When Preparing Kids For High School, Don’t Use These Words

Apparently the 8th grade teacher thought that by crumpling the student’s substandard essay and tossing it into the trash, he was effectively making the point that the student needed to be “better prepared for high school.” At least this is what he told the student as he made the histrionic gesture, and later the parent when she questioned his methods.

“He is ready for high school, he’s here,” replied the parent.

That the child had suffered a horrifically traumatic event while in fourth grade...