Roneisha Watkins
Ms.Park
English 106
22 February 2014
INTRO: Roneisha Watkins is going to call her 1st grade teacher from years ago and give her a simple run
down of how she passed the first grade as you may find out the conversation goes uphill for the most
part…
*Phone Rings*3 times
Overlay Beyonce- Listen on the 2.5 ring through the end
Me: Hello
Teacher: Um hello?
Me: My name is Roneisha Watkins and I was a student in your 1st grade class at school #11 during the
200-2001 school year. I found your number in an old phone book.
Teacher: Um okay; is something wrong?
Me: No actually everything is going fine. I’m just calling to tell you a few things.
Teacher: Like what honey?
Me: Okay so I had a bad vision problem and didn’t have the courage to say anything. It was because you
were just so intimidating and I didn’t feel much compassion from you.
Teacher: I’m so sorry
Me: Please let me finish.
Teacher: Go ahead
Me: I was bullied and ridiculed when I was prescribed glasses and that feeling of uncompassion still
resided with me. Never have I ever felt this way as a young child. I’m not bashing you as a former
educator or trying to bring you down. I’m only speaking out because I’d like for someone to hear from a
student’s perspective of how a teachers attitude towards their students; whether it be positive or
negative can affect them indefinitely. You were always so hard on me and I never understood why.
Teacher: Mhum
Me: It’s been a little over 10 years and now everything has came together and made sense. You’re
straight forward, demanding approach towards learning was only an instrument I used to begin my
literacy journey. I just feel that my situation is still experienced by students. It’s a little too late to change
the past but the future is still to come. If you can do anything; I’d like for you to instill my experience in
upcoming teachers so they can always be aware of their actions towards students and tips on how to
approach them when things don’t seem to be going right. Personally, I feel that if you’d be a little more
diligent in trying to adhere to my failure my literacy journey could have began a little smoother. Not
everything you did was negative. Out of it all I became a more outspoken student. Speaking up when I
needed help has brought me very far. I appreciate you and I hope you can understand where I’m coming
from.
Teacher: Well Roneisha; it is Roneisha isn’t it?
Me: Yes ma’am
Teacher: Okay I don’t remember your situation specifically because I taught for about 25 years and
retired about 5 years after your 2000-2001 class
Me: I understand
Teacher: I am thrilled to know you cared enough to contact me and share your experience in my class. I
am also very proud of what you’re trying to do for those who are in your younger shoes.
Me: Thank you
Teacher: I am a member of the NEA, National Education Association and every year we have a retreat
that focuses on problems we may face in the field of education and you have definitely given me a topic
to bring forward to the president along with your story
Me: Are you serious!
Teacher: Yes (laughs) I am very apologetic for my negligence attitude towards you. My intent was to
never harm or put any of my students down but to motivate them to do better when I knew they could.
Me: Yes ma’am
Teacher: But back to your topic and testimony; I will get in touch with our president and let him know
about what your plan is. If everything goes well, it could be the topic of discussion and this way,
educators from around the nation will know your story and can better understand how to avoid
problems like it from happening again.
Me: Thank you so much for listening Mrs. Muckeraige. I would greatly appreciate your effort to
implement my vision.
Teacher: No problem sweetheart and thanks again for calling; it takes courage and a strong heart to do
so.
Me: It feels good to know you actually care and to get things off my chest. It was a pleasure talking to
you.
Teacher: Likewise, but we must stay in contact because the president will want to hear your story
verbatim.
Me: Will do; thanks again.
Teacher: It was nice talking to you Roneisha, you have a good day you hear?
Me: Yes ma’am, good-bye.