On this episode, Zack and Aaron are joined by guest host Scott Clark to discuss Erin’s Law, a law designed to encourage communication between children and educators on child body safety. Please note this episode might not be suitable for all listeners. Find out more info at ErinsLaw.org
Welcome to Smirk. A podcast that covers society and culture through a storytelling lens. Part creative writing, part discussion, and always interesting. Each week our hosts brings a story to the show, a story they wrote themselves, which is immediately followed by discussion on the author’s moral or theme. These stories can cover any topic the host wants to discuss, it can be lighthearted or more serious. No one but the author knows if these tales are truth or fiction, and part of the fun is guessing while you’re listening before the reality is made clear. We want to hear from you! If you want to share YOUR story, join the conversation by writing in to mystory@smirkpodcast.com, and include your moral, or you can let us guess at it. This is the podcast that looks at truth, fiction, and reality. With a Smirk. Don’t forget to subscribe to Smirk and share the show with your friends!
Want to read Scott’s story “A Teacher’s Plight” in full? Think you can identify the moral or theme for this episode? Read it below, and then take a listen to the podcast.
A Teacher’s Plight
Wendy McKenna closed the door to her office and gently pressed her forehead against the wall with her eyes closed, her hand still on the handle. After a silent moment of reflection, she slowly worked her way back to her desk before finally leaning back in her office chair. She stared at the ceiling with a huge sigh, seriously considering if she made the right career choice.
This was Wendy’s fifth year as principal of Clinton Elementary School. She had taught third grade for several years prior to taking over as administrator of the school, but all her years of experience and college education never prepared her for the events that unfolded today.
The day started out routinely. A cup of caramel-flavored coffee from the Keurig, manning the drop-off zone in front of the school, and morning announcements over the PA. The day progressed with her usual suspects of what she referred to as “naughty noodles”. They weren’t bad kids, mind you; in fact, they were more or less starved for attention, even if that meant negative attention from their principal.
Things started taking a downward turn shortly after lunch when Cindy Parsons, one of her second grade teachers asked to speak with her privately. Mrs. Parson was halfway through her second year of teaching in the district. She was a relatively quiet teacher who kept to herself for the most part. Which was why it was a surprise to see Cindy knocking at her door with a concerned look on her face.
Wendy invited her teacher into the office and closed the door. Cindy declined the invitation for a cup of coffee. Instead, she sat down in the chair opposite the principal’s desk and started in on the events that transpired in her classroom that day.
Wendy’s stomach churned as Cindy started her story that began with today’s “Erin’s Law” presentation day in Mrs. Parson’s classroom. Erin’s Law was a state-mandated curriculum to educate students about abuse. The purpose was to equip students with the knowledge of what constituted abuse and to encourage them to tell a trusted adult if something was happening to them.
Wendy’s employee explained that after the authorized rep finished her 30-minute presentation with the students, Cindy called a meeting with her class to have a serious conversation with them. Mrs. Parson’s nervously fumbled with a pen in her hands, staring at the floor while she explained that she herself had been sexually abused by a babysitter when she was in third grade. Needless to say, this day was very hard on her, especially since she knew how damaging her childhood experience was, and she didn’t want any of her students to ever have to go through what she did. Although it was difficult for her to do, she looked each one of them in the eye and told them that she had been the victim of abuse when she was about their age. She begged them to not keep quiet if anything was happening to them, because she cared deeply for each of them.
Wendy did her best to not squirm in her chair as Cindy continued with her tale. She was a professional, after all. She had to do her best to not let her emotions get the best of her. But it was difficult. She had a daughter of her own, and it was horrific to think of anything happening to her child.
Cindy continued with her story, with one of her students asking to speak with her in the hall. Mia was an average second-grader. She got along with everyone in her class and seemed to be a very happy student. With tears in her eyes, Mia bravely told Mrs. Parsons, in graphic detail, how she had been the victim of abuse. Minutes later, Cindy was sitting in Ms. McKenna’s office.
Mia’s mother, Rebecca, was immediately called to the school. The conversation that took place was the most uncomfortable one Wendy had had in her life. As professionally and compassionately as possible, Wendy explained to Rebecca what her daughter had told her teacher that day. Rebecca’s reaction was a mixture of surprise, horror, and instant tears. She had absolutely no clue the trauma her little Mia had been dealing with since she was four years old.
The rest of the afternoon consisted of Wendy and Cindy doing their best to console Rebecca as well as contacting the police. After that, there was all kind of documentation that had to be completed. Once all the required paperwork was done, everyone left the school except for its captain. Wendy moved her gaze from the ceiling down to her half-full coffee cup, now chilled to an undrinkable state.
She was torn between wanting to recover alone in her office and the burning desire to run home and hold her own baby in her arms. Who could do such a thing to an innocent child? What goes through the mind of someone that believes it’s acceptable to do that to anyone, much less one so young?
Wendy finally gathered her belongings to go home. She was the last one in the building. As she flicked off the lights and set the alarm for the night, she looked down the dimly-lit hallways of her school before heading to her car. As rough as today was, she knew that Mia was safer than she was the day before. Since Rebecca formally pressed charges, never again would Mia’s teenage cousin, Carter, have another chance to touch her.