Audre Lorde’s early education
sounded horrible. A bad school for the visually challenged followed by what
sounded like a very strict Catholic School. Lorde wrote about an experience in
catholic school where after telling the truth about a project she had done on
her own, said that her teacher did not believe her after questioning her and
said “"Our guardian angels weep when we don't tell the truth, Audre. I
want a note from your mother tomorrow telling me that you are sorry for lying
to the baby Jesus." Her teachers at the catholic school were instructed to
spank Audre if she misbehaved and they seemed more than happy to abide by her parents’
wishes. Lorde said “A week after I started school she sent a note home to my
mother asking her not to dress me in so many layers of clothing because then I
couldn't feel the strap on my behind when I was punished.
Another example of a bad teacher experience
she wrote about was her teacher in the school for the visually impaired. She
wrote the teacher said to her, after not understanding the assignment she was trying
to do, "Imagine that, a big girl like you. Such a shame, I'll have to tell
your mother that you won't even try. And such a big girl like you!” The teacher
basically calls her stupid and fat in front of the whole class and belittles
her accusing her of not trying to do the exercise. Lorde gives the impression
that the teachers she encountered at a young age were impeding her ability to
learn and punishing her for no reason except their inability to teach.
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