I had a bizarre experience in 6th grade (age 11–12) with a science teacher that I can’t explain to this day. I tried to tell my parents, but they didn’t believe me. (And actually, they never listened to anything I said; I was pretty much on my own when it came to school).
It was at Matt Kelly Sixth Grade Center* in 1976. For some subjects such as science, we’d have a different teacher every 9 weeks. When the physics unit started, a large, angry man entered the room and started taking roll.
When he got to my name, and I said “here” in my meek little voice, he scowled at me and told me that he had an Adam in a previous class that was a troublemaker and that I looked like a troublemaker also.
He then told me to move my desk to the corner (desks were arranged in groups of 4 students). I separated from my group and moved to the corner.
“No!” he said. “Turn around”. I had to face my desk to the wall, with my back to the chalkboard. Part of me thought this was a joke, but I was so shy and nervous, I didn’t say a word.
It was no joke. I had to endure the entire 9 weeks with my back to the teacher and the chalkboard. If I turned around to peek, he’d yell at me and threaten disciplinary action. I even had to do the group projects alone.
Without my parents on my side, I didn’t dare go to the principal; I was too afraid.
After the first week, I learned not to peek, and he left me alone for the rest of the course. I relied heavily on my text book, but it was no substitute for having an actual interactive teacher.
Even without seeing what he wrote on the board every day, and with no interaction with other kids, I managed to pass the class with a C.
I still have no idea what that was all about.
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*In Las Vegas back in the 1970s, we had “6th Grade centers” as part of a bussing program to improve integration. The city was severely geographically segregated at that time, so the elementary schools in the predominantly black neighborhoods were converted to these centers. Black kids were bussed for grades K-5, and white kids were bussed for grade 6. Most Jr high schools and high schools were about equal distance from both areas.