November 30, 2024: One teacher's response to "Backward and Blind"
"I've been a teacher for over 30 years and I connected with none of your stories. None." I was at a loss. Really? None? Did teachers have such vastly different experiences or feelings than I did? "Wow, how so?" I was genuinely disarmed and curious at the same time. "Only one kid threw a desk? I have multiple kids throwing desks every day." I bit my lip. "And only one death? And from natural causes?" She threw out a "HA," kind of sarcastic laugh. Meekly, I said, "No, I had other kids die. I just chose that one." "From overdoses? From drive-by shootings? Suicide?" I felt as though a bucket of ice was dropped on my head. "I teach in the valley. Your experience was so foreign to me." I let that hang in the air a minute. "Oh, please record and write about your experience. It's important." "Ha," again, that sarcastic laugh. "I'll never do that." ...