No Answer

I'm unsure why, but lately I have been thinking alot about what I learned early on in childhood, that still helps me today. At least from experiences. Not really anything that I was taught by someone, but things I learned about myself.

One of my memories, that I don't think I have ever shared with anyone before was of first grade.

I'm not sure anyone who actually reads my blogs will remember her, but my first grade teacher was Mrs. Vega, a very old and cranky teacher.

Random fact #1: My uncle who is like 40ish now had her as his first grade teacher, and he said she had white hair then...

Random fact #2: Mrs. Vega had one of those regular cafeteria chairs with wheels on them for a computer chair. It sat on top of one of those plastic mats that made rolling on carpet easier. Mrs. Vega was a large woman, who I would describe as voluptuous. A good kind of overweight. Like when you hug your grandmother, and you sink in to her, and it's this amazing feeling of comfort and security. One day, she sat on the edge of the chair, it slid out from under her, and she landed on her arm. It was broken, and she started screaming, and my first grade class was terrified. I think it took 30 minutes before one of us realized that we would need to go to the office to get help.

Random fact #3: Mrs. Vega was not a woman to hug. If you cried, she called you a titty baby and offered no form of comfort whatsoever. How this woman ever became a first-grade teacher, I have no idea.

Now you know a little about Mrs. Vega. One day, Mrs. Vega gave a math test. I'm sure that it was some basic addition or subtraction, and I can't remember the exact equation, but I do remember what the answer should have been, and what the answer was.

This was a time when we still had those fold-out posterboard things that you would sit on the desk to prevent prying eyes from copying answers. I remember working and reworking the problem and coming up with the same answer. 2. It was simple. I knew that was the answer. So why wasn't it listed in the multiple choice? Could it be that our teacher made a mistake? Why weren't any of my classmates looking confused? I reworked it again. 2. 2 IS the answer. Why isn't it listed? What am I doing wrong? 3 minutes left... Why can't I get the right answer? I go back and rework the other 9 problems. All correct, or at least have the correct answer listed. What is wrong with me? Why can't I figure this out? I'm the only one that still hasn't handed in my test. 1 minute left? What to do? 2 is the answer... Why can't I find it?
So... A, B, C, and D remained uncircled. I drew a small 2 under the equation, knowing that was the correct answer. Hoping that maybe she would see my test and realize that there had been some sort of mistake.

During quiet time, she called me to her desk. "Shenitta," she said, prounouncing my name incorrectly, "Why didn't you answer the last question?"
"I couldn't find the answer, Mrs. Vega. It was 2. But 2 isn't on there," I replied.
Then Mrs. Vega laughed and told me that yes the answer was on the listed, but it was not two.

My cheeks began to flame, because by this time, other students had started to notice that something was going on, and that Mrs. Vega was laughing at me.

"Mrs. Vega, I don't know what the answer is. I thought it was 2, and I couldn't find it." At this point, I'm completely embarassed, almost to the point of tears because the other students were starting to catch on to my mistake. I hear a snicker, and I can't help but to drop my head in shame.

"Shenitta, look at me when I'm talking to you," she says, derisively. "Are you crying? Quit being a titty baby, the answer is on here." and she points to D.
I still don't understand. That isn't 2. But I KNOW the answer is 2.

She tells me to read D aloud to the class.

"D. none of the above," I say, crying at this point. Everyone laughs, and I am completely ashamed of myself. I have no idea what's going on, why everyone is laughing.

"Why didn't you pick that answer, you titty baby? 2 wasn't on there, so you should have circled that." she said, giggling.

Later that night, when I got home, I told my mom the story. She said that I should have chosen D. She said that since 2 wasn't listed, and the answer was none of the above, I should have circled D.

At this point, I realize my error. But I'm still so confused. Mrs. Vega knew the answer was 2. My mom knew the answer was 2. I knew the answer was 2. So why didn't she write 2 as D, instead of None of the above. I was right, but I got the answer wrong.

Lesson learned: Being right, doesn't always feel good. Other people don't care if you are right, they will still treat you like you are wrong. When the answers aren't provided, looking for them doesn't always mean that you will find them, or that the answers will even be available. Knowing the answer doesn't always help to make sense of the situation either.

Also, if one day, your child is distraught and tells you that the teacher laughed at them, and encouraged the other children to laugh as well, please set up a parent teacher conference.