tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post7313225034116942013..comments2024-03-28T18:04:58.688-07:00Comments on Imagine: October Memoir-And-Backstory-Blog-Challenge - Empathy (Milk of Unkindness) Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15506538737806033824noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-8306178004753021562013-10-08T14:15:02.346-07:002013-10-08T14:15:02.346-07:00How awful! It's amazing how little it takes t...How awful! It's amazing how little it takes to affect a child for life (you, Amy, other classmates...).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01966162597563467294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-88167084167184829692013-10-08T04:23:04.391-07:002013-10-08T04:23:04.391-07:00And we all think of kids as being the bullies.And we all think of kids as being the bullies.Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10215170722551366316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-349763788586168102013-10-07T09:47:45.047-07:002013-10-07T09:47:45.047-07:00This was great. It reminded me of a story my mothe...This was great. It reminded me of a story my mother told me about my aunt, who was a primary school teacher, who took one of her students to the girls' washroom to wash her face. Everyone from then on thought of her as "dirty". Such actions live on forever. redcatdancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14344070748073181606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-7231512737907682652013-10-06T16:43:14.577-07:002013-10-06T16:43:14.577-07:00This is beautifully written, Pearl - so moving, an...This is beautifully written, Pearl - so moving, and you have set it up so we share your horror and empathy for Amy. School used to be pretty rough, from the point of view of many adults thinking children had no feelings. I remember one teacher who was cruel this way, in my fifth grade. there was a boy - not too bright, didn't seem to pay attention, but not a bad kid - she asked him a question he couldn't answer and she got so mad she yanked him up from his chair and shook him fiercely. Only he slipped, and fell, and banged his head against the corner of the desk. Blood poured down his face, from just above his eye. I was terrified, what I would now call trauma, by witnessing it.<br /><br />Your memoir is so real, it brought all that back. Whew!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02525256371290087200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-24794052167368421962013-10-06T16:23:39.604-07:002013-10-06T16:23:39.604-07:00I often think of Amy and have the same wish - I kn...I often think of Amy and have the same wish - I know that witnessing such mistreatment and cruelty to a child shifted my very young self into a protective and pro-active mode - I hope that Amy was stronger in the long run and was able to recognize the ugliness of Mrs. R. as compared against the obvious swelling of support and love she felt from our just begun friendships. <br />Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15506538737806033824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-87984932047230575832013-10-06T16:02:25.549-07:002013-10-06T16:02:25.549-07:00Yes, it was truly horrible and also horrible that ...Yes, it was truly horrible and also horrible that although the "dear Mrs. R" did not ruin my ongoing life-time love of schooling she did compromise the safety and the Edenesque quality that she had originally introduced. I often wonder what happened to "Amy." I do remember her being one of a small "gang" of us in first grade who had notions of forming a small circus built on our individual talents - I was double jointed in my fingers - and Amy, sweet gentle Amy, could crack her delightful perfectly pert little nose in a most alarming way! Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15506538737806033824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-62848778534301909792013-10-06T15:59:22.672-07:002013-10-06T15:59:22.672-07:00Awww thank you dear Gerry - yes I do believe those...Awww thank you dear Gerry - yes I do believe those early memories shape us and that as a dear friend described in an early memory of her own the feedback we receive from those who we love (parents grandparents etc) plays a huge role in how children are "taught" - for although some children seem hard-wired for empathy all children need to be taught at the very least the word for their feelings. Thank you again for stopping - your comments touched me deeply .Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15506538737806033824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-60426886629206867042013-10-06T15:47:39.832-07:002013-10-06T15:47:39.832-07:00Oh, Pearl--I'm in tears. I knew children like ...Oh, Pearl--I'm in tears. I knew children like that, but I don't think I ever witnessed such cruelty. Isn't it interesting how that incident touched and shaped you, even though you probably couldn't have named what you were feeling at the moment? I love the way the piece moves; I could feel something coming, but I wasn't sure what, and then it becomes significant for all of us, not just for you. Beautifully written.Gerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11956363982769429474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-66815542957006959022013-10-06T15:24:35.833-07:002013-10-06T15:24:35.833-07:00Oh, that is so sad! "Poor" Amy - because...Oh, that is so sad! "Poor" Amy - because of the way she was treated. I hope this event made her stronger in the long run. Linda G. Hattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14378994713184881963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-53250245595929909922013-10-06T09:54:07.318-07:002013-10-06T09:54:07.318-07:00Aw thanks guys -I'm sure "dear" Mrs....Aw thanks guys -I'm sure "dear" Mrs. R. is long gone - I would hope that she left behind more compassionate children who might randomly be hurt by her coldness. (btw ... she retired the year afte she had my younger brother who had no affinity for "Stop-Look or Listen" ... he was banned from school trips because of his energetic classroom behavior. ... lol ).Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15506538737806033824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-6886131722488178512013-10-06T08:44:14.334-07:002013-10-06T08:44:14.334-07:00Oh, heavens! Glad you have an empathic heart. Sh...Oh, heavens! Glad you have an empathic heart. She doesn't deserve your anonymity.Sabra Bowershttp://sabrabowers.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-44802328457620414412013-10-05T20:40:58.152-07:002013-10-05T20:40:58.152-07:00I'm so glad you felt empathy. What a horrible ...I'm so glad you felt empathy. What a horrible way to treat a child.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10418914588653016418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1819558801520044413.post-15253329843872351922013-10-05T20:40:45.128-07:002013-10-05T20:40:45.128-07:00I'm so glad you felt empathy. What a horrible ...I'm so glad you felt empathy. What a horrible way to treat a child.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10418914588653016418noreply@blogger.com