Mr. Saltet, my 8th grade art and German teacher, was vaguely normal for the most part considering that at that point I attended a Waldorf school, a complete wacko teacher magnet. He insisted without explanation that we use turpentine, a toxic medium for oil painting, rather than turpenoid, the nontoxic and just as effective alternative. But other than that, he was usually alright. However, upon occasion he would rub my back as I painted, a gesture that is usually welcome, but from him, a fifty-year-old gray-haired man with a pointy nose, it was just creepy. Once, he made me stay after class to discuss the fact that a friend of mine failed a German test. He wanted me to talk to her about it, to tell her to study harder. I felt odd and singled out while the rest of my friends were out at recess. I never did confront her about it, nor did I ever confront Mr. Saltet about the fact that telling students to study is his own job.
Where I Went Wrong and What You can Learn from my Mistake
If there’s anything off about a teacher’s behavior, even if it is not blatant harassment, it is important to get in touch with the principal. For all you know, other students may have expressed similar complaints. If enough complaints are voiced, the situation will be looked into. No one should be expected to deal with getting massaged by an old guy while trying to paint.
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