You Call Yourself an Educator?

This is the part where I have a wee rant.  Please secure all loose belongings.  Keep your extremities inside the car and remain seated throughout the ride.

Those of you who have been with me for at least a couple of years should recall that Calypso's senior year was spent dealing with her serious illness which took 11 months to diagnose.  We watched her go from a bright, bubbly girl to one who needed a nap after a shower and who had difficulty following the thread of conversation.  It was a terrifying, exhausting year.  It was a year when she literally missed half the school year due to her illness and yet she managed to graduate on time.  Most of her teachers were understanding, supportive, and tried to be flexible with due dates for assignments and such.  One went out of his way to make life more difficult than it already was by disregarding doctor's orders, losing assignments Calypso turned in so she'd have to do them twice, and being a generally arrogant and inflexible asshole. 

Calypso graduated in spite of his efforts to find a way to flunk her.  No I am not exaggerating.  He was just that sadistic.  I spent a notable time mopping tears of frustration and fear shed by my daughter due to this asshole's inclination to kick someone when she is down.  The only reason I did not take major action then was due to my own exhaustion.  I needed all my energy to go into getting my child well and keeping things running around here (since there was also a major health crisis with Mr. Lime that year as well).  I had nothing left over for crusades against jackassery.

My girl went on to complete a physically demanding internship after her senior year because we finally had a diagnosis and an effective treatment to which she responded well.  Since that time she has moved home as she prepares for the next steps in her journey.  To that end she has been working to save money for school.  She recently picked up a second job at a fast food place. 

Now imagine my reaction when she came home last night and told me the same teacher who tormented her through her senior year came through the line, recognized her, and made the comment, "Yeah, I remember you.  Not surprised you're working in fast food."  Calypso saw the fire in my eyes and made me promise not to go after him because she'd fight her own battles.  She didn't make me promise not to vent my rage here (after a week of rage inducing bullshit in other areas, which were I to post about them here, may get me fired).  Here then allow me to give voice to my opinion of this pathetic waste of teaching credentials.

Dear Sir,

Do the students of this school district a favor right now.  Turn in your certificate to teach.  You have no business being in front of a class or interacting with students in any way.  You discredit the profession with every breath you take and damn near every word you speak.  You are a small man with no higher brain function and less moral development.  The only way you know how to feel better about yourself is to attempt to make others feel small.  

Your job as a teacher is to educate your students.  No, I don't think that means to coddle them but it sure as hell does not mean you tear them to shreds for no reason other than to strengthen your own ego. You have the opportunity to be one who not only educates a student's mind but who inspires a student's spirit. Instead you see the chance to poke at weakness and expose it, not for the sake of improvement but to erode what little strength exists.  You are nothing but a bully.

I know I should feel pity for you that something in your life has damaged you to the extent that you perpetrate that abuse upon your students but you've chosen to target my child.  I tend to lose my sense of compassion when you cross that line. When you bare your teeth to my child you awaken the mother bear.  How dare you. How.dare.you!  If my daughter were still in a vulnerable place in her life I'd show you what it means to be ripped to shreds.  

To her credit she has grown in maturity and in strength.  She knows your words are nothing but a fart in the wind, a foul stench which soon enough clears and cannot do any real damage.  She knows you have no power over her and that your opinion is meaningless.  She gives an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, which is more than can be said of you because no teacher who would say that to a student has any integrity to speak of. She demonstrated how far she has come when she responded to your attempt to belittle her by saying she is proud of earning her diploma in spite of your efforts to keep it from her.  She knows she is working there now in order to finance her further education and an honest job allowing her to do so is not beneath her.

It is admittedly more because of her growth as a person who recognizes her own value and the impotence of your attempted insult than any character I may possess that I chose to honor her request not to go after you. The next time you see her you owe her your gratitude.

Ever so sincerely,
Calypso's mother