The Teacher and the Hijab

My town is in a frenzy because a maybe-rather-limited teacher forcibly half-removed a student's hijab. She immediately apologized and said she had thought the hijab was a hoodie.

A part of the apology was missing, I think. A shrewder teacher might have said: "If I'm honest, there was likely some unconscious aggression in what I did. On a better day, I could have just really committed to using my words..."

But perhaps honesty isn't really an option in this country; many Maplewood lefties are furious at the teacher. I think some of this fury comes from self-hatred; I think, on one level, many lefties can imagine themselves making the same mistake the teacher made. Acknowledging little bits of *pervasive* Islamophobia is difficult; it's easier to go after one teacher. I feel for everyone in this story.

All this reminds me of a moment from my days in front of the classroom. I was working as a substitute teacher, and I spotted a certain mom I'd had friendly chats with. Her little son had just entered a restroom; I was aware that there were multiple stalls, and I didn't think carefully; I just went in. The mom immediately panicked and plucked her son from the restroom, and it was painfully clear that she had believed I might in some way abuse her child while he tried to pee.

I was appalled that she would think this, and also annoyed with myself that I hadn't considered the optics of the situation, and I never felt comfortable around this mom (never again). When I mentioned that I would be having a son, she seemed to take a rabid interest in my son--and the interest seemed to be a way of apologizing. But, every time we talked, there seemed to be a weight of things unsaid.

Mostly--for now--I'm relieved not to be working in a Maplewood school. And I wonder if the teacher shortage will get worse, as this profession often seems so undesirable.

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