I had a teacher claim that I had plagiarized another student's essay because I submitted it on yellowed (aged) paper. I was too embarrassed to tell her that it was hand-me-down paper from one of my dad's bosses kids' because we could not afford to purchase paper at that time. I insisted it was an original story, but she was always suspicious and I was always embarrassed.
Those are awful situations. It puts me in mind of a time when one of my teachers asked me to go to the end of the street to a nearby restaurant and pick up lunch for him and said I could pick up something for myself. I don't remember how he worded it, but I took it to mean he would buy my lunch. What he really meant was he'd lend me money for it.
We were poor and when he asked for repayment I was mortified and couldn't tell him I didn't have any money to give him. I ended up eventually telling my mom and she found the money somehow, though I wonder what bill got set aside for yet another month because of it.
I don't think your experience was personal. I think the sub simply wasn't accustomed to excellence in one so young. I smile at the image of someone telling you that you lack imagination and can't write.🤣🤣
I agree, but it felt very personal to a young and impressionable me. I like to think she learned from that experience and took it with her to wherever she ended up teaching.
It is. I'm lucky my regular teacher had my back. I had a similar experience with my grade 9 math teacher. My grade 8 teacher had given me the grade 9 text to work through. I completed it. I failed my first test in grade 9 because the teacher said I wasn't allowed to use methods he hadn’t taught yet. I coasted through math and didn't take it again in high school.
I had a teacher claim that I had plagiarized another student's essay because I submitted it on yellowed (aged) paper. I was too embarrassed to tell her that it was hand-me-down paper from one of my dad's bosses kids' because we could not afford to purchase paper at that time. I insisted it was an original story, but she was always suspicious and I was always embarrassed.
Those are awful situations. It puts me in mind of a time when one of my teachers asked me to go to the end of the street to a nearby restaurant and pick up lunch for him and said I could pick up something for myself. I don't remember how he worded it, but I took it to mean he would buy my lunch. What he really meant was he'd lend me money for it.
We were poor and when he asked for repayment I was mortified and couldn't tell him I didn't have any money to give him. I ended up eventually telling my mom and she found the money somehow, though I wonder what bill got set aside for yet another month because of it.
Let's hope she did...
I don't think your experience was personal. I think the sub simply wasn't accustomed to excellence in one so young. I smile at the image of someone telling you that you lack imagination and can't write.🤣🤣
I agree, but it felt very personal to a young and impressionable me. I like to think she learned from that experience and took it with her to wherever she ended up teaching.
Great story. My sixth grade teacher gave me a failing mark on an essay because he thought my parents wrote it!
Funny how adults really sell kids short.
It's incredible the power that teachers have to shape lives for good or ill!
It is. I'm lucky my regular teacher had my back. I had a similar experience with my grade 9 math teacher. My grade 8 teacher had given me the grade 9 text to work through. I completed it. I failed my first test in grade 9 because the teacher said I wasn't allowed to use methods he hadn’t taught yet. I coasted through math and didn't take it again in high school.
Wow, I'm glad you found your voice! We win! 🤸♂️