6th Grade...
I went to a Catholic Grammar school (grades 1 to 8). In the 6th Grade I had a teacher named Mrs. Spiegelman. Rather odd for a Jewish teacher in a Catholic school - but I digress.

She apparently didn't like me much from the beginning. Asking me questions that were clearly beyond the skill level of the average 12/13 year old. No matter, I did the best I could.

Flash forward to one Sunny April day. Somehow, a teacher who is supposed to be teaching us "English" or "Language Arts" was showing us a film. Not just any old film. An old black and white film. Of what you ask? Was it a classic film such Gunga Din or Citizen Kane? Maybe even the adaptation of "Lord of the Flies" (which we did see). No. For some unknown reason, Mrs. Spiegelman decided to show us a film on what? Concentration Camps.

Brilliant.

What ended up happening was for some reason, I laughed. Loudly, Snickered something bad. I dont recall if one of my friends told me an off color joke, or a made a funny comment about the film. (At this point the film was showing a row Camp prisoners, all looking starved and dirty (and it was and still is a tragic consequence of a mass murderer) But needless to say, she went white as a ghost, and stared at me like Donald Sutherland did in the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and pointed to me and didnt even say a word. I dont think she could even be coherant.

So for the next couple of months, everytime a question was asked and I knew the answer (several times when I was the only one who did), I was not acknowledged. I was ignored - and it seems every test or quiz - I got a 70. (which was the lowest passing grade). I tried to point out a couple of times "Mrs. Spiegelman, I think you made a mis-" cut off by her icy voice - all grades are final. Even a couple of my friends noticed it. How could I fight that? I couldnt. So for the remaining two months, I dealt with it. Finally - in June, getting a "C" in her class and being done with her forever.

Pardon the length, but it is what it is.
(Subway Riding the rails underground, Sun 2 May 2010, 5:16, Reply)