Toxic people and the effect they have on you!
Recently I have written about some personal experiances regarding my life and significant happenings and people that have shaped who I am and fortunately they have been for the better.
Which got me to think about people who had a negative influnce on me in my life, in particular a Teacher who for the time being will remain nameless, you see I actually got thinking about this because of a new friend I met here on Bodyspace curt_james he is a teacher and through his blogs he mentions his students in a very respectful and caring way and I respect that about him.
When I was in Jr. High I had a woman teacher actually I had the misfortune of having her in High Schol as well. She looked like Mr. Magoo she had a red puffy face with jowls like a bulldog (Please all bulldogs forgive the conparisons) she was always very condesending and nasty one day she made a mistake most people do and misquoted a often misquoted saying "Music hath charms that sooth the savage beast" the correct quote is "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."
This quote comes from the Play The Mourning Bride Act i Sc.1 by Author William Congreve (1670-1729)
Yeah I know I was kind of an egg head back then that I would even know that, but at any rate I tried to share that with the class and she became furious I told her it was ok it was a common mistake she got up stormed across the room her puffy wobbly face all contorted and screamed I don’t think so she started shaking her fist at me "You always have to get the last word in!" she yelled.
I tried to explain I meant no disrespect but that I was familiar with the work and, and what I was a kid being belittled by an adult, being told how stupid I was being told how I didn’t know what I was talking about, That I had gotten it wrong not her, never her.
I backed down as it was a fruitless endeavor and I was making it worse with every breath to make things worse her rubbery face in mine screaming at me made me lock up I was a kid, a student what could I do or say? I wasn’t used to this level of confrontation I couldn’t remember the authors name she had me frazzled I got facts mixed up.
As I muttered I’m sorry she pointed to the door and told me to go to the office she waddled down there behind me and bold facedly lied to the assistant principal about how I had disrespected her and was making up ridiculous tales and disrupting the clas etc adnauseum.
I sat there speechless it seemed if I tried to speak it just got worse the ass. pricipal started in on me and the whole thing became a blur. I wanted to fight for myself and felt lost I was right dammit! I knew she was wrong but noone cared and before I knew it I was sent home and put in detention!
Some day they will have a school reunion and I am going to get up at the podium and tell that story I won’t lock up this time.
curt_james positive influence Ms Magoo well ………………
On a side not while I was typing this my six yr. old came in and showed me his red and white construction paper Cat in the Hat, hat he made in kindergarten. I told him it was the best Dr. Seuss hat I ever saw and clapped loudly and asked for a high five! I hope he never has a Ms. Magoo in his life but if he does I’ll share this story with him. Because at the end of the day I turned out allright (Pretty sure I did) so I guess the positive influences must have outweighed the Magoos in my life.
March 9, 2008 at 10:41 am
I can totally relate to your story! You are the biggest influence in your Son’s life….. so each day you have the chance to show him how wrong Ms. magoo was….. buy not showing her at all!….
Keep on Keepin!
Real Men Have Mass!
March 14, 2008 at 6:07 pm
"You always have to get the last word in!" she yelled.
I have my moments of frustration and insecurity just like Magoo, however I’m the last person to say "I know it all!"
I have, on the other hand, told my students that adults aren’t always right. (Myself definitely included.)
Thanks for the shout out and I’m sorry to read your story of Magoo’s insecurity. Teachers like Magoo are what inspired me to become a teacher. I thought of all the Magoo-like experiences I had over the years and assumed I could do a better job.
Now being on the other side of "the looking glass" I have a different perspective on teachers and the difficulties they face. That does nothing to change the disappointment I feel at the disrespect your teacher showed to you.
March 15, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Wow she was really tortured. It is to bad, in my opinion, that adults try to poison children by cutting off their honesty and openmindedness. Imagine what her childhood was probably like. I feel sorry for her. I’m glad you seemed to have healed thoughts about it. I hope you get to tell the story and set it straight. Some times I need to do that for myself too. Now I teach children and try to help them be free of the uglyness that sometimes adult inflict. They are beautiful and free and I hope to keep them that way or at least provide them with a safe place for flight.