious lectures and belittling sessions, you stood up. You stood up in that classroom and you said, 'This is bullshit. This is such utter bullshit and I won't take it for one more minute.' Then you went on to call her on every single one of her terrible teacher crimes. You told her she was unfair to students, played favorites, and she was the one who couldn't teach her way out of a paper bag. You told her you felt sorry for us, the students, that we were subjected to someone like her. Then you concluded by saying, 'And don't bother telling me to go to the principal. I'm on my way there now. I'll be glad to tell him exactly what I did and why, and request a transfer. I'd rather sit in remedial than spend one more day in your class.' Oh, be back..."
"Mitch? Julie. She didn't change. Of course she didn't change. She continued her reign of self-esteem terror on me and my two friends. But we changed. We quit respecting and believing her. We felt free. We felt free to hate her, mock her, and not take one word she said to us to heart. We felt free to call it bullshit, too. It's true what Eleanor Roosevelt said, 'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.' We stopped consenting. You started that. Okay I know this is about to cut me off, and I want to tell you the end of the story. Hang on."
"Mitch? Julie. So what happened was her final insult to me was to pull my AP placement exam paperwork. She waited until the day after the deadline and then handed it back with a flourish, 'I pulled your papers,' she told me, smirking her nasty smirk, 'I don't think someone like you can handle these exams.' She tried to pretend it was a favor, to keep me from feeling bad. I knew it for what it was: bullshit. I was furious because a horrible person had power over me, but I didn't let it stop me. You were in my mind. I took a trip down to the university and took the placement exams anyway. I entered college with over a full semester's worth of hours, and a perfect 4.0. I applied for the honors program. There were limited spots in my huge university---didn't you go to the same one?---for this program. They only let in a few people a year. Instead of classes of 200, you got classes of 6-8, with the best professors. I got in. I got in to the honors writing program, and I excelled. One professor only handed out three As per semester, and I got one. I had my first paper published when only a junior in college. They used my paper as a writing sample for freshman. Wait...almost done..."
"Mitch? Julie. I took that paper. Do you remember my friend Kim? Kim and I went to the high school together one day when we were both home from college on break. I walked in, right in to her class, and in front of students I waved that paper at her. I thought of how she must be damaging more kids' esteem, and I thought of you. I thought of how I wished I'd done what you did, and I told her what I'd accomplished, that my professors believed in me, said I had talent and potential. I told her I wasn't stupid or a waste of space, and she'd never had the right to say that to me. I said I'd succeed in spite of her, her efforts to drag me down. I told her I was just beginning, and I'd do well. Then I walked out. There were nervous and delighted giggles behind me, with some applause, mainly from Kim I think, who kept saying. 'I can't believe you did that.' And I went home and I felt good. I probably should have felt bad but I didn't. I felt good. I stood up to her probably three years past when I should have, but I did it. I always wished I'd told you what a difference your action made. I always wished I'd thanked you. I guess it's better now, anyway, when it's got more of an ending. But it might have meant more back in high school. So, I'm sorry I never said anything then, and thanks. You made a big difference. I hope your life is good, and all you want it to be. Take care, and goodbye."
Copyright 2008 Julie Pippert
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Comments
Jerk.
Great post! I finally did one of these, too! :)
I had a teacher like this too, and I'm just so disappointed in a system that allows them to still teach.
And can we have a ticker tape parade for Mitch?? What a person of tremendous character. I hope your post finds him, so he knows how much his actions meant.
My sixth grade math and science block teacher told my friend Kellie she wished she'd blow up like a balloon so she could pop her. She did get fired!
I think by high school, though, you don't share as much with your parents and they don't interfere as much. So did anyone tell their parents about anything that happened in that class?
Probably in some way. I know my mom knew some things---knew I was having some trouble. She helped me get a tutor, let me break weekly curfew to go work at a nearby university with a graduate student to improve my work...it didn't matter. Teacher didn't care. A professor said I had an A paper, she said I had a C. She couldn't see past her bias.
I don't know, for sure, what her bias was.
(Ruined my GPA though!)
I do think the large majority aren't this evil, but it's more insidious, the problems that are there. I think a lot of concrete thinkers become teachers, and *some* of them get so locked in to the curriculum as is, with definitive right and wrong answers, that people who color outside the lines...well let's say they get cast badly, either as stupid, or naughty, or something. KWIM
Personally, the teachers I really enjoyed weren't per se subject matter experts but were typically very creative, and willing to try and accept different approaches.
In defense of teachers, I knew quite a few of those too.
Ironically for me (or luckily more like) my best teachers were in math and science!
They were so encouraging to me I entered college with heavy science courses and an eye to a science degree.
There are a lot of great teachers and wow they bring and add so much to kids, those good ones.
I just lucked into a really bad string of them, LOL.
But she wasn't trying to motivate. She sincerely did not believe we were worth her while.
She had us in class and taught us because she *had* to. She put the students she liked in the center, shuffled the rest of us around the edges and ignored us.
She actually expressed surprise that I was in college and had remained in college. ARGH LOL
I have NO idea why she had such a poor opinion of me. I was an AP student, had good grades, was not a troublemaker, was on senior council, features editor of newspaper, in several extracurricular and academic clubs, etc. Quintessential good kid and student!
