This is Celeste Barrow Bruening, who lives in South Jordan, Utah. For some reason, she’s battling with her son’s teacher and picking a fight with her. Celeste is quite an arrogant little witch. Not sure why she has a burr under her saddle against this teacher, but the life of a teacher is extremely difficult.
A public school teacher may have 20-25 students. If we work with adults, society gives us 8-10 at a time. Not too difficult. When we work with less mature human beings, society doubles or triples our workload.
I may have your child in my class for 37 minutes. If I have 25 students, that’s not much individual time. For those who remember math, that’s 37 minutes divided by 25 students or about 1 minute and 29 seconds for each student. Society expects me to turn your child into a well-behaved, socially-adept and talented adult with about 90 seconds of daily education over some 180 days.
We couldn’t even bring democracy to Afghanistan after 20 years of fighting and trillions of dollars. How much will I get done in a minute and a half with your child? We could use your help!
Facing all our challenges, parents are the worst critics and the least helpful. Celeste boasted to her friends on social media:
My son’s teacher just sent him to the office to call me about scheduling a time for parent/teacher conferences. I’m pretty sure this isn’t going to go the way she wants it to.
Rather than use her time wisely to contact the teacher, Celeste spent HOURS on social media condescending the teacher, spreading negativity about the female professional and criticizing the system. What is the purpose of this arrogance? Why not simply help a sister out, Celeste?
I’m a teacher; 3rd generation. I reached out to Celeste:
Parents MUST partner with us if we are to be successful. Why haven’t you reached out to the teacher? Why must the teacher send your child to the office to force you to speak with her? She might have 100 students. Can’t you assist her a bit? I’m sure she wants to do the best for your son and wants to coordinate her action with you.
Let’s WORK TOGETHER for our children!!! PLEASE
Celeste fought and argued with me for another hour. Could have been assisting the teacher to help her son, but she preferred to waste time on social media defending her refusal to assist in any way. F*CK the teacher and school she said.
Celeste wrote:
I’m actually not interested in fighting with this teacher. I’m making a pretty simple request! If SHE wants a meeting with me, email me! Don’t send my son to the office and have him call me! My kids go to a charter school with smaller than normal class sizes. I don’t think my request is too much to ask. I will tell you this, I’m extremely grateful they don’t have you as a teacher! It’s pretty obvious we wouldn’t see eye to eye!
This is the arrogance and over-inflated egos our teachers, nurses, doctors must suffer each day. The teacher has begged for a meeting. Had to send Celeste’s son to the office to have him call his mom. Celeste says, “If SHE wants a meeting with me, email me!”
Maybe the teacher wants a more private conversation. Possible doesn’t want to put complex comments in an email that might be misunderstood. Phone conversations can be more delicate and nuanced than an email. The point is the teacher asked for a phone conversation. Celeste answered, “F*CK YOU!”
She doesn’t believe “her request is too much to ask.” However, a teacher asking for a parent to give her a call is “too much to ask” for Celeste. Celeste preferred to play on social media. She can’t be bothered with concerns over her son. “F*CK YOU,” she says instead.
Celeste wrote:
If she feels like there is something to discuss, an email is a lot better use of time than sending my son to the office. He’s not her personal assistant! He’s her student!
I don’t teach anymore. Shared my history with Celeste. Many, many excellent teachers no longer fill our classrooms. The public won’t support us; too many parents are like Celeste. Their arrogance and lack of willingness to assist diverts us into other professions. Today, I thank people like Celeste!
An Exhausted Teacher’s Response to an Ungrateful American Public
YOU ARE making a demand. You say you’re grateful I’m not your child’s teacher. No worries. Don’t teach anymore. Was fired in 2001. Teaching Special Ed. In the classroom on 9.11. We watched on TV. Had my students take out paper, write down what they saw and how they felt. Told them to save this — read it in 20 years! That would be this year. Wonder if they saved their words?
One of my students, Jessica, 15 year old, was in my BD class — behavioral development students — she tried to kill herself the year previously after both parents were killed in a car accident. She was fragile, traumatized. She was a bright, delightful flower, but totally closed.
In a couple months, I had earned her trust. She felt safe around me. She was starting to smile again. On occasion, she even laughed. I was reaching her.
Early November Jessica wasn’t in 6th hour as she was supposed to be. I was concerned. Got called to the office. Summoned to bring a male student. He was also a troubled young man and had found me to be someone he could trust. We were making progress also! I had a knack for reaching kids who were troubled.
In the office, I saw Jessica sobbing uncontrollably in the corner — surrounded by THREE MALE top administrators. Counting the two of us, it was one female Jessica and five males. The VP was calling Jessica a “ho” — over and over he was shaming her. They had seen her holding hands with the male student at lunch.
They laughed with the boy — boys will be boys. They shamed my fragile student. Nothing I could do. Had to “stay in my lane.”
After the meeting I immediately went to Jessica’s counselor. She also was horrified. Asked me to file a grievance. I did on Jessica’s behalf. The district FIRED me a week later.
My students were in tears. Public didn’t care; some parents were upset. Union didn’t do anything. A female principal and female district officer fired me. Nobody fought for me. My students were the only ones who cared. Spent time assisting Jessica and a couple others transition to the substitute. Very hard on them!
After this I retired from teaching. I’m smart, bright and talented. Started fixing enterprise computer and data systems. As a teacher, I made $35K. Made $150K solving corporate IT issues.
So, no, you won’t ever see me in the classroom again. I’m retired now and living on the beach in Waikiki as a millionaire. Would have preferred to help kids — but parents like you and society just say F*CK YOU to teachers who really care about your kids. Just as society says F*CK YOU to the exhausted nurses and doctors now about wearing face masks and getting a vaccine.
Society says F*CK YOU to the people who are trying to help your family. Well, thank you for booting me out of education.
This is my view of the sunset last night. Surfing was excellent this week.
YOU WIN !!! Many mahalos from the aloha state! Thanks for firing me!
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