I got fired.
Well, she didn't use the word fired. She used words much, much worse. You see, I have a Master's degree in English. I worked very hard to get that degree. Hopefully someday I will be able to go back to school and get my Ph.D. When I do, I will make everyone I know call me doctor for at least a month. Including my children.
I have read the Strunk and White manual at least a dozen times. I have read Eats, Shoots and Leaves three times. I know how to cite sources in MLA and APA without looking up where to put the punctuation. I can research a subject until the research runs out. I even had a professor in college tell me that I needed to cite my source for an idea that was completely my own (he didn't believe a student could have come up with that idea) on Chaucer.
I read Beowulf in Old English and understand it. I can read The Canturbury Tales in Middle English. In fact, I have some of it memorized. Whan that April and all that. I know how to use commas, apostrophes, dashes, colons, semicolons, and ellipsis correctly.
This knowledge is why I teach English. It is what I do because frankly poetry doesn't pay the bills.
A couple of weeks ago I got an e-mail from one of the schools I teach for. I had just finished the absolute worst class I have ever taught. These kids didn't want to learn. They wanted to get good grades for complaining well.
Anyway, the e-mail said that I had "no knowledge of the fundamentals of English" and would no longer be allowed to teach English classes for this University.
What?
Really?
My hubby said to ignore it. They obviously just needed to cut some corners and I just happened to be standing on the edge. I know that. I understand that. The problem was, words do hurt. These words hurt our wallet, which had been squeezed to a pulp with 9 months of hubby being unemployed. These words also hurt me.
In a place where I had just begun to feel the confidence to really write again, she made me feel mediocre. Less than mediocre.
It has taken me two week, and probably will still take a lot longer, to get over that feeling of mediocrity. I keep reminding myself that other people only have the power over you that you give them. I am better than that e-mail. I am better than that silly job.
Plus, I am published and she isn't. So there.
{ 13 comments }
As a former teacher (of Art), let me just say…THAT SUCKS! I'm so sorry you got fired. What dirtbags. You seem to have a pretty good grasp of English to me. Are they stupid or what? Anyway, sorry to hear this. I hope something better comes along for you!
As a fellow teacher, I say for her to go to hell. There. I said it. And good for you for realizing that you are worth WAY more than the email (and the political bs that goes along with it). It doesn't always make it hurt less, but that's the starting point, isn't it?
Oh, that is NASTY. I can't believe people can be so thoughtlessly cruel. Or just cruel. It's bad enough to be fired, but to be nasty about it? Heartless.
I hope you continue to write. I know that a blow like that is hard to deal with, and I know it should be easier to get past it, but you will.
They don't know anything! Props to you for knowing your worth. Sending good, positive vibes your way!
It sounds like they had no basis for what they said. They are dumb. I'm sorry. That sucks. But feel better because I am so jealous you get to say you are published!
http://www.pampersandpinot.com
People who are good and know they are good are the most envied lot! Well, i remember having an amazing lecturer who taught English literature ( T.S.Eliot's The Wasteland) to us, but was fired on similar grounds. Even till today, i wonder why these institutes can't get rid of politics and concentrate on education.
On a lighter note, the expression "Hopefully someday I will be able to go back to school and get my Ph.D. When I do, I will make everyone I know call me doctor for at least a month. Including my children"…made me smile and i am not going to forget this. I am a working on my doctoral thesis and when i am done…i am sure i'll think of this.
i would like to suggest you to try online teaching jobs or even better, start your online tutoring services via skype or other hosting services. Best wishes.
I agree with everyone else- they suck! I love your writing and I'm glad I stumbled upon your blog
I hate when people give comments like that, especially when they don't know what they are talking about! Kind of hard to let it roll off your shoulders, at least for me it would be.
I love your writing, I have followed you secretly until now, because I don't worry about grammar, punctuation, spelling (well that one gets fixed now automatically) on my blog. If you do go look, just smile! Or laugh at me that's ok also, Just keep in mind I can sew a mean wedding dress!
But I just had to say – first of all get fired by an email – No class! That's just wrong, I think they just didn't want to tell you face to face because they knew they had zero on which to base there arguments.
I say ignore the ignorant, to bad I'm one of them
Thanks for visiting my website, Jilly Beanz Thingz, and for entering my contest.
I was "downsized" what will be 2 years ago in January. I have a Master's in Corporate and Public Communications. When I was "downsized" (which I guess is nicer than fire) my husband was also unemployed as well. Our daughter was 1. I felt like I let my family down. But, you know what, unemployment isn't that bad and I've gotten to spend this time with my daughter. Try to embrace it and make the positive out of it. Best of luck!
Bleh! What a rotten experience? I am seriously so sorry that that terrible written English fell int your email. What a disaster.
I saw a quote today by Buddha, "When words are both true and kind, they can change our world." I wish every person would realize this. You have amazing talent, Lindsey. I have read your poems and you are an incredible writer. And that's the truth.
Twitter: DaenelT
August 27, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Wow, that was unnecessarily hurtful. I'm sorry this happened to you. I know it's hard (trust me, I know) but hold your head up high and don't give that person any more power over you. All the best to you.
Yes, you ARE better than that email – and what kind of person lays someone off BY EMAIL???????????? You are obviously more intelligent and educated than she is, can SHE read Beowulf in Olde English??????????? Grrrrrr. She is obviously lacking in social graces………..what's the saying, when one dor closes another opens? Hopefully, a way happier teaching job is coming your way. May it be soon! Meanwhile KEEP WRITING! You rock!
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