Good Grief!
Controversy! Drama! Headlines!
Well perhaps not the last one, but for the first time since writing this blog I had a couple of quite angry comments on my last post re. my thoughts on the marine biology teacher and her plastic crafts including threats of litigation and being accused of Teacher Abuse which is a new one on me. I mean I have heard of it but I thought you actually had to be there hitting the educator in question or shouting FUCK OFF or something, not just writing down your *ahem* not-highest-thoughts on a blog before publishing the more responsible letter you actually sent.?Then I got, by some cosmic timing, a visit to the blog from a lady who was in the past a regular reader before she became exasperated; generally by my refusal to have nice days and particularly by my taking issue with Five (then Four’s) nursery school teacher over grammar. I hadn’t actually mentioned a teacher in the interim but she drew the short straw re. subject matter and it really hacked her off so I managed to get three separate people very hot and bothered in a very short space of time.
Funnily enough, none of the outrage was focused on the theme of the post, which was:
PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN.
let me repeat that
PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN
but was more concerned with how I had dared to pick on the teacher, how I had been mean to her, how I had said something behind her back when she’d been polite, how this was violation of copyright (but then it wasn’t but I was still horrible), how it was a violation of her privacy, it was AT BEST ugly, she would be furious, humiliated blah blah, squeak,moo, bleat, miaow, honk etc.
Well, they may be right. Her letter was absolutely polite. I disagreed with it and I wrote disgruntled THOUGHTS. And then I mocked myself (twice) for my grumpiness before writing the proper response which was also measured and polite. Some people might have missed that bit, or thought it wasn’t mitigating. Okay. It will not be the first time my sense of humour has missed the mark, especially here in Stepford. There is a high premium on earnest here. British wry, dry and ironic tends to curdle with that.
However, I can argue the toss and it will have zero effect, and also distract wildly from the MAIN THRUST of the issue which was..
PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN
I had a fabulous response from the Marine Biology teacher to my letter. Really quite humbling. Adore her.
Here is what she (may have – I don’t want to be sued, Tamara!) said:
Dear Mothership
I appreciate your concerns and ideas! It has really made me think about rethinking my activities and crafts that i’m doing with the marine biology program.
When I first started these crafts in 1995- with X from the X university- many of our materials came from a recycling progam- and sending the environmental message of reusing someone elses trash for art was the theme. The crafts were very popular. Students take my class over and over and enjoy keeping them as toys. Its rewarding to think that I am helping to foster their interest and, hopefully, appreciation of the marine environment. I also send an environmental message in my lessons of how we humans can prevent further harm to our environment.
But it’s not enough!! There are much better and different ways that I can still do these crafts- that will send stronger environmental awareness messages – and be more environmentally friendly, as youve said- and Im sure the children will still love them! It’s been easy doing the same crafts over and over because of all the positive response ive received in the past from parents/students about the class. But I really need to see beyond that, and I thank you for bringing it to my attention for the future marine biology programs I do.
I’m so happy to have Five in the class and I hope she continues to enjoy it! I also hope to meet and talk to you again soon.
Thank you for your heart felt concerns,
—
PS. The kelp beads are from algin (kelp) mixed with non- toxic tempera paint. I’m going to change the ziploc bag to take it home in to something else that can be more readily reused or recycled.
So something learned on both sides (kelp mixed with tempera! Who knew?? I love it!), a better parent-teacher relationship forged, and the ocean WINS!
I might have lost a few commenters though. I don’t think I’ll miss them.
{ 17 comments }
Yes, I do think this was a case of over-earnestness and previous bone-pickery with you that led to the negative comments on your last post.
I did enjoy the allegation of ‘Teacher Abuse’ though. I hadn’t realised the NSPCT existed but I’m sure they do important work to prevent marine biology teachers from accidentally stumbling across sarcastically-worded pseudo-letters from parents on their personal blogs and being exposed to levels of unspeakable cruelty that result in the need for extensive psychotherapy. I particularly love how people who accuse others of breaking the copyright infringement law have no idea what it actually means or what would have to have been done to break it, much like people who think ‘censorship’ includes exchanges between people. Sigh.
Anyway, glad the palaver is over and that you and the teacher came to an agreeable (and polite) understanding.
OOoooooo- just read this and your last post, I can’t help but giggle slightly. I am shocked at the reaction to the post that you wrote on YOUR blog……surely you are entitled to an opinion and to question how/with what your child is taught? It’s all very well teaching them right from wrong AT HOME but if they’re being taught the opposite at school it’s confusing, especially if they are very young. I’m sure the teacher will think differently now, or face your wrath, so a positive outcome! :0)
I do think this is a very British/American thing. When my kids were at an international school I’d watch with interest how fighting American kids were made by their mothers to ‘make up and be friends.’ In the same circumstances I’d tell my kids to make up and perhaps say sorry – but I’d never tell them who to be friends with. Fine to hate the person, just don’t fight with them.
For Brits surface niceties and internal integrity were important, for Americans the need for harmony overrode personal feelings. It meant that the Brits thought the Americans were fake and the Americans thought the Brits were two-faced.
Well girl when you attract dissenters you know you’ve made it as a blogger.
Nicely played.
“There is a high premium on earnest here. British wry, dry and ironic tends to curdle with that.” Oh, that’s the truest thing I’ve read in a while. 8 years and my boss *still* doesn’t get me.
Keren – thanks, that’s a great insight. You’ve given me a clue about *why* there’s still a gap between me and my boss (I do love him but there is a disconnect somewhere).
