Published on 12, July, 2020
I saw something today, which prompted me to ask this question: Did any teachers single you out, or treat you badly at school? I was in school from the 1970’s, and things were different back then.
I recall being singled out at age 6, and forced to stand on the table during the lesson as an example of a stupid child. I was often ridiculed, and she said things like it’s typical for me to be stupid because ‘people like you’ are. (Because of my skin colour).
At 11 I was constantly picked on by my maths teacher. She would ask me questions when she knew I wouldn’t know the answer. She picked me despite others putting their hand up to answer. She tried to make me recite my times tables or give her answers to some when she called them out. She told me that I should be able to answer them, as all children my age can, and what was it that was wrong with me that I wasn’t able to learn them. And other things when I didn’t get all questions answered in the time frame, or got poor marks in a test. I wasn’t ever ‘stupid’. My auditory processing is slow, and I can’t work under pressure if I’m also anxious.
i was slammed against the wall by my neck, fhat teachet fot struck off. i was just bored and counldnt concerntrate, so he got frustrated, but yeah thats pretty bad.
these days you would get counselking for it. but in the 90s becauss i am male i suspect, they assumed i would be ok with it. they encouraged me to stand uo for myself.
I then got bullied, so i broke that kids nose. the bullying stopped and i got suspended.
but i have always resented having to defend myswlf for just being a 'colourful character' (autistic). Im actually a very gentle, soft, thoughful individual who, if i love you, you will find im very loyal.
But often, at school, kids are arseholes to each other. So you will see a lot of defensive behaviour in that most alien of environments - from the teachers included!