Ellen,
As a former student of yours, I have to say that I find it absolutely disgusting that you would defend yourself in such a glib and shameless way. But then I shouldn't be surprised, this kind of thing is not out of character for you.
And to all the choir students who feel that none of these posters have any right to comment because "they aren't in her class," well, I was in choir for four years. Which is probably longer than any of you have been, since most of you seem currently enrolled. And in that time I saw Ellen throw a stapler at a student (which hit him) for talking during class. I saw her intimidate and insult students, both boys and girls, who were uncomfortable changing costumes in the wings in front of other students. I was one of the students who filed a complaint with the Principal about her frequent "jokes" that were filled with racial slurs and invective. I saw all of that and so much more, that no other teacher anywhere would ever be able to get away with. That any student caught doing would be expelled for.
And you know what? Except for that final incident where I actually spoke up, I was just like you. I forgave, rationalized, or just ignored all of it. I got angry at others who spoke up. I look back now and I'm horrified at what must have seemed like a cult mentality at the time - no matter what Ellen did, we were okay with because she's "great." Open your eyes, choir students of today. I promise, you'll see the same things.
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Choir Student '98
8:05 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012
Ellen,
As a former student of yours, I have to say that I find it absolutely disgusting that you would defend yourself in such a glib and shameless way. But then I shouldn't be surprised, this kind of thing is not out of character for you.
And to all the choir students who feel that none of these posters have any right to comment because "they aren't in her class," well, I was in choir for four years. Which is probably longer than any of you have been, since most of you seem currently enrolled. And in that time I saw Ellen throw a stapler at a student (which hit him) for talking during class. I saw her intimidate and insult students, both boys and girls, who were uncomfortable changing costumes in the wings in front of other students. I was one of the students who filed a complaint with the Principal about her frequent "jokes" that were filled with racial slurs and invective. I saw all of that and so much more, that no other teacher anywhere would ever be able to get away with. That any student caught doing would be expelled for.
And you know what? Except for that final incident where I actually spoke up, I was just like you. I forgave, rationalized, or just ignored all of it. I got angry at others who spoke up. I look back now and I'm horrified at what must have seemed like a cult mentality at the time - no matter what Ellen did, we were okay with because she's "great." Open your eyes, choir students of today. I promise, you'll see the same things.