Some Teachers Aren’t Mature Enough To Handle First-Graders
In kindergarten, I took an aptitude test that qualified me to go on to first grade. That teacher was a nightmare and I hated her. I was there for a month and never seemed to do anything right. Every day, she found a reason to take recess from me. Sometimes it was because my backpack was hanging open in my cubby. Other times, she couldn’t read my handwriting, or I was using a mechanical pencil instead of a regular pencil. Once it was because I was coughing.
On my last full day of first grade, about a month after I was moved up, we were having quiet reading time before arts and crafts. I got my markers out and started reading. [First Grade Teacher] picked up the box of markers and threw them across the room. Everyone stopped reading and turned to us.
First Grade Teacher: “Why are you using your markers?”
Me: “I’m not. They’re—”
First Grade Teacher: “Put them away. This is quiet reading time.”
Me: “Okay.”
She stood over me as I cleaned up.
First Grade Teacher: “I don’t understand why you would have them out at all. “
Me: “I was getting ready for arts and crafts.”
First Grade Teacher: “You will get ready when I tell you to get ready. Now apologize!”
Me: *Quietly* “I’m sorry.”
She erased craft time from the board and extended our math lesson. Everybody hated me that day. Again, I wasn’t allowed to have recess for my “bad behavior” and cried the whole time.
I told my parents about how the teacher was treating me and they called the principal. The next day, [Kindergarten Teacher] walked me to my classroom but stopped just outside the door.
First Grade Teacher: “[My Name], I got a call about you this morning. Do you believe I was unfair to you yesterday?”
Me: *Timid* “Well… I—”
First Grade Teacher: “If you can’t be mature, you can go back to [Kindergarten Teacher]’s class. I don’t know why [Principal] thought you could do this, but obviously, you’re not ready.”
[Kindergarten Teacher] walked around the corner. [First Grade Teacher] startled, then regained her composure.
First Grade Teacher: “Welcome, [Kindergarten Teacher]! How can I help you?”
Kindergarten Teacher: “I think it’s time for [My Name] to come back with me.”
Me: *About to cry* “But—”
Kindergarten Teacher: “Don’t worry, [My Name]. You didn’t do anything wrong. Let’s go.”
I finished the year in kindergarten. When first grade came around, I was assigned to [First Grade Teacher] again. Thankfully, my parents stepped in and refused. I was reassigned to a different teacher and had a great year.