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Lesson Plans


closing to the "idiot"....

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Bunki Kramer (bkramer.us)
Thu, 9 Oct 1997 18:24:09 -0700

Thank you to all of you who responded to my cry for sympathy this past
week. I received some directions and recommendations of how to handle the
situation. I am a (really OLD) veteran at this teaching thing and thought I
had toughened up my alligator skin to be immuned to stupid incidents like
this past one. However, it seems some slip in under the skin every once in
a while and this one caught me unaware. What I was looking for was a
shoulder to cry on and someone to say, "been there, had that done to me
too"...just pure, unabashed sympathy from you, my friends. You came
through.

I'm certainly not depressed anymore...that passed as quickly as I vented to
you all yesterday....but I still find myself wishing we didn't always have
to defend ourselves from what children mindlessly say. Do any of you
remember that old, old black and white film...THE CHILDREN'S HOUR...where
one child's mis-statement ruined the complete lives of 3 people (two of
them teachers)? Why are we always the scapegoats...why don't parents
apologize to us when they've been found wrong....why aren't we allowed to
strike back...why do we always have to be the "professional ones" in the
confrontation and have to back down, and why are we ALWAYS considered
second-class? Why do we have to worry about being sued? I don't remember
that when I was growing up in school. Where has all this come from and
where are we heading?

The ending to my story?...the little girl apologized to me the next
afternoon when I had a chance to talk with her but I haven't heard a peep
from the mom. Oh, well................Cya.......

Bunki Kramer
Los Cerros Middle School
Danville, California 94526
bkramer.ca.us