Chris Wahl
Most of us have had that one teacher who seemed to delight in making our lives miserable. You know the type—the one who seems to go out of their way to make everything just a bit harder for you. Sometimes you grit your teeth and bear it, but other times, you hatch a plan in your head for sweet, sweet revenge.
One student shared a story from their time in high school where they decided they’d had enough of their tormenting teacher and concocted a prank that would make even the most seasoned prankster proud. This wasn’t just any prank, though. It was the kind of prank that ended with the fire department getting involved and a teacher getting a very public lesson in humility.
FACT: Some teachers seem to single out certain students for no apparent reason
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But one student had finally reached his limit with the unfair treatment and decided it was time for some payback
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Teachers can and often do misuse their authority simply because they can
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According to the prankster, “Years later a woman walked into the police district station that I worked at and wanted to make a report “just in case” anything should happen to her. This woman feared that her life may be in danger and said that she wanted it documented because she feared that her husband may do something to her. She said that her husband was Mr. K. She said there weren’t any threats that he made and she denied any physical violence so there was nothing criminal to report. She said that she simply wanted it documented “just in case” something happened to her she wanted it to be known that he was responsible. Had I not known who Mr. K was I would have found the woman’s request to be a little unusual, but knowing Mr. K it somehow made sense.”
“I just looked up the public court records and found a divorce that was filed between them, but the filing date was from two years before I even took his class. I don’t know what to make of that, but it doesn’t look like it was ever concluded. Perhaps they had reconciled at some point. And I found a court filing for a will that she filed with the court around the same time she came to the police station. I never heard about anything with Mr. K or his wife since then. I hope he went on to be a “good citizen.””
He also gave his insight into why readers found this story so appealing.
“I think the reason that many people found interest in the story is that many could relate to having had a teacher(s) that treated them unfairly and some possibly enjoyed reading about one catching a little bit of petty revenge. Many shared stories of having teachers that treated them differently because of siblings having gone before them. I enjoyed the one comment from another student from my high school who recognized exactly who I was talking about in my story.”
There’s an unfortunate truth about human nature: give someone a little power, and they’ll often find a way to misuse it. This can range from serious misconduct to everyday petty harassment. Many “petty tyrants” might not even realize they’re overstepping; they’re so accustomed to acting unchecked that it becomes second nature.
This is especially troubling when it’s a teacher making their students’ lives miserable without a clear reason. Teachers hold a lot of influence over young, impressionable minds, and kids often have a strong sense of justice. For instance, this student being unfairly treated because of his sister would leave a lasting impact.
Even though this student was clearly doing well academically, teachers like these can affect others for years. Why bother studying or trying if you know your teacher holds a grudge? And if you’re going to be blamed for breaking the rules anyway, you might as well actually break them. You’ve already got the punishment, so you might as well enjoy the “crime.”
Bullies often believe they can act without consequences
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That being said, high schoolers might be young, but they have a lot more independence than little kids. Bullying teachers often overlook this, thinking they’re untouchable. After all, most students can’t just walk away, and those who aren’t targeted usually try to stay under the radar.
This false sense of security emboldens the bullying teacher. If the principal and school board don’t intervene, why would they change their behavior? It’s curious that this teacher already has a bad reputation with administrators, yet nothing has been done. They might have their reasons, but it makes sense that this student decided to take matters into his own hands. If he didn’t, no one else would.
Minor acts of revenge can be truly satisfying
While the student’s prank was undeniably funny, it probably didn’t change the teacher’s behavior. The teacher was embarrassed and inconvenienced for a day, and that was about it. However, it was a satisfying moment of catharsis. Bullying can leave deep scars, affecting self-esteem and even leading to PTSD. This act of revenge might have helped the student reshape his overall view of high school.
The revenge was particularly clever, as no one was truly in danger, and the teacher found himself powerless for once. Ironically, this could have been a great lesson in humility, but it’s unlikely any real lessons were learned. Still, this event might have become a legendary tale at the school, potentially discouraging other bullying teachers.
Some readers were curious for more details
Most found it incredibly funny
Others recounted their own stories
