So in summer, I was in PE and we had a substitute and he called me a disappointment to the school and that I was never going to get anywhere in life. He’s a regular substitute at my school and what he said seriously affected me (I have severe depression and anxiety) and I cannot bear to be in the same room as him. Sometimes, I end up with him as a teacher. How do I deal with this? (Sorry for the long message) x

You could express your feelings to a teacher you trust or administration.  If this teacher is acting this way, they shouldn’t be in the school.

So in summer, I was in PE and we had a substitute and he called me a disappointment to the school and that I was never going to get anywhere in life. He’s a regular substitute at my school and what he said seriously affected me (I have severe depression and anxiety) and I cannot bear to be in the same room as him. Sometimes, I end up with him as a teacher. How do I deal with this? (Sorry for the long message) x

You could express your feelings to a teacher you trust or administration.  If this teacher is acting this way, they shouldn’t be in the school.

Something I’ve always wondered about English teachers is the reading. Why do you pick old, out of date books for class readings

It depends on the school and department; sometimes we are told which books to teach based on grade and theme of the course.  Many older books are still relevant today, like To Kill A Mockingbird (racism) or The Great Gatsby (party lifestyle and desire for success).  We also try to use more modern books too.  The two different books I’m teaching this semester were published within the last 10 years.  There is usually a plan for why teachers use books; there is a lesson in everything we read.

Something I’ve always wondered about English teachers is the reading. Why do you pick old, out of date books for class readings

It depends on the school and department; sometimes we are told which books to teach based on grade and theme of the course.  Many older books are still relevant today, like To Kill A Mockingbird (racism) or The Great Gatsby (party lifestyle and desire for success).  We also try to use more modern books too.  The two different books I’m teaching this semester were published within the last 10 years.  There is usually a plan for why teachers use books; there is a lesson in everything we read.