I had the same experience in 1975 with a descriptive essay assignment in grade 8. I’d worked so hard on it, knew I’d done a great job, and proudly handed it in to my English teacher, Mrs. Mastropasqua. When it was returned, there was a note to see her after class. She was a lovely, likeable teacher which made her words sting all that much deeper.
“I don’t think you wrote this. It’s okay to tell me if you got help.”
Help? Apart from the shock of being wrongly accused, it hit at a deeper level: did she think I wasn’t capable of having written it myself? I was one of her best students!
In any case, perhaps the combination of seeing my reaction and my explanation that I had taken the assignment seriously convinced her it was my work.
But wow...hearing of your experience sure tore off that band-aid!
I didn't realize the number of people who had similar experiences until years later. Thankfully I had better and cooler English teachers in high school.
Same experience; sixth grade. Indignant teacher, LA public school. I was frozen on the spot. Had never heard the word “plagiarize.” This is what happens when you write better than your elders.
False accusations from teachers sting for a lifetime. I think this is because, as kids, we think of them as trusted advisors and mentors. When they aren’t, it shakes our understanding of caretakers as a whole.
Touching story Michael. How Uncle Hans became your Godfather sounds like another interesting story. Yeah, I was accused of plagiarism in grad school. I have never been so angry at a professor. It was the only time the ever shown any interest in me or my work. Over the years, rather than see it as a slight, I took it as a compliment that my work was at a level sufficiently high to believe I must have had help ;-)
I had the same experience in 1975 with a descriptive essay assignment in grade 8. I’d worked so hard on it, knew I’d done a great job, and proudly handed it in to my English teacher, Mrs. Mastropasqua. When it was returned, there was a note to see her after class. She was a lovely, likeable teacher which made her words sting all that much deeper.
“I don’t think you wrote this. It’s okay to tell me if you got help.”
Help? Apart from the shock of being wrongly accused, it hit at a deeper level: did she think I wasn’t capable of having written it myself? I was one of her best students!
In any case, perhaps the combination of seeing my reaction and my explanation that I had taken the assignment seriously convinced her it was my work.
But wow...hearing of your experience sure tore off that band-aid!
I didn't realize the number of people who had similar experiences until years later. Thankfully I had better and cooler English teachers in high school.
Same experience; sixth grade. Indignant teacher, LA public school. I was frozen on the spot. Had never heard the word “plagiarize.” This is what happens when you write better than your elders.
LOL...tell me about it. And with no proof. We should've made them show us the other poem.
Unlike your well-mannered “shy” self, I would give anything to re-meet that B, and absolutely tear her face off.
Thank god you had Uncle Hans.
You just made me spit out my coffee...LOL
False accusations from teachers sting for a lifetime. I think this is because, as kids, we think of them as trusted advisors and mentors. When they aren’t, it shakes our understanding of caretakers as a whole.
Miss Barry had been a favorite teacher until that incident.
Touching story Michael. How Uncle Hans became your Godfather sounds like another interesting story. Yeah, I was accused of plagiarism in grad school. I have never been so angry at a professor. It was the only time the ever shown any interest in me or my work. Over the years, rather than see it as a slight, I took it as a compliment that my work was at a level sufficiently high to believe I must have had help ;-)