Cobra

Straight from the pages of the National Post, a Canadian newspaper:

A British Columbia father has sued his son's Grade 2 Montessori teacher claiming that she "purposely and maliciously worked to damage the self-esteem" of his son over such things as failing to encourage the child's spelling, not sending home a daily homework list and, in one case, displaying an unfinished poem in the school hallway.

Okay, just from that one paragraph, I'm getting a very nice picture of what kind of parent this tool is. But I digress...shall we continue?

This latest case involves Kenneth H. Finkelstein, a management consultant in Victoria who is suing his son's private school teacher for "intentional infliction of emotional distress."

In a statement of claim first filed in court last fall, Mr. Finkelstein said that his son "suffered and will continue to suffer loss and damages" -- including anguish, suffering, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, worry and loss of dignity --because Susan Rialp, the boy's teacher at Selkirk Montessori School, did not make him do his homework or coax his reading and comprehension, and in one case, put his unfinished poem in a hallway for all to see. Ms. Rialp "falsely created and attempted to reinforce artificial differences between his son and his peers and falsely asserted the son exhibits behavioural difficulties," according to the writ.

In the lawsuit, Mr. Finkelstein says the teacher also failed to protect the boy when he was bullied by another student, blaming his son instead.

"Intentional infliction of emotional distress"? Back when I was that kid's age, that was called "motivation to do your damn homework". I had a teacher that would make you recite essays even if you didn't finish them. How often did that happen? Maybe twice...because the students knew they would have to read them regardless of whether they were complete or not!

YOU accepted the responsibility of parenting a child, YOU need to help motivate them. The teacher cannot be responsible for 30 (or more) pupils and whether their homework is done or not. If the kid needs help, the parent should GET him help. Just because you're paying big bucks to send the kid to a private school won't guarantee the kid will not need help with homework!

Oh, from the same article - figured I'd post it just for giggles.

In May, 2002, an Arizona high school student sued her English teacher one day before senior graduation because the teacher had failed her. A parents' letter stated unless "whatever action is necessary to correct this situation" was taken, they would file a lawsuit.

So I've started a new job. It's not a bad gig really...doing support and some web development for a mid-size physician group with a handful of offices scattered around town. I find it much better than my previous consulting gig due to the serious cutback on travel.

There are downsides though. When I took this job, I knew I wouldn't be at the "main office" where my boss spends his days. I'm in one of the larger satellite offices where most of the clerical work is done. "This won't be bad," I thought...

Turns out I'm in gossip central. My cubicle is in the scheduling department for the clinics and I'm SURROUNDED by people who would rather gossip all day than actually answer the phones. I have to listen to the phones ringing off the hook while someone leaves their cubicle to complain about how one of the doctors' assistants talked bad about them one day 2 weeks ago. Or how one of the doctors might be sleeping with his secretary. They also like to complain that we have them blocked from such sites as MySpace, Facebook and Sirius/XM. I know it's pure hell that they can't go and post pointless comments to their friends while their phones ring off the hook or listen to music instead of making appointments with people that pay both my salary and theirs.

I've just never understood what people get out of gossip and I most likely never will. Headphones are my friend right now. :)