Ever
since Stuart Chafietz's, "Teacher/Bully: How My Son Was Humiliated and Tormented by his
Teacher and Aide" video came out about how his 10 year old
autistic son had been bullied by his teacher, I can't help but reflect on my
own teacher-bullying experiences growing up. One situation in particular which
I keep coming back to was when one of my teachers when I was 8 took away my
name.
It was
the first day of class when I wrote my name in a little black and white book
marking my attendance. A few seconds after I scribbled my name in the book the
middle-aged teacher came up to me. He towered over me in a way that made me
feel very small and anxious.
"Excuse
me. I can’t read your handwriting correctly. What does this say?"
"Kerry
Magro. That's my name"
"Kerry
Magro? Do you mean Kerry Margo?"
"No
it's spelled M-A-G-R-O and pronounced Mag-Ro"
"That's
what I said, Kerry Mar-go. You don't know how to say your own name?"
I gulped,
"No, you are just saying it incorrectly."
“I know what
I’m saying is right. Are you serious? What's wrong with you. You can go sit down now."
Everyday
for the rest of the semester when I would go into class he would call me out by
my first name Kerry or my last name, still incorrect, Margo. I didn't question
him as it was something minor but I do remember him looking at me differently
ever since that encounter. Like I was somehow dumb because I didn't know how to
pronounce my own name in the way he liked it. It led to so many different
emotions for me.
I mean, who
says that to an 8 year old boy? Especially an 8 year old boy who is already
tackling being bullied everyday for being different. Being in a Special Ed
setting and being called a retard, a sped, dumb, and so many other names by
kids and than having a teacher have the NERVE to say that you don't even know
how to say your own name… It's sickening.
Back then
I couldn't process this to factor into telling one of my elders. I was the shy
kid. Communicating my emotions was still something very foreign to me. Honestly
it was this inability to express myself, which was why I had so many anger
issues growing up. I would lash out because everything would just add up till I
couldn’t take it anymore.
Teachers
such as this one need to be weeded out of our school systems. I can’t imagine
having to think of a day down the line where I have a son or daughter who would
have to deal with this same kind of treatment.
I encourage those reading to strive to have their stories of
intolerance heard to the masses. Stuart’s video started a revolution for
teacher-bullying and I hope this story, along with the other ones I share via
this blog will help in our movement. I ask that if you believe in my message
that you share this with your loved ones and we encourage our community to
understand that different will NEVER be less…
