h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Okay so now I have to tell you all about something REALLY daft...

On Tuesday we were examining sections of our set-text in groups of 4. There was a bit that nobody in my group understood whatsoever so I went to Miss F and asked her what it meant. She said she didn't know but then started spouting on about something or other. I didn't get it and asked where it showed that, she continued to spout on, not backing it up with any facts or examples from the book at all. I STILL don't get it and so laugh and say "You sure you aren't making this up?" She SNAPS round and says in a really defensive and aggressive manner "Why do you think that Kat? Why would I make it up? Do you really think I haven't based this on anything factual? What makes you think that?" etc...and of course I'm just standing there with a slightly vage look on my face beacuse the more bluster the more obvious it is that she is, of course, making it up. I just say "sure sorry" and leave it and go back to my desk. I then tell E the explanation that Miss F gave me and she just turns and says to me "That's a load of bullshit, it makes no sense", I say I know but explain it to L, S and R as well just in case. They all say it's bullshit too.
Anyway, I turn up to the class today and apologise for running out yesterday and say I felt sick. All fine and dandy. I offered to read in class, got told it was good, made some points, got told they were good, she didn't say anything bad to me at all...

I get to registration this afternoon and Miss T, who is also my other English teacher, pulls me aside and asks if I've apologised to Miss F for being so rude to her and that if I'm rude to Miss F ever again then she's going to chuck me off the course. I just blinked and said okay and walked away. However, I'm hoping you can see how silly and dumb this all is? So I'm going to tell the head of pastoral care about this tomorrow just so that she knows, in case there are any repercussions down the line. I mean HONESTLY! A bit of a challenge to authority and they threaten to chuck me off English, which, of course, and Miss T knows this VERY well, would mean I only have 2 ASlevels. So now I can't afford to ever ask F a question, or ask for help, or even talk to her...just in case! Bloody hell with cream!

Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. It's amazing how snarky small-minded people get when you ask them a question they can't explain. Though the "making it up" joke probably wasn't such a good idea...

What was the question, anyway? Maybe we can help you find a non-bullshit answer. Remember, I'm sitting in PSU, a research university, with access to most of the world's best journals and a greatbiggiant library.

We're reading "Wise Children" by Angela Carter. It's a bit difficult to explain what the problem was, especially as it was just one line and not very important to the entire thing. I seem to be the only person in the entire class who's actually enjoying the book though. I find that strange because I think it's interesting and a good fun read!

I agree that asking if she was making it up was daft, but I meant it in a joking friendly way rather than an accusatory "you're awful at your job" way Obviously laughing, smiling and speaking in the lightest tone possible aren't enough to pacify an insecure teacher.

However, I have an essay to hand in on Monday about it all
"How Does Carter Introduce The Concepts of Legitimacy and Illegitimacy in the Opening Pages of the Novel?"

Fun fun fun!

Any English Lit oriented people want to tell me what I should help Kat look up?

*looks blank*

Probably just try looking up Angela Carter for a start! There doesn't seem to be much out there about her books to be honest!

I just noticed that something I sent to <./>ThePost</.> didn't get in it...I feel rather...embarrassed and dismayed.

the deadline for the post is midday sunday now, and also they're swamped at the mo with people complaining. It'll probably be in the next one, maybe with my comic

What are people complaining about NOW???

anything, everything. Its making reef really stressed because she seems to be the target of most of it even though shes not the only one doing it

Get me a copy of the book and I can explain it.

I'm so sorry about the thing, Kat! Reefy's just majorly stressed right now; she threatened to resign after this morning's debacle. I'll make sure your article gets in next issue. I tell you, I don't know how Shazz ever did it all on her own.

Teachers can be pretty weird like that about challenging their authority. It just goes to show you that if they're that insecure, they musn't feel like they're very good teachers, and if they don't feel like they're very good teachers they probably aren't. But adults are pretty bizarre, what can I say?

I'm not worried about EMR I just wondered if perhaps they had decided the story didn't pass muster. It's still in the AWW somewhere deep down. I'm happy to be very patient about it.

I can't decide whether it's such an empty threat that I shouldn't worry about it and should forget it all and get on with things, or if I should tell someone, or what I'm assuming that to chuck someone off a course they have to put it up before the school board, who are NEVER going to chuck someone off just for doing that...but still...a sneaky bit of me is niggled.

I've realised why I feel funnier than usual!

Ciprofloxacin may cause side effects.
* upset stomach
* vomiting
* stomach pain
* indigestion
* headache
* nervousness
* agitation
* anxiety
* difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
* nightmares or abnormal dreams

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those mentioned in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately:

* seizures
* vaginal yeast infection
* confusion
* shaking hands that you cannot control
* believing that others want to harm you
* hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
* depression
* thoughts about dying or killing yourself

Good to know I'm not just completely out of control yet! Although I'm really quite hacked off with the doctor for giving me these.

Kat

Well, you did have the type of infection that requires a pretty strong antibiotic -- the other options he had to choose from might not have left you feeling much better, and would have cost NHS more.

But definitely let the doc know if you think they're really messing with you -- he might be able to switch you to something different, but don't stop taking what you have now without checking with him.

Yeeesss Mikey I'd rather be able to walk without crutches than feel slightly less depressed I have to admit.

It's Friday! It's 1:30am! I have work tonight! I can't take crutches to work! I've nearly finished my maths except for a few questions where I don't understand what it's asking me for, I've done all the maths for my stats and am now just drawing Box and Whisker plots. I get paid today! All these good things! I feel like I've ODed on caffeine again I've even got *that* taste in my mouth...ummm...

<>

If you're really concerned you should get on your school's website and see if they have any sort of policy posted, or see if there's a national law about chucking people out of courses or something like that. There should be some sort of documentation somewhere that should explain the rules about such things. But if you want my opinion, you've got nothing to worry about. There's absolutely no way they can do that to you, under any standard of decency.

Right...developments!

I went to the head of pastoral care, told her about it and she said not to worry. I think she found it rather funny to be honest, so thats okay

On the other hand!!

My form tutor wants me to write a big thingy about me, my head, what I've been doing the past two years, what happened at Bedford, what I was like at school there, what my homelife is like etc etc etc. She wants to "help" me and make life "easier" for me apparently. Plus she's nosy. She has absolutely no information on me at all. Also, I guess, if something happens with me at school then she needs to be able to defend me or help with the firmest knowledge that she can possibly have. It's all very logical...but I feel INCREDIABLY defensive.
I tried explaining that it made me uncomfy and defensive but it didn't work. I could just refuse of course but then she would be on my back for the next two years. Plus, obviously, if something DOES happen then it would be useful to have her on my side....decisions decisions...and what on earth to write!
I'm thinking I'll refuse. It's really made me feel very....unhappy!

What if it was just an informal chat-type-thing? My Head of Sixth Form has found out all sorts of things about me in the last couple of weeks, he's starting to discover that I'm not quite the same smiley-happy-helpful-wonderful Joe at home as I am at school; and although there's a lot of stuff to take in, he now has a pretty good understanding of it all just from occasional 10min snatches of conversation when we both happen to be free. Of course I haven't got anywhere near as much to talk about as you have, but if your form tutor's any good she'll be able to remember the important bits, and write anything else down for herself.

Would that be any less scary? That way you're not having to think about what to write, either

Well today I avoided her as much as possible, which admittedly involved skipping registration. She wants to know EVERYTHING and I'm just not happy with that She was very overbearing about it and wrapped up a demand in flowery language (what with being an english teacher and all). Oh never mind I'm just going to refuse and she can talk to Claire if she has a problem with that