Last Friday I had a parent call me and tell me she needed to meet with me and the principal concerning her daughter - immediately. (I teach World Civ to sophomores.) Well our principal was out of the building that day at a meeting but he suggested that I meet with her during my planning period Friday afternoon and then we could all get together on Monday. So I'm wracking my brain trying to think of what the issue could possbily be. Her daughter was a pretty good student, well behaved, etc. So she comes in Friday afternoon with this piece of paper in her hand and she says, "I want to know why you're teaching my daughter about alcohol." I thought maybe she had confused me with a chemistry teacher (although I was a dunce at chemistry, my dad is a scientist and I sort of remembered chemical notations that mean different formations of alcohol, right?) and said, "Ma'am we have never discussed alcohol in this class at all." She started to get so mad and said, "Well I have proof of it right here on this paper you sent home with Susie" (name changed, just in case
) and shows me the paper. I almost fell in the floor! It was . . .
the study guide I had just given the kids for our current unit - The Age of Absolutism! Then as I sat there in shock she went on, "Now we're not rich, fancy people, Budwieser's fine for us, but I know that Absolute is vodka!"
I had to try sooooooo hard not to laugh. I was trying to think about how I would feel if I had gotten confused like that. So as nicely as I could I tried to explain to her that the "Age of Absolutism" is a phrase used to describe the era of absolute monarchies, Louis XIV, Peter and Catherine the Great, etc. She didn't believe me! I had to get out the students' book and several of my college level textbooks to prove it to her! She kept going on about how since I had gone to college then of course I would think I knew more than she did, but it didn't mean that I was a better person and could teach my classes whatever I felt like. She informed me that she knew that there were laws against that kind of thing! (Now that's a shame because we were going to study prostitution and drug use next unit. Darn those education laws!) It was the most frustrating (and funniest) conversation I have ever had! She still doesn't believe me so now I'll have to meet with her and the principal (who is great) on Monday morning and explain all this over again.
The teacher next door heard everything and he came over after she left and said that was the funniest teacher story he had ever heard or witnessed. I wish I could describe this lady to you, but I'm afraid I would sound mean and snotty. My grandmother would sniff, "Well, she just didn't have any raising!"
) and shows me the paper. I almost fell in the floor! It was . . .the study guide I had just given the kids for our current unit - The Age of Absolutism! Then as I sat there in shock she went on, "Now we're not rich, fancy people, Budwieser's fine for us, but I know that Absolute is vodka!"
I had to try sooooooo hard not to laugh. I was trying to think about how I would feel if I had gotten confused like that. So as nicely as I could I tried to explain to her that the "Age of Absolutism" is a phrase used to describe the era of absolute monarchies, Louis XIV, Peter and Catherine the Great, etc. She didn't believe me! I had to get out the students' book and several of my college level textbooks to prove it to her! She kept going on about how since I had gone to college then of course I would think I knew more than she did, but it didn't mean that I was a better person and could teach my classes whatever I felt like. She informed me that she knew that there were laws against that kind of thing! (Now that's a shame because we were going to study prostitution and drug use next unit. Darn those education laws!) It was the most frustrating (and funniest) conversation I have ever had! She still doesn't believe me so now I'll have to meet with her and the principal (who is great) on Monday morning and explain all this over again.
The teacher next door heard everything and he came over after she left and said that was the funniest teacher story he had ever heard or witnessed. I wish I could describe this lady to you, but I'm afraid I would sound mean and snotty. My grandmother would sniff, "Well, she just didn't have any raising!"
