http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/nanadebbie/8337 I had many embarressing moments, but the one that immediately came to mind was when I was in third grade at Millie Munsey elementary school.  My family had just moved in the middle of the school year.  So I was the new kid in class.  I was a shy child and extremely intimidated by my new teacher and classmates.  I was afraid of doing anything wrong that would make the teacher angry with me.  It seemed she was angry a lot! One day I was waiting at the teacher's desk to give her a paper after school, but there were several other children ahead of me.  I needed to go to the bathroom, but was afraid to ask the teacher if I could go.  Finally, I could wait no longer and wet my pants.  The kids laughed and the teacher got angry.  She yelled at me and I couldn't bring myself to tell her that I was afraid of her.  I ran out of the classroom and all the way room, crying my eyes out. 40 plus years later and I have never forgotten that incident.  But I eventually learned to stand up for myself and not be afraid of something to anyone. I had many embarressing moments, but the one that immediately came to mind was when I was in third grade at Millie Munsey elementary school.  My family had just moved in the middle of the school year.  So I was the new kid in class.  I was a shy child and extremely intimidated by my new teacher and classmates.  I was afraid of doing anything wrong that would make the teacher angry with me.  It seemed she was angry a lot! One day I was waiting at the teacher's desk to give her a paper after school, but there were several other children ahead of me.  I needed to go to the bathroom, but was afraid to ask the teacher if I could go.  Finally, I could wait no longer and wet my pants.  The kids laughed and the teacher got angry.  She yelled at me and I couldn't bring myself to tell her that I was afraid of her.  I ran out of the classroom and all the way room, crying my eyes out. 40 plus years later and I have never forgotten that incident.  But I eventually learned to stand up for myself and not be afraid of something to anyone. en-us Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:27:06 PDT Being a kid is hard — being the new kid can make you a target in so many ways. My kindergarten teacher wasn't a pleasant person, either. Frustrated and angry people should not teach children! http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/nanadebbie/8337/#c_81584 http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/nanadebbie/8337/#c_81584 Being a kid is hard — being the new kid can make you a target in so many ways. My kindergarten teacher wasn't a pleasant person, either. Frustrated and angry people should not teach children! My 6th grade teacher was an impatient woman. To get our attention, she would scratch the green chalkboard with her fingernails so we could cringe and behave. I don't think we were bad kids. I certainly didn't think I was. But she would often get frustrated at a group of kids and as a result, we all got in trouble. Another thing she did: Before leaving class, we'd have to write these paragraphs of listening in class and not being disruptive. We'd have to write them like 50 times.  Everyone hated it. But I do have to say it made me a fast writer, which then led to fast shorthand, which then led me to my career as a reporter.... so I don't whether to thank her or not. I still can't stand the thought of someone running their fingernails across a chalkboard. http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/nanadebbie/8337/#c_81751 http://www.bakersfieldvoice.com/home/Blog/nanadebbie/8337/#c_81751 My 6th grade teacher was an impatient woman. To get our attention, she would scratch the green chalkboard with her fingernails so we could cringe and behave. I don't think we were bad kids. I certainly didn't think I was. But she would often get frustrated at a group of kids and as a result, we all got in trouble. Another thing she did: Before leaving class, we'd have to write these paragraphs of listening in class and not being disruptive. We'd have to write them like 50 times.  Everyone hated it. But I do have to say it made me a fast writer, which then led to fast shorthand, which then led me to my career as a reporter.... so I don't whether to thank her or not. I still can't stand the thought of someone running their fingernails across a chalkboard.