The Difficult Student

 Yesterday, a student (whom we'll call Jon) admitted not being finished with their speech and asked for more time. The teacher didn't stop to listen to a reason from Jon and decided to yell instead. She kept talking about how they should take advantage of her leniency so that when the new teacher comes in, they're prepared. As the teacher continued to use shame as a motivator and Jon continued to get redder, I grew increasingly uncomfortable. 

When we inevitably made our way into work time, I sat myself next to Jon to ask if they were okay. They said "no" very quickly and then began to tell me about how they were just the day before able to even get a chromebook. Before then, they didn't have access to online learning and had spoken with the teacher about handwritten work, which she said was not allowed. So they had nothing to turn in because they had no way to create it while also catching up on previous online work. 

Together, we talked through ideas for their speech and typed it up in Google Docs, having a full document with five minutes remaining in class, enough time to give it. The teacher said Jon did not deserve to go and had to go Tuesday, getting a mandatory 50%. 

Throughout creating the speech, Jon told me that even before the teacher announced she was leaving, she used shame to get participation and they've noticed that more students check out during her class than others. They told me that it's basically worthless to even listen when she's speaking because most of what she says breeds discomfort. 

"Don't be like her," they said. "She's the teacher everyone talks about and it's never good."

They said they hoped I'd be there for their speech on Tuesday because they were glad I "seem to care". I said I was looking forward to it.

And then the teacher didn't even show up today, so...

I guess the speech will be Wednesday?