Evil Librarian update…
May 5, 2008
After I posted this afternoon, I roamed my bank thinking about a plan of attack. I decided I needed a few more details so I shot off this email to Rachels teacher:
After you explained how Rachel works, did the librarian apologize to her? What was her response to the explanation.Thanks
Beth
While I was waiting for a response Kevin called me to update me on his dentist appointment. He knew by the sound of my voice that something was not right. I told him what was going on. He was just as pissed as I was. So he called the principal.
While he was on the phone with the principal the teacher sent me a reply to her email:
Unfortunately, Mrs. Klohn did not apologize to her. When I told her about Rachel, her response was “Well I didn’t know. There are a lot of things about these kids I don’t know”. I left the library shortly after that. Rachel spent another 25 minutes in library. I DO NOT know if Mrs. Klohn spoke again to her during that time. I DO know that when I picked up my class at 9:50 am - Rachel was still upset and near tears. I called her over – told her not to worry, that she could get her library book to school tomorrow, and that I had told Mrs. Klohn to not be so grumpy with her. After a few minutes, she was still shook up – so I gave her the chance to go to the restroom and dry her tears. After she returned, she appeared better. After 10:15 recess, she appears to be back to her usually joyful self! Sorry to the barer of bad news on a Monday. I know as a mother how I would feel about the situation. Feel free to e-mail again if you want an update on how she is doing. As of right now (she is with Mrs. Q for math), she is doing fine.Have a good one!
Kevin called me back to let me know about the call to the school right when I opened this email. Kevin and the principal know each other from past children and I think Kevin delivered food to her house. Kevin explained that what he had heard was secondhand information from the teacher and I. He told her what he knew. He voiced his anger over the librarian becoming angry with a child in tears when the tears were caused by her. He demanded an apology from the librarian to Rachel. He closed with telling the principal that he wanted a phone call as soon as an apology was made. The principal was also disturbed by the situation and was going to go investigate.
I then read the above email to him so he would know how the teacher had replied. He asked me to shoot an email to her to let her know that he had called the school. That way she would be aware if anyone questioned her on it. Here is my email and her latest response.
Thanks for the information. It doesn’t sound like she apologized while you were gone or Rachel would have already been composed. Kevin was extremely upset about the situation and called Mrs. E and explained what he knew of the situation and asked for the librarian to apologize to Rachel. Rachel isn’t going to want to go near that library until she feels safe. It is going to cause her a great amount of anxiety. She doesn’t do well when people frighten her like that. Her biological dad is a screamer (hence the counseling) and she hates going to his house anymore.
Anyway, thanks again for the update and letting us know what is going on. It will be easier to get Rachel to open up to me later if I know a basis of what is troubling her.
BethI visited with Mrs. E and she said that she would call Kevin. When Rachel goes the library – I’ll be with her. After Mrs. E visits with Kevin – let me know if you have any more questions or
concerns.Thanks
Kevin called me after the principal called him. It was decided that they wouldn’t have the librarian apologize today. They didn’t think Rachel needed to face the woman again. Tomorrow, Rachel will take her book back to school. At the end of the day, the teacher plans to walk Rachel down to the library to turn in her library book. That way it can give the librarian a chance to apologize.
We shall see what happens.
Entry Filed under: Etc.. Tags: advocating, autism, evil librarian, fragile x, librarian, parenting, Rachel, school, school librarian.
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1.
lastcrazyhorn | May 6, 2008 at 5:59 am
Librarians are supposed to be nice. Most of mine are . . . although there is this one lady who treats me like a moron. I think she thinks I’m “slow.” She sure talks to me like I am.
GRR to your daughter’s librarian lady!
I had this one coworker that would speak really slow to Lauren when she called the office. We think that the coworker thought she was the daughter with fragile x & autism. It drove Lauren insane. So I know of all people she would totally understand. That can be annoying to be talked down to when you are an intelligent capable human being.
2.
beartwinsmom | May 6, 2008 at 9:20 am
I’m still chompin’ at the bit to do some maulin’.
3.
John-Michael | May 6, 2008 at 11:21 am
Mrs. Eleanor Boykin (Yes, I do, and will forever, remember much about this Librarian/Teacher who taught me in 5th grade.) The Library was our classroom, so we did ‘library duties’ each morning before classes began each day. And when offered the option, I elected her again for 6th grade.
She was one of the most influential people in my developing life. So much so that when, many years later, i was invited to speak in a church in the area that I knew she lived close to, I phoned the school, they reached her at home (she had long-since retired), she phoned me, and I explained that I would be mentioning her loving care and influence in my life and wanted to extend an invitation for her to be in attendance, if possible. She came. It was wonderful.
My point … those influences are LASTING ones and the impressions still (50 years later) are freshly felt. You are more than justified in establishing a strong sense of fairness, justice, kindness, and gentleness for your daughter. I am writing this to encourage and dispel any voice of “It was ONLY … ” NONSENSE that may be offered. It is not ONLY anything! It is a significant event in your child’s life. I applaud you and your loving husband. Well done!
Thanks for sharing that story John-Michael. I think that if I continue to take her to city libraries where the people are amazing she will realize this was an isolated incident. And unfortunately this will be a lesson that there are people out there who don’t respect children the way that they should be protected. Children and parents need to be on guard at all times.
4.
Naomi | May 6, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Wow I really hope she appologizes. That could really damage a kid. Good Luck with everything and I hope it turns out well!!!
Thanks Naomi
5.
tophataffairs | May 7, 2008 at 8:53 am
You know…. I have honestly NEVER met a nice librarian… I think it’s a school they go to … ON how to be evil to children… Sigh… I am reading your blog backwards so I nkow that she apolpgized( KINDA ) but STILL!!!!