Monsieur

Photo credit: www.bonjourlesenfants

I hated Mathematics as a child and I still do as an adult.

It was the main reason why I dreaded going to school and I will never forget my grade 5 teacher. She gave about fifty maths problems to solve every other day which I never completed. 

I got punished severely for never finishing my work but what was I to do? I accepted my fate and suffered the consequences. 

We also had a Maths test every morning at some point which of course I failed woefully all the time.

My best subjects were Social Studies, Music, Reading, Religious Knowlege and French though I hated the male French teacher with a passion.

As a little girl I knew him more than the teachers knew him, Its a gift I've had from a young age to know an evil person from first interaction. There were evil lines all over his face and I wasn't surprised when he was made the official disciplinarian just because of the way he flogged pupils mercilessly at any given opportunity. (Evil man)

When he reported me to my class teacher that he often saw my sister and I dressed gorgeously as we walked past his house, I searched my head to understand why it should be an issue that my teacher would dwell on.

Anyway, while I tried to figure out how to stop failing Mathematics as it had become obvious that my teacher hated me for being awful at the subject I got a proposal.

It was from Ebube (not real name) another pupil. She also suffered same fate; unsuccessful efforts at passing Maths. The pupils marked each other's scripts at this morning Maths drill. Ebube as small as she was had the courage to ask me to score her high while she did same for me.

I jumped at the offer and after we executed our plan, we were the first to run excitedly to the teacher to show her our scores. She was happy for us and the reward was moving us two seats behind.  To put it mildly, the first and second rows were for pupils who needed more attention.

I really do not remember what happened afterwards if my friend and I continued with the trend. 

It's been a whole 30 years and I'm making this open confession for no reason at all. I still hate Mathematics. 

The only topic I like in Maths is counting - counting my own money. Lol

By the way, years later the French teacher popularly called "Monsieur" defrauded the school and fled the country.