What We See
Viewing comments for Chapter 26 "What We See - Chapter 23"A wrongly accused teacher reinvents his life
17 total reviews
Comment from Wendy G
Good for Alan! I can't believe any decent teacher would not know about dyslexia being a very real thing. I am pleased Alan was able to defuse the situation.Yes, doing his tests that way would not be giving him an advantage, it would simply be removing the disadvantage. At the school I was teaching at, we always had "readers" for kids with dyslexia, and they were allocated more time for exams. Thanks for sharing this much needed story.
Wendy
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Good for Alan! I can't believe any decent teacher would not know about dyslexia being a very real thing. I am pleased Alan was able to defuse the situation.Yes, doing his tests that way would not be giving him an advantage, it would simply be removing the disadvantage. At the school I was teaching at, we always had "readers" for kids with dyslexia, and they were allocated more time for exams. Thanks for sharing this much needed story.
Wendy
Comment Written 20-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Yeah, it was just beginning to be better understood in the 80s. Probably the younger teachers knew about it, but this was common for many of the older ones during that period. Such a shame, as some of those early school experiences often shape the course of a life.
Comment from jmdg1954
It certainly was a good thing that the yang went with the yin to settle this. Ginnie could have escalated the situation on her own, but Alan's calmness reeled Mrs Dunbar in.
This was the second time in your book this story was told, correct? To me that was bothersome. Other than that, this was a fine chapter moving things along
Looking forward to more.
John
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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It certainly was a good thing that the yang went with the yin to settle this. Ginnie could have escalated the situation on her own, but Alan's calmness reeled Mrs Dunbar in.
This was the second time in your book this story was told, correct? To me that was bothersome. Other than that, this was a fine chapter moving things along
Looking forward to more.
John
Comment Written 19-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Yes, I moved it from its original location to this place where I think it had a much greater impact. I tried to explain that in the note at the beginning for those of you who have been with the story from the beginning.
This event, especially Ginnie's comments after, will be particularly relevant soon as the basis for what's to come.
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My apologies. I totally missed the big yellow highlighted block of words.
How do the kids say? ?my bad?.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Dear Jim, I wanted to give you a six for this because I'm so impressed with the work you're doing to bring this subject to our attention (I'm not sure I'm developing the condition myself every time I type something). So this is a cumulative rating for those times I run out of the blasted thing! I think you meant 'rein' 12th line from the bottom. I can now see momentum developing in your theme. Having established a firm foundation in his own life, it's time for him to make a difference for Tommy so that he can go out into the world less disadvantaged by his condition. This is the missing link to complete Alan's journey. Thanks for sharing. Debbie
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Dear Jim, I wanted to give you a six for this because I'm so impressed with the work you're doing to bring this subject to our attention (I'm not sure I'm developing the condition myself every time I type something). So this is a cumulative rating for those times I run out of the blasted thing! I think you meant 'rein' 12th line from the bottom. I can now see momentum developing in your theme. Having established a firm foundation in his own life, it's time for him to make a difference for Tommy so that he can go out into the world less disadvantaged by his condition. This is the missing link to complete Alan's journey. Thanks for sharing. Debbie
Comment Written 19-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Thanks very much for your kind words and the 6 stars, Debbie. I'm honored by this.
Great catch with the reign/rein. Thank you!
Yes, this is the beginning of "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say (famous American radio commentaryist?) This is one of the precipitating incidents that will guide where the story is going in Part 2.
Comment from LJbutterfly
The meeting with Mrs. Dunbar went better than I had anticipated. She wasn't as rigid and stern with the adults as she was with Tommy. In fact, she listened to Alan's entire story, including the example of his test question. This story takes place in the 80s, and much wasn't known about dyslexia. It's good Alan was at the meeting. Ginnie would have made a mess of the situation. I look forward to learning more about dyslexia.
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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The meeting with Mrs. Dunbar went better than I had anticipated. She wasn't as rigid and stern with the adults as she was with Tommy. In fact, she listened to Alan's entire story, including the example of his test question. This story takes place in the 80s, and much wasn't known about dyslexia. It's good Alan was at the meeting. Ginnie would have made a mess of the situation. I look forward to learning more about dyslexia.
Comment Written 19-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Very perceptive, Lorraine. Hence the expression, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size."
Alan's experience with the condition made a much more cogent argument for Mrs. Dunbar to reconsider her current views.
Comment from Esther Brown
I really enjoyed reading this chapter. Since I have not had the pleasure of the previous chapters to fill in the blanks I will review your writing. Dyslexia is hard to understand, and difficult to manage if not understood. I have a son who I am sure was dyslexic but never got any help and eventually graduated. Esther
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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I really enjoyed reading this chapter. Since I have not had the pleasure of the previous chapters to fill in the blanks I will review your writing. Dyslexia is hard to understand, and difficult to manage if not understood. I have a son who I am sure was dyslexic but never got any help and eventually graduated. Esther
Comment Written 19-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Thanks very much, Esther. Until the condition was widely known about and could be diagnosed, kids had a very tough time in school. Such a shame, because they were just as bright as other kids; their brains just worked a little differently.
If you plan to stay with the story, you've actually come in at a very good time--the beginning of Part 2. Although dyslexia was introduced in Part 1, much of the emphasis was on Alan's having to resign from his position as a high school physics teacher because one of his female students accused him of sexual assault. He had to start over in a new town in a new field--electronics repair--in which he opened his own store. Later in Part 1, the girl admits she lied about the incident, but Alan is enjoying his new life now, and doesn't go back to teaching.
Part 2 will be devoted to the condition of dyslexia and what Alan does to combat this affliction that he shares with 13-year-old Tommy.
Comment from Tom Horonzy
It took a long while for me to be taught, via my wife, not to respond without forethought, aand even then it might be better if you cannot say something good to not say anything at all.
I was tempted this evening when a fellow fanstorian railed about The Donald blaming him for removing women's rights, and not responding to Covid, when he forced the NHS to eliminate barriers and get the vaccine out. I simply decided to not comment for I like what she writes most of the time.
With you, it's different, since we are brothers of different mothers, right?
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reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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It took a long while for me to be taught, via my wife, not to respond without forethought, aand even then it might be better if you cannot say something good to not say anything at all.
I was tempted this evening when a fellow fanstorian railed about The Donald blaming him for removing women's rights, and not responding to Covid, when he forced the NHS to eliminate barriers and get the vaccine out. I simply decided to not comment for I like what she writes most of the time.
With you, it's different, since we are brothers of different mothers, right?
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Comment Written 19-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Absolutely. Say what you want to say; I can take it.
You're right, though, with some folks, it's necessary to stifle a little bit and let some things go, even though what they said might be totally misguided. Sometimes it's better just to avoid certain topics that aren't particularly relevant anyway to what we are doing here on FanStory. I generally save political commentary for other forums dedicated to it.
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Excellent writing. Good work.
I'm a bit surprised, given Mrs. Dunbar's attitude at first that she sat through Alan's entire story. I would have expected her to interrupt him. Maybe you could have her attempt to interrupt, but Alan quieted her with an authoritative throat clearing?
Best wishes.
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reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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Excellent writing. Good work.
I'm a bit surprised, given Mrs. Dunbar's attitude at first that she sat through Alan's entire story. I would have expected her to interrupt him. Maybe you could have her attempt to interrupt, but Alan quieted her with an authoritative throat clearing?
Best wishes.
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 19-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 20-Mar-2024
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I think she was a bit of a coward with parents--not so much with her students. She's caustic, but not totally wicked, and we'll eventually see that she becomes more lenient with Tommy.