Wake Up Call.

Is it wrong to take a stand for what you believe is right? If someone is attacking you, and just won’t see your side of the situation, is it wrong to try and express you opinion. Today was quite dramatic for me, and every other student in Honors Chem. fourth period. Our teacher decided to put the amazing Danielle T on blast for “cause commotion” in yesterdays lab. When Danielle tried to defend herself, our teacher got upset with her. After bickering for several minutes, Danielle was referred to the front office. According to our teacher, she was referred for disrupting on class, when in all actuality, our teacher disrupted the class, and Danielle was sent out for defending herself. When the lady came to take Danielle to the office, her brother Matthew couldn't sit back and watch his sister be persecuted by the admin, with no one on her side. So, he was too referred. After they had both left the classroom, a weird feeling came over me. I felt as if Danielle was wrongly sent out, and I was dead set on proving that to my teacher. When our teacher continued on with the conversation, she asked us, the class, if we thought that she was singling Danielle out. I was the first person to raise my hand and tell her just what I thought. I made sure to say, "I don't want you to feel as if I'm attacking you, but...."and the conversation went on from there. Over and over again. We went round and round. Many students argued with her, but she still wouldn't see it from our point of view. I could feel my body shaking. I was angry at some of the things she was saying. She kept saying that we needed to see it from a teachers' point of view. Finally, I just couldn't contain my anger. I knew that I needed to say something, because I knew it was the right thing to do. I rose my hand, and waited for her to call on me. I tried to be as respectful as I could, but it sure was hard. I asked her a few things. I said something along the lines of.."You need to see it from our view point as a student. You put her on blast, without knowing it. You could have just listened to what Danielle had to say." She glared at me like I've never been glared before. I could see anger in her eyes. After a moment of silence, she told me I had one minute to explain. I did, but before my minute was up, she interrupted me. Cut me off. I was upset. Other kids started talking, and defending Danielle. I heard our teacher say something about why we were defending this, and I replied with, "If Danielle can't be her to stand up for herself, then I feel as if someone needs to." Most of the class agreed with me. Again, the conversation kept going, and going. She finally admitted to wrongfully sending Danielle, and Matthew to the office. She said that sometimes people make mistakes. I was in shock. I was in shock because she admitted it, I was in shock because she thought so little of it. A referral is something that goes on your permanent record. It something that can't be erased. I told that to my teacher. She responded with, "Well, what do you want me to do Katelyn?" I replied with, "I want you to apologize to Danielle. She didn't deserve that." She said she would. I was a bit unsure. We went around one more time, talking about the whole situation. She told me that she didn't understand why I wanted this so badly. I told her I felt it was right, and it was my right to stand up for it. She proceeded to tell me, in her class, I had no rights. A rush of anger came over me. I couldn't believe she told me that I didn't have rights. I couldn't wait to get out of that class. She told us that she wanted to take the last ten minutes of the class period to talk about chemistry. I really didn't want to listen to what she had to say. I did, reluctantly. When there was two minutes left in the class, all of the students were assembled my the door anxiously waiting for the bell to ring. We all sat there discussing what went on today. We believed that we had done the right thing, for Danielle. As soon as the bell rang, I was the first one out the door, and I called everyone over outside the class. I apologized for taking an entire class period to discuss this. They were all fine with it. :) We all decided we were going to go to the office, to see Danielle. On our way there, we saw her walking towards us. We were glad to see they let her out. We told her everything.

I guess it's safe to say that our chemistry teacher had no idea that we'd stand up for Danielle. I think she got a wake up call. All the kids in that class are so close, that there is no way were going to let her be punished. I also think our chem teacher has realized that challenging students with a better memory than you, can only get you into trouble.

Do you guys, accelerated English people, think I was wrong to stand up for Danielle, and myself?

Leave Comments Kiddies. :)


sorry it's so long. I had a lot to say.