"At school I was told I would amount to nothing"

veryangryman · 18-12-2019 10:35PM #1

I hear too many people saying this on tv

Can you, the reader assure me one way or the other whether this is a real thing? I mean we all had some bad teachers but really was this a normal thing. Never heard anyone knock me or anyone else in the school that way.

Maybe being recommended to do ordinary level but more in a realistic than discouraging way

boombang · 18-12-2019 10:38PM

Young people or old people saying that?

Would be really surprised/disappointed to hear anybody under 50 say that.

BoroMan32 · 18-12-2019 10:40PM

Once had a PE teacher tell me I had 'no power in my legs'.

Hasn't unduly affected my adult life.

Rubberchikken · 18-12-2019 10:40PM

may not have been said to me but it was certainly implied.
aah well, what can you do. different time, i hope.

Realt Dearg Sec · 18-12-2019 10:43PM

boombang wrote: »

Young people or old people saying that?

Would be really surprised/disappointed to hear anybody under 50 say that.

I'm in my thirties and there was a teacher in our school who would routinely say that to lads when they'd committed the smallest of infractions. Thick cork accent on him shouting "you're nothing, and you'll never be anything". Must have made him feel better about his life or something.

But he never said that to me, and I would seriously doubt it's remotely as common as it seems from all the people who say it on TV etc. Seems more like part of the self aggrandizement and preening we've all come to expect from Irish "celebrities".

BDI · 18-12-2019 10:45PM

I was told by my poetry teachers in the boards creative writing section that my poems were terrible.

Can’t wait till I get on Jonathon Ross.

SEPT 23 1989 · 18-12-2019 10:45PM

When the duster connected with your head it said more than words ever could

Stark · 18-12-2019 10:46PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vis8Aaekpw

TheValeyard · 18-12-2019 10:47PM

And they were right!!

The_Honeybadger · 18-12-2019 10:48PM

I had a particularly obnoxious teacher that told one unfortunate student that he needn’t bother with books and studying because he could get a job shovelling s**t with his father when he is older. The students dad was a council roads worker.

That teacher really was a complete and utter ass***e

fatknacker · 18-12-2019 10:49PM

No it's just something spas say to make it seem like they struggled and have depth.

"You told me I ain't gonna succeed, Mrs Dunham, but now look at me...I'm eating spiders on television and I've made it..." etc

Sorry about that · 18-12-2019 10:51PM

My (pass) maths teacher guaranteed that I'd fail it in the LC if I took grinds without her influence/input. She wasn't involved and I was ignored in class from then on.
Got a B1.

gabe1977 · 18-12-2019 10:55PM

I went to a rural National school until the late 1980's where 4th, 5th and 6th were taught by the one teacher.

He was nothing short of an animal.
I was told "the only place I would end up was Mountjoy" for the crime of not being the best at having my homework done. I nor any the rest of the kids were unruly, just stuff like not having homework done, forgetting things, maybe saying the odd word to your classmate etc. but we were all absolutely terrified of him.

His punishments included:

- Heavy role books smashed on top of your head.
- Slapped students across the face (once banging a classmates head of the door frame cutting his head)
- Sellotaping our mouths closed.
- Force feeding us mustard.
- Rulers broken across your knuckles
- Vicious insults (told one girl when i was in 6th class she'd need to lose weight or she'd bring the plane down when she answered a question on what she wanted to be when she grew up and she replied an air hostess)
- PE was sprinting around the school yard and the person who came last had to put the fatest girl in the school on his back piggy back style and do a lap around the yard - i **** you not!
- I believe after I left he would weigh the fat kids on a weekly basis and ridicule them.

I used to wet the bed and all sorts i was so afraid going in every day.
I'm actually still quite bitter that those were the times back then and doctors, priests and teachers authority wasn't questioned by the older generation.

BDI · 18-12-2019 10:57PM

gabe1977 wrote: »

I went to a rural National school in the until the late 1980's where 4th, 5th and 6th were taught by the one teacher.