I think, as much as these teachers are the exception and not the rule, they are still a huge problem.
Good for you for standing up to her eventually.
Wonder what Mitch does now? I wonder if he always took a stand?
A month or so later, my mother apparently was having lunch with her other best friend (Mrs. Davis had quit speaking to our family suddenly after I got out of her class for unrelated reasons). Her friend had heard from Mrs. Davis that her students had informed her of what I'd said, and she didn't appreciate it. I went to the class the next day and said, "I don't know which of you told Mrs. Davis what I said, but I want to thank you. Do me another favor, though. Tell her never to talk to my mother again. If she has a problem with me, she can take it up with me. I'd appreciate you telling her that."
I never heard anything more from her. Within a year or two, though, she left the school system. I sometimes like to think I played a role in getting rid of her. She was truly certifiable, and horrible at teaching math.
Crazymumma, that's an interesting question. I have the feeling Mitch probably did continue to be assertive. But I didn't really know him so I haven't any idea what he might be doing. I did bump into him on the street at some point in college and we said the basic hello and how are you, but I don't recall anything beyond that or even if I knew his major. And keep in mind this was all twenty years ago, too LOL.
Liv, scrappy is my other albatross (or maybe it's the same one as assertive, not sure, hmmm) LOL. But yeah the apples and trees aren't too far apart.
Good for you for going back and showing her that you made good.
Wonder which is worse in the long run...
I have tears in my eyes. I hope Mitch is living a wonderful life. And I hope that teacher changed. I hope.
Good god, it is really scary to see how many of us had a version of that old biddy who tried to derail you. I'm so glad you didn't buy her load of refuse - thanks Mitch!
that is just pure abuse. simple as that. how awful, yet how brave of mitch do do what he did. i'm in awe. i hope he is somewhere being happy. . .
and i got an award form you!?!?! oh julie i love you, girl. i'll try and find it!
Running on empty
and how ridiculous that she could still keep teaching after that!!!
Wouldn't that be sweet if you could actually send this to Mitch? Any idea where he is these days?
And how cool of you to go back & confront her!
Is this not the dream of so many of us . . . that "I'll show 'em" moment???
Great response to the mission! I love, love this idea. Kinda therapeutic, isn't it?!
And some people just shouldn't teach... shouldn't even be allowed near kids.
People like this give ALL teachers a bad name....and YOU KNOW how I feel about that! :)
What an interesting story (I root for the underdog. Ar-roof.), a great treatment of the Mission, and so perfectly "you." I can absolutely imagine you doing this. Have you googled Mitch? Because you've gotta!
This was a great story, and an entertaining way to tell it.
I had a range of teachers through school, and had a few bad eggs. Though I did manage to escape the sort of spiteful behaviour that your English teacher exhibited towards you, your friends, and who knows how many others. It disturbs me how some teachers abuse their position of power to undermine the self-esteem, and sabotage the education, of their students. Not to mention modelling such mean-spirited behavior to other students. (I did have one teacher for 3 years in elementary school who thought I was "slow," and who then objected when I tested into a gifted program. However, I think her actions were due to short-sightedness and perhaps just garden-variety incompetence, rather than malice. I'm just glad I didn't have her during my more impressionable teenage years.) I also have to say that I had some amazing teachers over the years, and those are the ones who stand out most in my mind.
I also wanted to say that I found Mitch's act of bravery to be inspirational. Your response to his act, your change in how you allowed your teacher to make you feel, reminds me of how much our actions can impact the lives of others. Standing up against an injustice may not fix the injustice, but it still matters. Sometimes in bigger ways than we at first realize.
But surely retired. A fellow teacher of similar age to her retired about ten years ago.
She is surely only inflicting her evility (call Webster's) on poor, unsuspecting trick or treaters who bounce up to her door hoping for candy...
As for Mitch. I hear you. I understand the sentiment. I wish he would happen upon this story. But...
Wouldn't it be just a wee bit creepy for me to try to find him, this guy I knew for five minutes twenty plus years ago? To thank him for some incident he may not even recall? From some girl he didn't even really know?
I don't know...would you find that cool? Or start a restraining order? ;)
Anyway by what I might call coinkydink---but really it isn't since they spam me 5 times a week minimum---I got a notice from Classmates. com, so for once, instead of deleting, I popped over, and he hasn't listed himself there.
But wow, who ARE all those people?
Did I go to high school with them???
OH APPARENTLY NOT, considering my SKIP RECORD, LOL.
So in short, I have no idea where in the world Mitch is or what he does in life.
But listen, if you know him, give him a hello and a thanks for me, okay?
I still thanked him, and it wasn't at all awkward. Sometimes the little heroes need a pat on the back, too. I also had the fortune of finding out he lives a neighborhood over from another classmate of ours in Greenville, and I keep up with that classmate, so I might even look him up if I ever make it up there. I vote you find him and drop him a line. Just make sure your husband knows why. :)
Crappy way of doing it, I admit. But amazing way Mitch and then you did it.
*applauding*