If we don’t have the right to complain about teachers, I really don’t know what I’m supposed to blog about.
I am glad that you managed to forge a better parent-teacher bond. I usually end up alienating everyone involved when I go off. Even my kid.
Well, a blogging baptism of fire, Mothership. You know you’ve written a good post when it attracts this sort of debate.
Personally, I’ve never heard of Teacher Abuse, am pretty sure that copyright law doesn’t extend to letters from teachers, and I REALLY don’t like the sound of this woman who talks about ‘spreading the word around town’. That sounds like a threat…..
I’ve had a few dissenters on my other blog, and like you, I may have set myset up for them a little. I usually kill ’em with kindness though, or with some Americans, kill ’em with sarcasm because it sounds like kindness.
Thank you all for your support here. I’ve just looked back at the last post again and seen that it got a lot more comments than I usually get (too busy talking myself?) and a record number of hits, so perhaps I should be sarcastic and rude about ‘innocent persons’ more often. Or perhaps I can’t be arsed. I really only wanted the f. bleeding bags and plastic gone and now the job’s done, thanks to the open ears of the teacher and me speaking up. The blog had nothing to do with that, it was merely documenting my thought process as it is an ONLINE DIARY.
NVG, I have been warned by a couple of people about “small towns and word spreading” and in my experience those types are a) gossips themselves, and b) anxious, evangelical conformists. Now you know why I have dubbed this place Stepford! However, I, have always been a non-conformist, am totally used to being discussed and dissected so I’m unfazed by the implicit threat. In fact I’m rather flattered by it. 😉
Seriously, what is it with modern society? Are we all just shit scared to speak the Truth in fear of actually offending somebody? Why is avoiding something clearing needing correction somehow the path to the future? No wonder why this state/country/globe is in crisis. We’re created a culture in which we try to sweep an given issue under the rug and attack those whom actually have the courage to do something tangible about it? Give me a break! The Truth is the Truth is the Truth. The man-made Continent of Death being created in the Pacific Ocean made entirely of plastic is a Truth. Impressionable young children not yet equipped with the critical thinking skills to make the connection between a fast food style, disposable art project to a lesson about garbage amassing in our waters is a Truth. The need for parents to be responsible for overseeing their child’s education is an Absolute Truth. Stick with the Truth, Mothership. Forever and always.
Wow, I look away for a few moments and look what happens. I do love when you get all riled up. I remember a 20 minute diatribe about St. Patricks Day.
I get that the first post was to vent and that when you wrote the teacher you would be restrained – maybe people are jaded by all the negative, hate filled anonymous posting that goes on – I cant even read the comments on online newspaper articles anymore.
Can I see pics of the Forever 21 outfits?
Come on Mothership, you made that response from the teecha up, didn’t you? You wrote it yourself and then gave yourself a pat on the back and retired to your bedchamber with a pot of tea and some Marmite soldiers!!!
Seriously, though, I bet you’re absolutely revelling in the hoo-ha and extra attention, both positive and negative. I think you should rename your blog The Webel of Stepford and then teach Five how to play Knock Down Ginger. …. Mwa ha ha.
Jess. I’ll try to find pix. And what did I say about St Patricks Day?
Purplejake: Ha ha! Actually, I couldn’t make that up, it’s MUCH too nice for me. And there is the distinct possibility that she’s taking the piss out of me, too. If so, more power to her!
But you’ve given me some good ideas for future posts!My stats are GREAT! Now about those Marmite soldiers….
I don’t get people who leave nasty comments on blogs. I know that they can, but WHY? What a bloody waste of precious time. I wish I could think of something funny to say but am BONE TIRED ce soir. Just that they should stick sommat plastic and jagged up their punter!!!!!
As you say Mothership; what a palaver. The things that get people riled up are more often than not too ridiculous for words. A bit of irony, some dry wit, an entirely relevant observation, and every one’s getting hot under the collar for no proper reason. Unfortunately this sort of reaction is not confined to Stepford (have you ever looked in the comments box on Alpha Mummy, for example?), and I would just like to add my congratulations to all those others from seasoned bloggers with a sense of humour on your having arrived in the ‘I will say what I like because it’s MY blog and if I can live with it, then so can you – or buzz off’ camp…
Alls well that ends well! Good for you for speaking you mind (very politely, I thought), and good for the teacher for listening to your concerns. Its tough coming up with new ideas as a teacher, (My mom and sister teach), and if you have tried and true activities that the kids love these become entrenched, easy to roll out year after year. I’m sure this teacher will be able to come up with some new fabulous activites, and have fun doing it too.
I have been disgustingly lax about writing back to all the commenters which is bad of me,especially as you have been so nice and supportive. Noble Savage, you made me LAUGH OUT LOUD. The NSPCT probably does exist and I’m sure I’m top of the s hit list now. The Mother sounds like she’s there with me.Keren & Caroline you’re right. It’s such a cultural thing. I’m at sea here.
Ha ha NVG and Potty Mummy. Yes, I’ve joined the ranks of the initiated
Jessica. I’ll send you photos when I can. Or you can just look back and see our photos from 1986 and that will suffice. I was cuter then, anyway.
Cassandra, I think some people feel the need to be self righteous. Perhaps we all do? Maybe that is what havinga blog is all about but those wazzocks are too lazy to get their own so they come and write horrid things on mine?
Interesting that the teacher is much more reasonable than all the outraged commenters, hey?
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