My name is “Pet”, short for Perpetua. And this is a story when I was in Elementary School studying at Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School (RCMHS), a public school system.
This must have happened when I was in sixth grade. I was a very tiny person with BOOMING voice, similar to Owen Meany in the book written by John Irving “A Prayer for Owen Meany”. Being small, I was always placed and seated at the front row. But in this class, I was seated somewhere in the middle row. I think the class was History and Geography.
Teacher’s Pet? I wasn’t called “Pet” by a teacher. I was called “STUPID”. I can’t remember what the question was raised by the Teacher nor can I remember what I said. All I remember was I was called “STUPID”.
I stood up and on the top of my voice I exclaimed “DON’T YOU EVER CALL ME STUPID!” Oh no, this is a No-no. As a student, no one ever answers back to a Teacher; as a child, my role is to listen and obey.
You could hear a pin drop in the classroom. I wasn’t sent to the Principal’s office. No response from the teacher nor there was a feedback from my scared classmates. No note to take home for my Mother. Class carried on.
Report card: FAILED on History and Geography. I love history and I know my Geography. I can tell all the names of 50 states of United States and its capital. I know Philippines has 7,001 islands on low tide; on high tide, one island is submerged, only 7,000 islands. It’s a cinch to memorize when my brain cells are intact, at that time.
Did I care if I failed? Nah, who cares? Nobody calls me stupid.
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”
“The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.”
“If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.”― Albert Einstein
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Don’t Call Me Stupid: by Kara Tointon – BBC UK
My Teacher, Who Pets some and Tries All: by All Those Small Things WordPress
Teachers Pet, Teacher who had a real impact on your life: by myvividvisions WordPress
Photographs and Memories
Man is only a pilgrim on Earth
Photographs and Memories 
I can relate to this story very easily. Brought back some memories. Very well written.
Oh dear, thank you and WE proved them wrong. 😛
Sure did.
It is the most terrible thing for a teacher to call a child stupid. Love the quotation.
I learnt to refrain from using this word ever since and this is the best education I ever had in elementary. As much as I have so many good memories, I just have to share this because of all the bullying happening. Thank you {{{hugs}}}