He was nothing short of an animal.
I was told "the only place I would end up was Mountjoy" for the crime of not being the best at having my homework done. I nor any the rest of the kids were unruly, just stuff like not having homework done, forgetting things, maybe saying the odd word to your classmate etc. but we were all absolutely terrified of him.

His punishments included:

- Heavy role books smashed on top of your head.
- Slapped students across the face (once banging a classmates head of the door frame cutting his head)
- Sellotaping our mouths closed.
- Force feeding us mustard.
- Rulers broken across your knuckles
- Vicious insults (told one girl when i was in 6th class she'd need to lose weight or she'd bring the plane down when she answered a question on what she wanted to be when she grew up and she replied an air hostess)
- PE was sprinting around the school yard and the person who came last had to put the fatest girl in the school on his back piggy back style and do a lap around the yard - i **** you not!
- I believe after I left he would weigh the fat kids on a weekly basis and ridicule them.

I used to wet the bed and all sorts i was so afraid going in every day.
I'm actually still quite bitter that those were the times back then and doctors, priests and teachers authority wasn't questioned by the older generation.

Do you still wet the bed?

Strumms · 18-12-2019 10:57PM

You need to tell kids not to fear teachers. This bs that my generation and others were imparting to kids that teachers or anyone were above question or reproach is shît lazy parenting...teachers are there to facilitate the learning and education of children. Full stop. Not only is it their job it’s their obligation. Children don’t attend school to put up with lazy, incompetent, rude and aggressive teachers, public servants. Teach them when not comfortable with something said or that’s done, speak up.

If there is something kids are worried by that a teacher is doing or not either words, actions or attitudes... speak up.

gabe1977 · 18-12-2019 11:00PM

BDI wrote: »

Do you still wet the bed?

Occasionally but that's a whole other issue:(

BDI · 18-12-2019 11:01PM

gabe1977 wrote: »

Occasionally but that's a whole other issue:(

So you are saying his methods had some success?

MidlanderMan · 18-12-2019 11:01PM

A career guidance teacher once told me I should be "more realistic" about the courses I was putting on my CAO form because I had courses from Trinity, UCD, NUIG, and Maynooth.

I now have two degrees, a few master's, a few higher diplomas, dozens of publications, and have worked in several international research institutes and worked on policy development for the EU, UNFAO, and a handful of individual countries in my field of work.

He's still the career guidance teacher at the school.

I win.

gabe1977 · 18-12-2019 11:03PM

BDI wrote: »

So you are saying his methods had some success?

You could be onto something!! And I still hate mustard..

Ipso · 18-12-2019 11:03PM

gabe1977 wrote: »

I went to a rural National school until the late 1980's where 4th, 5th and 6th were taught by the one teacher.

He was nothing short of an animal.
I was told "the only place I would end up was Mountjoy" for the crime of not being the best at having my homework done. I nor any the rest of the kids were unruly, just stuff like not having homework done, forgetting things, maybe saying the odd word to your classmate etc. but we were all absolutely terrified of him.

His punishments included:

- Heavy role books smashed on top of your head.
- Slapped students across the face (once banging a classmates head of the door frame cutting his head)
- Sellotaping our mouths closed.
- Force feeding us mustard.
- Rulers broken across your knuckles
- Vicious insults (told one girl when i was in 6th class she'd need to lose weight or she'd bring the plane down when she answered a question on what she wanted to be when she grew up and she replied an air hostess)
- PE was sprinting around the school yard and the person who came last had to put the fatest girl in the school on his back piggy back style and do a lap around the yard - i **** you not!
- I believe after I left he would weigh the fat kids on a weekly basis and ridicule them.

I used to wet the bed and all sorts i was so afraid going in every day.
I'm actually still quite bitter that those were the times back then and doctors, priests and teachers authority wasn't questioned by the older generation.

And to top it all of, your hard work pays his pension.

