Research abstract

My Teacher Shamed a Dyslexic and Illiterate Me. Now I’m An Author.

Teachers still shame students even in the 21st century. Students with undiagnosed learning differences can be a particularly easy target for a teacher with a bad attitude. This dyslexic author tells his story of being shamed by teachers. By Anthony Hamilton

Laura Lurns Last updated September 30, 2016 · 1 min read

Anthony Hamilton shares a first-hand account of his childhood struggle against both illiteracy and the antipathy towards education that developed from it, during which his untreated dyslexia plunged him into a vicious cycle of perceived failure. This sense of failure was painfully heightened by an English teacher who repeatedly forced him to demonstrate his humiliating inability to read in front of his peers.

During school, the feelings of shame and inadequacy fostered by those who should have supported Hamilton kept him from realizing his potential. Fortunately, the support he needed was just around a different corner. Now a published author in his 40’s with a hard-won command of the English language, Hamilton recalls the moment when he confronted the teacher who, like the entire educational system, failed him during his time of need.

Key takeaways

Children with Dyslexia who have average or gifted IQs are often grouped into classrooms with children who have low IQs and behavioral issues.
Children with differences such as Dyslexia are creative and have big-picture minds, which are squashed when they are placed in inappropriate educational settings.
Negative messages and lessons can outweigh any remediation children with Dyslexia may receive if put in the wrong classroom.

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Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert Writes about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.

Key takeaways

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