I think my English teacher has been trying to gaslight our class after a terrible essay experience. This happened a couple of weeks ago, but I’m still frustrated because she keeps bringing it up.
We recently had to take the DCA 3, which was supposed to be just an essay. However, my teacher spent a lot of time talking about it, consuming precious class time that she explicitly stated we would need—”it should take the whole class time (1 hour 30 minutes).” Just when we were about to start, we had a fire drill that lasted about 10 minutes, and she still hadn’t opened the assignment when we got back inside.
Eventually, she opened the test with only about 35-40 minutes left in class. Keep in mind, we had already read a lengthy text, completed a four-square planning method, and needed to write an extra paragraph since it was an argumentative essay. With the limited time frame, it was nearly impossible to produce a decent essay. And since we follow an A/B day schedule, we couldn’t just finish it on another day—it was almost the weekend.
The following week, she launched into a long rant about how poorly we performed without acknowledging that we only had about 40 minutes to write. She insisted we had the entire class time, and no one spoke up to correct her. My friends and I were exchanging looks, feeling like we were losing our minds. It was so infuriating, and she continues to bring it up with each new essay, as if the poor quality of our work is entirely our fault.
Is this gaslighting? It certainly feels like it, especially since she’s been so insistent about improving our essays after that experience.
It sounds like you and your classmates had a frustrating experience. Based on what you’ve described, it does seem like there was a breakdown in communication regarding the time allocated for the essay. If your teacher is insisting that you had the full class time when, in reality, you didn’t, it could feel dismissive of your experience.
Gaslighting typically involves manipulating someone into doubting their own perceptions or memories. In this case, if the teacher is repeatedly claiming that the essays should have been better despite knowing that the time was cut short, it could give the impression that she is not acknowledging the reality of the situation.
Considering the ongoing nature of her comments, it might be helpful to address this directly with her or to bring it up with someone else, like a counselor or another teacher. You and your friends have valid feelings about the situation, and it’s important for your concerns to be recognized. Keep advocating for yourselves and seeking clarity in your learning environment!