EPISODE 1.462: FAILURE WAS NECESSARY I DECIDED: but SHE SURPRISED ME’
alan skeoch dec 2, 2025
Mrs. X fled from roving bands of Soviet soldiers intent on rape and murder in the closing days of 1945. German forces were in full flight to the Baltic Sea. Many never were successful.If what she told me is true…and that’s a big if…then she must have been 14 or 15 years old. Soviet soldiers were getting even with Nazis for brutalization of Russian citizens. I remember reading “Documents of the Expulsion” for a Russian history course at University of Toronto. 1945 was a bloody year in Ukraine, Poland and the BAltic states. Enough said.
Who was she? Mrs. X was assigned me as a student teacher around 1970. If she was 15 in 1945 then she would have been around 60 years old in1970, Far too old to be a student teacher. If she was a baby fleeing in her mothers’ arms she could have been in her 40’s when we met. Her story was possible but not probable.
I had her for two weeks…memorable weeks. We clashed almost immediately. To her the study of history was an exercise in rote memory…boring in other words. I preferred a more Socratic approach. Sitting at the back of the room I noticed The big boys were tense. Some had clenched fists…they were nervous and likely had not done their homework. Normal. She scared them. Mrs.X clashed with me very early in the weeks. But now, decades later, all I remember is those tense boys. Fear is no way to teach.
I decided To fail her by the end of the first week. To do so there would be trouble so I thought Mr. Ellis our principal should prepared.
“Mr. Ellis, I am going to fail Mrs.X and there could be trouble.”
His response was a big surprise. “Mrs. X has already turned a report in on you. Do not ever be alone with her. She will claim sex abuse. Probably best to pass her and get her out of our school. What do you think?”
“I think she should be failed.”
Thankfully i was coaching football and had players around all my free time…never gave her a chance claim untoward sexual touching.
At the end of the second week I failed her. She knew that was coming and got very angry. I heard afterward that others had trouble with her. Apparently one of her profs was charged with sexual touching and the case went up the chain of command as far as the Ontario cabinet. But that may not be true.
She screamed at me and threatened to get me. When I got home I told Marjorie that we should be careful. But nothing happened. My failing mark was a turning point for Mrs. X, or so I was told.
We only met her once afterward at a flea market where Mrs, X was selling things.
“Marjorie, that is Mrs. X, she has not seen us…let’s get out of here.”
alan skeoch Dec. 3, 2025
P.S> I stil have a copy of that report, Just in case needed,
alan skeoch dec 2, 2025
Mrs. X fled from roving bands of Soviet soldiers intent on rape and murder in the closing days of 1945. German forces were in full flight to the Baltic Sea. Many never were successful.If what she told me is true…and that’s a big if…then she must have been 14 or 15 years old. Soviet soldiers were getting even with Nazis for brutalization of Russian citizens. I remember reading “Documents of the Expulsion” for a Russian history course at University of Toronto. 1945 was a bloody year in Ukraine, Poland and the BAltic states. Enough said.
Who was she? Mrs. X was assigned me as a student teacher around 1970. If she was 15 in 1945 then she would have been around 60 years old in1970, Far too old to be a student teacher. If she was a baby fleeing in her mothers’ arms she could have been in her 40’s when we met. Her story was possible but not probable.
I had her for two weeks…memorable weeks. We clashed almost immediately. To her the study of history was an exercise in rote memory…boring in other words. I preferred a more Socratic approach. Sitting at the back of the room I noticed The big boys were tense. Some had clenched fists…they were nervous and likely had not done their homework. Normal. She scared them. Mrs.X clashed with me very early in the weeks. But now, decades later, all I remember is those tense boys. Fear is no way to teach.
I decided To fail her by the end of the first week. To do so there would be trouble so I thought Mr. Ellis our principal should prepared.
“Mr. Ellis, I am going to fail Mrs.X and there could be trouble.”
His response was a big surprise. “Mrs. X has already turned a report in on you. Do not ever be alone with her. She will claim sex abuse. Probably best to pass her and get her out of our school. What do you think?”
“I think she should be failed.”
Thankfully i was coaching football and had players around all my free time…never gave her a chance claim untoward sexual touching.
At the end of the second week I failed her. She knew that was coming and got very angry. I heard afterward that others had trouble with her. Apparently one of her profs was charged with sexual touching and the case went up the chain of command as far as the Ontario cabinet. But that may not be true.
She screamed at me and threatened to get me. When I got home I told Marjorie that we should be careful. But nothing happened. My failing mark was a turning point for Mrs. X, or so I was told.
We only met her once afterward at a flea market where Mrs, X was selling things.
“Marjorie, that is Mrs. X, she has not seen us…let’s get out of here.”
alan skeoch Dec. 3, 2025
P.S> I stil have a copy of that report, Just in case needed,
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