FARZONA
One of my favorite, most memorable students was named Dammit, I forgot, but I had her for a year before she went to the Middle School Teacher. All the kids were Muslim; it was an international school. Fara- Far- What was her name? This was in 2019 when covid spread, and the next year she had Ms. Radic. Ms. Radic was my friend, but I thought she yelled too much at the kids. This child was angelic looking, Far-forgotten name, and she was from Turkey, Uzbekistan, or one of those countries that try to satiate Russia’s appetite Far-zona Her name, Farsona? She was one of the last students to join the 5th grade class that I taught that year, with those blessed, beloved people whom I miss forever. Far-zona She told me one day that she had dreamed that she laid AN EGG. I loved that. Just like a bird! She was concerned about her future as a woman.
Once she got to Ms. Radic, she had experienced a strange summer in a faraway country where a rich uncle bought her a full wardrobe of pink, sparkling items. She was perfectly beautiful. Everyone loved her. Damn, I forget all their names, But there was Serafina, there was Kayala, they were small and religious, and rebellious, and real.
Ms. Radic quit after she yelled at the principal for interrupting her class, and she was openly disrespectful (I thought) during PD meetings, doing silly things like braiding hair with other women. And once the principal (who I backed) confronted her about the disrespect, she quit.
After she quit, I remember I had Sarfina and her, Farzona, in my room for lunch, some special Girls Group to reinforce positive behavior/teach social skills. And the day I remember, I got into an argumetn with Farzona.
I said, Ms. Radic was too mean. She yelled too much. Of course, I also yelled, but it’s nice to point a finger at the teacher(s) who yell more than me. So, Farzona said, “She did NOT yell too much. The people, those boys deserved it.”
And I felt challenged. So I said, “Farzona, Ms. Radic DID yell too much, and it’s just not appropriate.” And I was thinking of being the child, try to comprehend the rage of an adult. But Farzona got mad and she countered, “No, Ms. Radic did nothing wrong.” And Farzona missed Ms. Radic. I did too, but I also thought she was disrespectful to the principal by braiding hair during the PD, and I was in snitch mode, so I thought these kids would benefit to be free of an adult yelling at them.
But now, here I am. I got fired for yelling to much at the kids, and using profanity. I wish I could send a message to Farzona telling her that she was right. Teachers are allowed to “yell too much.” It fucking shows they care, and it betrays how much of themselves they’ve sacrificed to the job. I think Farzona would have had my back at my most recent job. “He IS a brat,” she would say, “You just told the truth.”