As teachers we often get caught up dealing with behavior and forget to look at what is behind the behavior.
An Open Letter To My Teacher
Dear Teacher,
I think it's time I told you why I have been acting out at school
and crying sometimes. I think you know that something is wrong,
because you keep asking me, "What's the matter?" The reason I
haven't told you before is that I can't talk to you in the hallway
with all the other kids staring at me—and until now, I didn't feel
like I could talk to anybody about it.
I'm worried about my schoolwork. I keep getting in trouble for
not doing my homework, and not listening in class. Sometimes I am
so scared that I just get mad at everybody. I don't mean to yell.
I just feel like everyone is picking on me at home and at school.
You see, my dad has a drinking problem. It's called "alcoholism."
It means that he can't control his drinking. He comes home some
nights really drunk and yells at all of us. Then Mom yells back at
him for being drunk and spending all the money. Sometimes he hits
her, or my sister and me for no reason, just because he is drunk.
Sometimes my sister and I are so scared that we hide in our room.
I used to hate my mom and dad for all that - Mom for yelling at
Dad and making him even madder, and Dad for his drinking. I don't
hate them anymore because I found out why they were like that.
One day a lady came and talked to my mom, and I listened, too.
She was the one who explained to us what alcoholism is. I learned
that my dad was not horrible, just sick. He has a disease called
alcoholism. She told us that when there is someone in the house
with a drinking problem, the whole family gets hurt by it. She also
told my mom about Al-Anon. That is where families and friends of
problem drinkers go to understand the disease of alcoholism and
how they can stop being so scared and mad all the time.
Now Mom goes to Al-Anon. It works, too. Mom doesn't scream
at Dad or us as much anymore. I go to Alateen, that's for kids
affected by someone else's drinking. Sometimes we have friends
that drink too. Now I understand, and it feels good not to be the
only one with my kind of problem.
I think that teachers should know about alcoholism, because
then they would understand kids like me. If you know of any kids who
might have a problem with a drinking parent or a drinking friend, you
could tell them where they can get help. It really helped me. For more
information please contact _____________ or 888-425-2666
(888-4AL-ANON), Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, ET for
the location of an Alateen meeting.
Compiled and Distributed by:
AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP HEADQUARTERS, INC.
1600 Corporate Landing Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617
www.al-anon.alateen.org
[email protected]
Signed,
Your Student
