Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

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HELP! FALSELY ACCUSED!!

Community Leadermujicaptsd
mujicaptsd
I was here two months ago regarding my concern about my tenure process as an instructor in the nursing program at my community college. I did get tenure. However, I had a class this semester in which some students harassed me constantly.

Another student in the class tipped me off that they nowhave made a false complaint against me to administration saying I was inappropriate in the class with comments that were off color. You know me well enough from 4 years here at DS PTSD that I'm not inappropriate, ever. It is a class of all females, though, and they're taking advantage with a false allegation.

Administration has requested that I turn over all the tests I graded in the course to them without saying why, but now I know.

When I got tenure I went on record with Human Resources and my Vice
President of Instruction at the college that I have had a diagnosis of PTSD since 1995 and went back to being under the care of a local psychiatrist for it last month. I requested an Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation that I not have to teach this class of freshmen at this level again since it is stressful to me. Their hostile false complaint now bears me out. According to other members of the class, these same students are disruptive in their EKG course to another elderly instructor as well.

I have done nothing wrong, but with my PTSD I can cope with "fight/flight," but not with "freeze." I freeze up in conflict, which is why I never called out these awful students all semester, and now they're taking advantage by making a false complaint, too. I'm frozen up right now. It's awful. What should I do?

I'm pretty scared and confused, and I could really use your emotional support. Thanks.

Muji
arfie
arfie
Just how dangerous is it to combine political power and the assumed delicacy and innocence of the traditional feminine stereotype? I know entirely too many women, with anti-sexist cleavage to their navels, playing that dynamic to the hilt.

One of the many pleasant side effects seems to be: Girls get help. Boys get profiled. Boys are being profiled as early as elementary school. I hold it as one of the worst social injustices of our era.

Prayers in progress. Healing hopes for all. No exceptions.
DoooOver
DoooOver
i am so sorry this is happening Muji. Is there any way you can get students to advocate for you? i wish there were a way we could.

I certainly doubt you have done anything wrong at all and i could totally understand you being scared and confused. this thing has been going on too long and with the actions these students have taken in other classes the administration needs to be addressing them, not you and they should be pulling additional students not directly involved into the situation to hear from all parties.

much support for you Muji. Take care of yourself. honest self care, whatever helps you. Hot shower, reading, music, good smells or a movie you can dive into.
LillyPotter
LillyPotter
this is completely ridiculous. I get that it is upsetting and confusing and terrifying for you, of course it is, but there is so much that is already there on the books about your classes and your teaching. who you are as a human being as well as who you are as a teacher is well known at the school - I don't think any of this will get off the ground at all. I also expect your other students will stand right up behind and all around you.
I certainly will, if there is anything I can do or say please let me know.

you know I am praying xxxx
patti22
patti22
They do NOT need to be in nursing. (But they probably will be, I know how the system works.)

Can you talk to the other instructor? And trust yourself that you graded them fairly. Geesh.
bluedragon41
bluedragon41
:(
((( Hug )))
Agree that you should talk to the other instructor.

Provided this stupidity does not cost you the hard-won tenure, I think recording your class by video is the way to go in the future.
DoooOver
DoooOver
the recordings of class is an outstanding idea! will they let you do that? i would assume if the allow the students to tape, or if you are also using it as an advanced teaching tool they would allow it.
LeoX3
LeoX3
I can't think of anything except to send support to you....

So my thought is, "She's trying to avoid personal responsibility for a grade, or she's got an issue and is overreacting out of hypervigilance or hyper-something, as we here do."

Whichever it is, much prayerful support to you, Muji.
Community Leadermujicaptsd
mujicaptsd
Thanks, everybody. I had a night of troubled sleep. Today I spoke by phone to the director who oversees the class I taught, and they complained to her yesterday, but not about my being "inappropriate." I wasn't, so they went to her and claimed I hadn't given back their 1st 2 tests out of 4. That was a lie, too, but a lesser one, I suppose.

I did, as I did graded everything on time all semester. In fact, the director knows I returned them because when I let one of the students handle her graded test 2 in the classroom she cheated and tried to change the grade I'd given her before I collected them back to keep. I told the director and after than I just gave them their test grades but didn't let them handle the tests themselves because they couldn't be trusted.

