It's Everybody Else, It Can't Be Me.

I have a low tolerance for people who insist on being victims. And I have an even lower tolerance for the parents that enable that behaviour by supporting the theory that their kid is a victim. A victim of teachers who don't understand their complex child. A victim of stigma. A victim of circumstance. Discriminated, disadvantaged and never given a single chance to prove they were capable.

In actual fact, what it comes down to is that this kid (and his mother - yes, I have a specific set in mind) both believe that he is capable of achieving a diploma at the highest level of Dutch schooling. And all 14 teachers who have taught him this year are wrong about him achieving a level just below that. We are all discriminating him based solely on his attitude. He is the smartest boy alive, no different from other teenage boys (except that his father is in Afghanistan and we should keep that in mind when judging his behaviour).

Now, his attitude is less than exemplary. He's a horrible little boy with a huge chip on his shoulder who believes that if he thinks something, it is right. I dislike that in people, too. He likes to challenge everything teachers say, but refuses to listen to their constructive criticism. Because, to him, it's not constructive; - it's just criticism. And it's wrong. We are all wrong about him. And I am the most wrong. Even though I am the only one who said he was capable of doing the highest level for the subject I teach him.

Yeah, work that one out.

Anyway, this boy and his mother are both, individually, capable of driving me up the wall. With both of them together in this talk, I am amazed I didn't explode. I really can't stand people who insist on blaming everyone else and refuse to look at their own share in events.

But this problem may not be mine for long. Mother wants to take this to my boss (she thinks she can convince a man that has never actually taught her son of her wonderful child's abilities when 14 trained professionals have taught him for two years and found otherwise). And she has already indicated that it would probably be best if I wasn't at that talk with my boss, seeing as she irritated me and we really should keep the boy's best interests in mind and not cloud the situation with our own, personal dislike of each other.

Fine. By. Me. I wish that kid all the luck in the world. Because one day, that world isn't just going to slap him in the face; it's going to bite out a huge chunk and spit it back at him. And he won't see it coming.


*phew* I needed that. :)

In an hour and 20 minutes it's my 31st birthday! Par-tay! Well ... not until the weekend ... I have 18 more talks to go before I get to really kick back and relax. Wish me luck! On the plus side, not all parents are blind.