A trip to UNM and a different kind of learning experience............

I have some laundry to air.....an irk to voice.....a rant to rail.

So hold on my lovelies.

GK, my grand, goes to a charter school which includes in their curriculum off site teaching opportunities. Glorified field trips. Friday GK's class went to the University of New Mexico to the world renowned Maxwell Museum. GK was super excited because of stories I told her of the Maxwell when I went to school at UNM and because she is my geeky, loves museums grand.

After visiting the Maxwell, and while waiting for the bus to take them back to school, she sat down on a low retaining wall to read. Three other girls joined her on the wall. GK noted that the other girls were throwing rocks and jumping around. In a very short time, her science teacher came roaring up to the four girls assaulting them with anger and accusations because "some lady" in the building across the way complained that she saw "those four girls" throwing rocks at the windows.

Her science teacher went on to say how humiliating is was to be wearing the same shirt as the girls, to be associated with them and to have them as representatives of the school. When asked what they had to say for themselves, GK said that she didn't throw rocks but was just sitting there reading. Before the other girls could even speak, this "teacher" jumped into GK's physical space and said, was GK calling an adult a liar? Before I continue, let me put this statement into perspective....was GK to say, no never, adults never lie and then become a liar for saying that? Or was she to say yes and have the vexation of this "teacher" rise at the gall of a 12 year old knowing that adults lie all the time? No, she just restated that she had not been involved in this incident. And still this "teacher" pushed her for confession. The other girls tried to interject that yes, they had thrown rocks but GK was not involved. And still this hard ass biotch pushed only GK for being disrespectful and probably the ring leader. At this GK broke and said that yes in fact she had thrown rocks, just so the "teacher" would get out of her face and go away. She tried to talk to one of the other teachers but the solid party line would not even look at her.

Needless to say, she was in hysterics by the time Shel picked her up. When GK explained to Shel what had happened Shel called the school and asked to talk to "the teacher". When she got her on the line "the teacher" was hateful, rude and talked down to Shel. When Shel tried to explain why GK had confessed, "the teacher" wanted no part of her explanation and said that either GK had lied to "the teacher" or she was lying to Shel now. And that was the end of the conversation. Period.

Now let me clue you in on the part that pisses me off. These tactics are the same ones that GK's abuser used to keep the "secret" of the abuse and keep her in fear. The school has a zero tolerance for bullying.  I guess the zero tolerance only applies to the students.

We have written a letter outlining our disgust to the principal, the teachers involved and to the administration of APS. GK will take her punishment under protest and we've asked that the teacher educate herself as to who GK really is by asking last year's teachers of her demeanor and character.

Funny thing, Fridays are GK's therapy sessions. She was able to talk it out with her therapist, work out a plan of how to stand like an Oak Tree with deep roots in the earth supporting her and letting the wind of the world blow through her branches not dwell inside her. She came home feeling like this was a good thing not a bad one because she is loved, this will pass and we were all proud of her for standing up against "the teachers" incorrectness with grace and directness. She stood up to a bully, gave in to move on and will be a better person and probably not back down as easily next time. And she is proud of herself for even trying to stand up to an abuser. Progress in her character building and she shows very little scarring from the incident.

I of course have a very personal three pronged reason for this irksome irritation. First, I too had an abuser who whittled away at me constantly to keep me in check so I felt it immediately as GK related the story. Second I love my granddaughter and hate to see her have to do the middle school bs anyway let alone from a teacher she admired up until yesterday and third, that biotch also disrespected my daughter.

Oh yeah, I can hardly wait until parents night visits to the classroom.
Might have to leave a charm for "the teacher" or a poison apple??????