Today I went to a cooking class recommended by my son’s preschool teacher. It was @ a church and free of charge. I was told it was cooking healthy and naturally on a budget. When I arrived it was filled with very low income women, most with out teeth. We learned how important it is to wash our hands, one woman covered her hands with Vaseline and glitter and then shook the members of the class’ hands demonstrate how germs are spread…etc etc. It was SO remedial. They demonstrated how to roast a chicken one night for dinner and make chicken salad with it the next day…
I was mortified, disappointed and angry, I left early letting the instructier know why. I left a message for the teacher telling her I felt as though I’d been duped into going. She is wondering why I was unhappy and if I have suggestions for future classes. I’m so offended. Does she think I’m a moron??!!!
What should I say to her when I call her back?
She did know what was being taught. She helps with the class. I have nothing against anyone with low income. It’s the lack of knowledge and cleanliness that I have a problem with.
amazingly intelligent - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
Just tell her you found the class to be a bit too basic to suit your needs. Many of the women there may have needed to hear what was being presented. Many preschools are filled with children whose parents don’t have a clue about nutrition, food safety or proper hygiene for preventing food borne illnesses. You may attribute that to their age or a lack of home training, it doesn’t matter what the cause, it is prevention that counts.
Many people of median and high incomes lack the same knowledge. You’d be surprised how many people skip the sink after using the toilet! That is how hepatitis gets spread as well as E-coli and other diseases. Why do you think the "Wash your hands" instructions are posted in many restaurant restrooms that employees share in common with the patrons? MERSA and other serious infections are now running rampant in the health care profession because many healthcare workers, including doctors, neglect proper hand washing.
Like it or not preschool and headstart are programs where opportunity to instruct people about proper hygiene and other developmental issues is a good platform for improving people’s basic knowledge that can effectively be exploited for the common good. You took offense because you assume something is being projected about your status and or income, which is not the case. Don’t be a snob. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it.
As for the missing teeth you’d be surprised how many people can’t affort medical coverage, let alone the astronomically high cost of dentistry even with insurance. Domestic violence could also come into play or just an accident. Why be so judgmental about people? Do you think they would choose not to have eye teeth if affordable options were available to replace them?
You may as well get off your high horse and understand that there are all kinds of people in the world with all kinds of incomes and levels of education and intelligence. Do yourself and your child a favor by learning to interact with them. He is learning with the children of those parents who were beneath you every day he goes to preschool. He will have to learn to live near and work with them. It is good preparation for life.
Jules - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
Tell her clearly what you thought the class would be – and compare that to what happened in the class itself. I’m not exactly sure what you wanted from it in the first place so I can’t really help you
Jenny F - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
Just a thought….maybe she didnt know how "generic" it was gonna be. Maybe she has not attended, and just assumed it would be more helpful.
twilightgirl - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
Maybe she honestly didn’t know the level this class was being taught on…take it easy on her.
visvardis - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
it was remedial because it was geared to pre school bottom line you payed nothing so next time just stay home the income levels of the other mothers attending was none of your business anymore than their physical appearance i am more mortified and angry with your response…..
finglas9 - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
just say you are taking a night school course in cordon bleu cooking, and that you learnt to cook a chicken in the oven when you were a child. good luck.
Francesca - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
Well first I do not suggest "getting her back"
Your a grown up and there is no need to respond. Now obviously your unhappy because you feel this was beneath you. What was the premise that made you go? Did you discuss that your a horrible cook or something.
Because in all honesty if you told me that you can barely boil water.. joking hahaha.. and I suggested a beginning course to you and then you were angry, I too would not understand?
So I guess I don’t know where it came into play why you were going. Then.. This is no disrespect.. why are you going to a free class a a church for help and then snubbing the people there.
ARE you so much better? Again no disrespect. And the teeth..Come on.
Hey the glitter thing was a great idea !! I aloud it ! See I would have just told you about the story of 3/4 of the ladies you just hand lunch in the nice restaurant with (all friends with teeth) sharing appitizers went into the ladies room and didn’t wash their hands or pick theirs nose before they walked an the door and kissed your cheek.. OH better yet gave their hubby a quick B job to shut him up ..
But you were all so clean and TOOTHED while having lunch together.
Kindness goes a long way…. You should be ashamed of yourself for walking out and making someone else feel less so you feel more !
Kandy - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
I’m sure your son’s teacher didn’t recommend this class because she had ill thoughts of you; she probably just didn’t really think before telling you about it. (Maybe she can’t cook at all.) A warning to you though would be the word "free". Lot’s of times "free" means not worth anything. The class you spoke of is probably designed for the people who have no cooking skills whatsoever. The instructor probably doesn’t have any background except for his/her personal experience (not culinary school). I do understand how you might be offended and feel totally out of place with these people. A tip for you would be to check out something further before leaping into it. As far as dealing with your son’s teacher, just tell her that you felt you had too much experience and didn’t feel as though you would gain anything from it personally. The class seems to be designed to teach very basic skills. Just read your note that the teacher participates and knows the content of the class. You might tell your son’s teacher that he/she misunderstood what kind of class that you are looking for. This one doesn’t meet your needs.
God Bless America - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
Get a job and tell her you are working and can’t make it because supporting your family is more important that wearing glitter.
Justlookin - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
It is amazing just how many people, of all walks of life, are ignorant of basic cleanliness and general kitchen "know how". Here’s the thing though…I think you should be grateful that such a class exsists…especially to mothers of small children. I honestly think the sparkle test was an excellent idea….impresses on those "not in the know" that bacteria is spread not only to the hands, but to every single thing they touch in the home. Ecoli is rampant today…so I’m glad to hear about your class as I’d rather someone learning today what could prevent a possible child’s death next week. Keep in mind that we all have to learn somewhere, and even if it’s at an age that’s way past acceptable, that at least they were learning. Rather than being angry or taking this personally, I’d turn it upside down and look at the situation as a positive rather than a negative. You seem well spoken, so I’m sure the teachers motives were only to include you in the class rather than her assuming you were ignorant. When she calls back perhaps you might try telling her that while you didn’t learn anything new, that you were glad that someone might have picked up some very valuable tips. Besides, at the end of the day it’s always better to smile isn’t it?
Princess B - said
December 20 2010 @ 13:09
She was trying to be nice dont be so mean about her poor lady. You seem such a snob (no disrespect) don’t "get her back" if she asks explain your reasons for not going nicely and have a laugh about it lifes to short to hold grudges especially over something so small and ridiculous