Mea Culpa, Bitches

So let's see - I think I went two whole days without a major incident at school. My principal finally sent me my green staff development form back - after I wrote her a very sweet note asking for it.

My class won the school-wide trivia contest for the second time in a row - I'm sure it just burned her up to have to say my name outside at the assembly on Wednesday.

But alas, today, I'm sitting at my desk at work, and BAM! Explosive email with fireworks attached. On Tuesday I let the kids have about 15 minutes of 'free time' at the end of the day. They were basically just sitting around telling stories. One kid decided to tell a ghost story. I was at my desk, doing paperwork. I said "Nick, do not tell something really gory or inappropriate please." I figured he'd tell an inocuous ghost story. All the kids were oooooohing and ahhhhhing and laughing and squealing and shit, I wasn't even listening to the story. I had no idea what he'd said. So they go home. Two days pass.

I get a SCORCHING - I mean, FLAMING MAD AS HELL email from a mother - the same mother of the kid who wrote me that lovely letter I emailed someone. Ironically, this mother has ADORED me the whole year. She's been one of my biggest fans. So it was a SHOCK to see how angry she was. I could feel the intensity of it coming through the damned computer. Apparently her daughter has been unable to leave her side for two days, can't be left alone in the house anywhere and is now crippled by fear because of this ghost story. HOW DARE I LET THIS BOY TELL A GHOST STORY IN CLASS! This has noything to do with their studies, blah, blah, blah. WHAT WAS I THINKING IN LETTING HIM DO THIS? NOT EVERY CHILD IS AT THE SAME MATURITY LEVEL, BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Motherfucker. Christ, I didn't even know what the ghost story was about! When the kids have free time, I don't pay that close attention to what they talk about. So I wrote her the expected 'I'm sorry - so sorry, do you want my blood, my bank account, my first born child, it'll never happen again" bullshit letter. I should just have a standard "I'm sorry" letter ready and waiting. I can just fill in the dastardly deed I've done and send them out much more easily this way. I had the kid tell me the ghost story. It was fucking stupid and not even that scary - but OK, I'm not 11 years old - so I'm sorry it scared her kid. Her kid is a bit of a basket case anyway. She's 504 - meaning she as ADD and has severe learning development problems. Plus, she is immature and very clingy. And on meds, like half the students I have.

I really thought I could get to June 18th, if I really really really tried hard not to do anything to offend anyone - I thought I could get to June 18th without getting anyone upset. I was wrong. I expect now every day when I go to work that I will upset someone. I will do something wrong. I will indeed damage a child for life. I don't trust anyone. No parent is on my side, no parent is my friend, no colleague, no boss, nothing. I don't trust anyone but my mother. That's it. I don't even think I trust my brother. Everyone will turn on you eventually. That's how I feel.

Let's see what tomorrow brings. Who can I piss off on Friday! Because believe me, apparently I don't even have to try. Never in a million years did I think some kid would go wacko over a ghost story and I'd get a new one ripped via email.

I love the part where she says it isn't part of their studies. Oh shit lady, we talk about a lot of things that aren't part of their studies. Those kids are talking about things you wouldn't believe.
Try gay porn between fathers and sons for one. I ain't kidding. This is my class, these are my kids, these are the conversations that go on.

Fuck 'em.