Math . I did ok till we got to algebra. My ADHD mind lost focus totally with algebra.
So I just tried to slide under my absent focus and disappear.
The upshot was I failed algebra.
I went to summer school for algebra. I failed the Algebra regents exam . Back to algebra. I passed Algebra my third time I just had to get away from it.
Prior to taking Algebra I went to summer school for talented and gifted Students. I did very well in Science and Art. The teacher in T&G sent a note home to my parents to advise them of my ‘mental block’ against
Math.
From then on I knew I was destined to fail.
It was until I was in my 20s and going to Nursing School that I learned to apply the dreaded Algebra. I had to learn how to calculate medication doses.
Ahh! If I’d only known.
It worked.
The Algebra problem receded with application . Who knew? Teachers should but they don’t .
The Catholics were by far the worst abusers of Indigenous kids at Canadian residential schools- all stick and no carrot. But they bobbed and weaved against accepting responsibility for it until Pope Francis (RIP) decided it was time for them to own up.
Most American teachers from this era would not last even a week under modern Canadian educational standards. "You are dismissed because we cannot have you physically abusing and mentally belittling the children under your care. We cannot have you engaging in this intolerant behavior in this inclusive, equitable organization"...
The idea of "mentally belittling" as something negative would have never been taken seriously where I grew up. It's good to know that those discussions are happening now!
Math . I did ok till we got to algebra. My ADHD mind lost focus totally with algebra.
So I just tried to slide under my absent focus and disappear.
The upshot was I failed algebra.
I went to summer school for algebra. I failed the Algebra regents exam . Back to algebra. I passed Algebra my third time I just had to get away from it.
Prior to taking Algebra I went to summer school for talented and gifted Students. I did very well in Science and Art. The teacher in T&G sent a note home to my parents to advise them of my ‘mental block’ against
Math.
From then on I knew I was destined to fail.
It was until I was in my 20s and going to Nursing School that I learned to apply the dreaded Algebra. I had to learn how to calculate medication doses.
Ahh! If I’d only known.
It worked.
The Algebra problem receded with application . Who knew? Teachers should but they don’t .
Walter,
Soon our "public" schools will be full of 7 ft tall nuns armed with rulers (and the evangelical version of front line enforcers).
Classroomr rulers with rulers. None of that "sparing the rod" stuff.
Every single person I’ve talked to who went to a Catholic school talks about the abuse of nuns with rulers. It’s really tragic.
The Catholics were by far the worst abusers of Indigenous kids at Canadian residential schools- all stick and no carrot. But they bobbed and weaved against accepting responsibility for it until Pope Francis (RIP) decided it was time for them to own up.
Maybe they can be issued AR 15” rulers. With a spike on the end.
AR for “advanced regression”.
Most American teachers from this era would not last even a week under modern Canadian educational standards. "You are dismissed because we cannot have you physically abusing and mentally belittling the children under your care. We cannot have you engaging in this intolerant behavior in this inclusive, equitable organization"...
The idea of "mentally belittling" as something negative would have never been taken seriously where I grew up. It's good to know that those discussions are happening now!
What once were habits are now vices….
I still find it hard to understand how you survived all that and turned out so well. Grievous
I escaped and lived in Peru for 10 years. I think that's the level of deconditioning the whole country needs. Thank you!
This is a horror story! I grew up in rural schools and saw some kids get so mistreated. No words….
It's why we have a criminal president.