Molly, a moderately successful author, received a message from someone at her old high school three months ago asking if a student could interview her.
The Gloomy Past
Although her time at the school wasn’t the happiest, Molly agreed to provide career-related responses.
The Student’s Inquiry
During the interview, the student probed about her high school experience, which she initially redirected.
A Journey into the Past
When the student sensed Molly’s hesitation, she asked if she was reluctant to discuss her school days.
She eventually agreed to share her experiences, mentioning specific names and incidents.
Bad Teacher
Molly recalled a teacher who openly ridiculed her clothing choices and her lack of athleticism, amongst other things.
Molly’s School Taunting
She recounted a distressing incident when a group of girls taunted her by mimicking cow sounds and following her around the school. When Molly sought help from the teacher, she was humiliated even further as she nicknamed her “Moolly”, and continued using this nickname for the remainder of the year.
The Suspension Saga
Molly also mentioned when she yelled, “MY NAME IS MOLLY. MOLLY,” the teacher had her suspended for a week.
Community Uproar
The student ultimately published the entire interview. While it didn’t go completely “viral,” it did generate posts on Facebook with a significant number of comments.
The interview caused some commotion in the community.
Chastisement
Later, a school official chastised Molly for bringing up old wounds and questioned her portrayal of veteran teachers as bad people when they were going through difficult times already.
Consequences of Bullying
The teacher involved in the “Moolly” incident had a teaching award revoked.
Was It Worthwhile?
Molly questioned whether it was worthwhile and pondered whether her recollection of events might have been inaccurate.
Facing the Backlash
She also faced criticism from old classmates who accused her of tarnishing the school’s reputation. It’s been many years since these events occurred.
The Conflict Within
Molly is conflicted about the situation. She didn’t intend to hurt anyone but wanted to share her truth.
She wonders if she was in the wrong. The question is, “Who was right?” She asked on one social media platform.
The Burden of Blame
One individual responded by asserting that Molly was not attempting to take any particular action; instead, the blame lay with the teachers who exhibited unfavorable behavior. They contended that Molly was not responsible for tarnishing the school’s reputation or that of several prominent community members. According to the commenter, these community members were responsible for their reputational damage, and it was not Molly’s fault that they were now facing accountability.
Accountability and Apologies
Another person responded, expressing their aspiration to gain recognition and conduct an interview exposing the deplorable conditions at their school. They commended Molly for fulfilling their dream. The responder also questioned the appropriateness of awarding someone who bullies students. They criticized the school for failing to contact Molly, offer an apology, and inquire about potential improvements. According to the responder, the school’s attitude indicated that it remained a subpar institution, and they shared their own lingering trauma from their school experiences.
Consequences and Confessions
A commenter affirmed that Molly had spoken the truth. They emphasized that individuals faced consequences and tarnished reputations for their actions, actions that Molly did not instigate. The commenter further revealed a personal temptation to disclose messages from other students who had exhibited unkind behavior.
Defending Molly
One user firmly stated that Molly was unequivocally not at fault. They pointed out that the school’s dissatisfaction stemmed from the fact that the truth revealed their shortcomings. The user urged readers to consider this: the school’s negative image was a direct result of the truth coming to light.
Shifting the Burden
A commenter expressed their perspective by saying, “It’s funny how the burden is placed on you, the former student, to shield all these seemingly upstanding, experienced pillars of the community, rather than on them to provide explanations.”
Impact on Reputation
Another commenter said, “If the school’s reaction is to use guilt and gaslighting to dissuade you rather than offering a simple apology for what you experienced, then they certainly warrant the impact on their reputation. Moreover, suppose a teacher lost a prestigious lifetime teaching award over your story. In that case, it raises the question of whether your account encouraged other students to share their experiences of being bullied by the same teacher.”
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Susan is the founder of Susan's Socials, a social media agency focused on Flipboard. She is also a content curator, encouraging a healthy lifestyle through topics such as pets, food, travel, home decor, gardening, and fashion.
