Untold Stories (Until Now): Part Two
7 June, 2006. 8.20am. Trnava, Slovakia.
My goodness, the 7th of June already.... Only three more weeks of school! And maybe it's just as well because it has recently come to my attention that two nasty rumours about yours truly have been circulating amongst some students. Not my students, mind you, but other students at the school.
The first is that I am "having a relationship" with a girl in the 3C class. I don't teach 3C, but I do know one of the students in this class. You can see her picture, right here on this very blog. Livia (the student in question) was on the bus trip to Prague with her Aunt (and another teacher from this school, by the way), so ever since we have been friendly. Nothing more. About three weeks ago a vicious and angry student from 4C (a class that I do teach) witnessed Livia and I innocently walking down the street (in broad daylight, on a Saturday afternoon). Well, within a week this ever-so-lovely 4C student had devised a story that Livia and I were "holding hands" and that there was "something between" us (I learned this from Livia, by the way, who was also shocked and worried about the damage that this kind of story can create). Luckily I heard this story before the student in 4C completed her studies (the last two weeks have been Maturita exams, a time when graduating students write their "school leaving" exams--once they finish the exams, they are set free from school a month earlier than non-graduating students), so I confronted her about her vicious little rumour. Of course, she had nothing to say, and only starred at the ground when I spoke with her. I also spoke to several of the teachers (none of whom had heard the rumour)--most just laughed and said that no one would believe it anyway; others said this is not surprising coming from the student in question. So I was only momentarily worried. This kind of thing in North America can finish a teacher's career, of course, and although it's not considered a big problem over here, it was the principle of the matter. This student (who started the rumour) was only out-to-get me. She clearly never liked me from the very start. Worse, she started the rumour after I had submitted my marks for her class.
The second rumour is even more far-fetched. Apparently a number of students (that I don't teach) think I am part of a "dark religious sect"--or in other words, a devil worshiper! My goodness! There's no need to say more....
My goodness, the 7th of June already.... Only three more weeks of school! And maybe it's just as well because it has recently come to my attention that two nasty rumours about yours truly have been circulating amongst some students. Not my students, mind you, but other students at the school.
The first is that I am "having a relationship" with a girl in the 3C class. I don't teach 3C, but I do know one of the students in this class. You can see her picture, right here on this very blog. Livia (the student in question) was on the bus trip to Prague with her Aunt (and another teacher from this school, by the way), so ever since we have been friendly. Nothing more. About three weeks ago a vicious and angry student from 4C (a class that I do teach) witnessed Livia and I innocently walking down the street (in broad daylight, on a Saturday afternoon). Well, within a week this ever-so-lovely 4C student had devised a story that Livia and I were "holding hands" and that there was "something between" us (I learned this from Livia, by the way, who was also shocked and worried about the damage that this kind of story can create). Luckily I heard this story before the student in 4C completed her studies (the last two weeks have been Maturita exams, a time when graduating students write their "school leaving" exams--once they finish the exams, they are set free from school a month earlier than non-graduating students), so I confronted her about her vicious little rumour. Of course, she had nothing to say, and only starred at the ground when I spoke with her. I also spoke to several of the teachers (none of whom had heard the rumour)--most just laughed and said that no one would believe it anyway; others said this is not surprising coming from the student in question. So I was only momentarily worried. This kind of thing in North America can finish a teacher's career, of course, and although it's not considered a big problem over here, it was the principle of the matter. This student (who started the rumour) was only out-to-get me. She clearly never liked me from the very start. Worse, she started the rumour after I had submitted my marks for her class.
The second rumour is even more far-fetched. Apparently a number of students (that I don't teach) think I am part of a "dark religious sect"--or in other words, a devil worshiper! My goodness! There's no need to say more....
posted by BFRE at 8:19 a.m.
1 Comments:
While you obviously know that this sort of thing is worse in North America, I do find it interesting I just read a Viewpoint on this exact issue (purely by accident - I didn't mean to click on the link at all!). You may want to check it out for yourself here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_binks/20060605.html
Sadly, I know the type of person that girl is. I'm glad it shouldn't hurt you too much, but I definitely feel for the girl who was the victim of the rumour. What a power-play! Hopefully it's better that it's the end of the year, at least ...
That said, this is Slovakia. Although likely not the same as Ukraine, it may still be a little scandalous to walk with just the two of you. Even on a sunny Saturday afternoon, with three feet of space between you. It just wasn't "normal" in Ukraine, apparently, whereas girls holding hands was. *shrug* I guess it's just what people care about - it's all culture.
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