Fortunately, I'm not teaching students at this low level again. That agreement was part of my ADA accommodation when I got tenure last month. The Vice President agreed that he couldn't either, and that both he and I should teach upper level, more mature students only. I'm talking to someone tomorrow about how my ADA accommodation fpr PTSD works in cases like this, just for my own peace of mind.

What a bunch of stress for nothing. The ringleader student in this false complaint got an A in the class, by the way. Her bad attitude over the whole semester in class did not sway me as to being fair to her, even though very unfair to me she was. Maybe if she grows up someday she'll realize that.
cheesecake88
cheesecake88
Hugs and Support Muji, just now reading this...geez I am so sorry. I agree with what has been said here, video classes.audio, talking with the other teacher, document EVERYTHING, every word, even talking to a lawyer if necessary. It is so stressful, my PTSD went through the roof triggered, and management was at first supportive, sort of, but now want to sweep it all under the rug...nothing on file where I live, they would not put anything in the now fired maint. man's file when he was still here, but they wanted me to put it in writing in MY file...I said if they would not put anything in his...I refused to put it in mine...I went to a large Law group in the big city, I qualified for that help because of disability, and it is documented there, kept for years, and reported the incident to an ADA group too. I was told by advocates that was a very smart thing to do..at the time I could barely think straight, but now I agree, and I see why, management wants to deny it ever happened, but I have proof documented elsewhere. Sorry to ramble Muii, take care of You, Protect You, we are here for you. More Hugs of Support
Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
Big hug for you muji.... I think that they know they get under your skin and can trigger you so they continue to do so Muji

I would try for the next year 'not' reacting to bad behaviour as best as you can... I think when they know they trigger you and the group mentality takes over it can be a lot of nonsense

I would let them know simply that your marking is done in the time period allotted by the school and then dismiss the subject... Another hug for you my friend...xo
arfie
arfie
A visualization I use to get me through gossipy button pushing is to imagine a blank sheet of paper in front of my face on which the button pusher can write anything he/she wishes. Express it, good buddy, express it. Vent it to your heart's content.

Once they get bored and move on in search of their next cheap thrill, I visualize myself crumpling up that sheet of paper and tossing it to the wind. Blow with the rest of the litter, my righteous one. No room in my backpack for your profound wisdom.

I have yet to meet a button pusher with the awareness to know their opines never even reached me. Nor have I ever felt the need to enlighten them. They have glass bulbs for their brand of enlightenment.
Community Leadermujicaptsd
mujicaptsd
For the moment it looks like things at work worked out, the students made threats of getting up a petition against me but nothing happened today about it. Fingers crossed. Unfortunately, it did mean my bosses were alerted about it, even if it is a false alarm.

So once again the PTSD prof looks crazy.

Oh, well.
LeoX3
LeoX3
Methinks some kids need a reality check on one hand and a serious psych eval on the other. Demanding that kind of attention from administration, as if they're in some cat fight for who can trash-talk whom into submission.... There's a generational "thing" about how matters are communicated, and a certain "bullying belligerence" seems to be a sort of "norm" to a degree not previously seen. Basically, having been hooked to an electronic device since birth (assuming these students to be under 25), they've little to no memory of life without internet, cell phones, texting, etc., and there is no "personal" connection without that buffer. There's also an inaibility to have a proper empathy. This is a fairly sweeping statement, I know, but studies in the last few years have shown that the social and emotional development is seriously affected by both that, as well as the kind of parenting they're accustomed to.... Did htey get away with playing two divorced parents against each other as kids? They'll think that'll work forever. That sort of thing, too.

I'm rambling b/c I'm exausted, but the point is, I would have you and the other instructor point out that you're both "elderly" and the students could be opening the college up to a discrimination action if it does not discipline students for, essentially, wasting time to amuse themselves at the college's expense.
DoooOver
DoooOver
good to hear it worked out Muji, i just wish they would stop and give you a break.
looney1
looney1
There are always people that want to bring a good man down muji. Unfortunately they are too young or uninformed to realise it's not a game. Good for you for keeping an even keel.
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