Strumms · 18-12-2019 11:05PM

MidlanderMan wrote: »

A career guidance teacher once told me I should be "more realistic" about the courses I was putting on my CAO form because I had courses from Trinity, UCD, NUIG, and Maynooth.

I now have two degrees, a few master's, a few higher diplomas, dozens of publications, and have worked in several international national research institutes and worked on policy development for the EU, UNFAO, and a handful of individual countries in my field of work.

He's still the career guidance teacher at the school.

I win.

You had the confidence, foresight and determination to back yourself and did brilliantly, but ask yourself this... how many other kids went to him with similar aspirations or dreams, only to be told the same. Had their goals tempered by a similar incompetence ? Probably a good few... the clown is STILL being paid by you and me, job for life...

Huntergonzo · 18-12-2019 11:07PM

"At school I was told I would amount to nothing"

Great way to embellish a story for anyone who's willing to listen, especially if you're looking to peddle something, like a book or a movie etc

MidlanderMan · 18-12-2019 11:08PM

Strumms wrote: »

You had the confidence, foresight and determination to back yourself and did brilliantly, but ask yourself this... how many other kids went to him with similar aspirations or dreams, only to be told the same. Had their goals tempered by a similar incompetence ? Probably a good few... the clown is STILL being paid by you and me, job for life...

Yeah I dunno how much he might affected other kids.

Because of the talk I added other courses I hadn't considered in a few ITs as "back up" but to be honest, almost 20 years on having worked people who did those courses, they produce fantastically talented scientists too, so I'm just hopefully most people "downgraded" general science in UCD to something similar in GMIT instead of changing to a different field he might have considered more "apt" for them in his eyes.

Mrs OBumble · 18-12-2019 11:10PM

I've seen how After Hours usually speaks of Travellers.

Surely you're effectively doing the same thing to their kids.

SEPT 23 1989 · 18-12-2019 11:10PM

Most of them were absolute failures stuck in a sh1te jobs until they died or retired and they took their anger out on kids

The good ones we remember for life

bitofabind · 18-12-2019 11:12PM

My Business teacher Mrs. Hennessy told my mam I was a C student during a parent-teacher meeting because she was bitter about me mitching her class coz she was useless, so I got an A1 in the Leaving just to spite her.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

corner of hells · 18-12-2019 11:13PM

A cousin of mine was told by various teachers in his school that he'd never amount to anything, school even suggested his parents take him out school after his inter cert exams hinting that he may have learning difficulties.

His holiday villa in Florida is cracking, his hobby is deep sea fishing off the coast of Florida and is now semi retired spending most ou f his time playing golf.

_Brian · 18-12-2019 11:13PM

When I started school I was repeated beaten for using my left hand and told it was the devils work.

I’m using my left hand now for nearly fifty years and to date the devil hasn’t made an appearance

joe40 · 18-12-2019 11:16PM

Some of the stories posted here are totally unacceptable, and in no way could they be justified. As a teacher sometimes I have to advise on suitability for subjects and you have to make a judgement.
I'm very conscious that I can get it wrong, kids mature at different rates etc but you still have to make a judgement as best you can at times. Every dream is not always realistic.
At the same time arrogance and insensitivity is never acceptable.

Lefty Bicek · 18-12-2019 11:16PM

_Brian wrote: »

When I started school I was repeated beaten for using my left hand and told it was the devils work.

I’m using my left hand now for nearly fifty years and to date the devil hasn’t made an appearance

All that hand use... maybe you just can't see him ?

Ipso · 18-12-2019 11:17PM

_Brian wrote: »

When I started school I was repeated beaten for using my left hand and told it was the devils work.

I’m using my left hand now for nearly fifty years and to date the devil hasn’t made an appearance

You’ll see him in hell. But seriously, that kind of stuff is unbelievable and it wasn’t that long ago.
I remember a tv show about the abuse cases and one of the victims ended up in one of those schools because he was left handed.

"At school I was told I would amount to nothing"

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