Audre Lorde

Once Lorde began going to school she encountered two teachers who used a lot of disciplinary action in there classrooms. "Ability had nothing to do with expectation," this quote from Lorde's essay best describes her kindergrarten teacher, who didn't acknowledge the fact that Lorde's understanding of the given assignment surpassed the expectations of Miss Teacher. Instead of the teacher recognizing the extra effort Lorde put into her work, she only focuses on the fact that Lorde can't follow directions. Miss Teacher embarrasses Lorde for not following the instructions. Lorde's first grade teacher, Sister Mary of Perpetual Help, used physical punishment in her class, "...She sent a note home to my mother asking her not to dress me in so many layers of clothing because then I couldn't feel the strap on my behind when I was punished." MPH was insensitive and didn't bother considering the students feelings. MPH had no sympathy for students who struggled to learn the curriculum and their punishment wouldn't go unoticed; being placed in a group called the Brownies. "One was put into the Brownies if one misbehaved, or couldn't learn to read," says Lorde. MPH was basically labeling the students in her classroom. Similar to an experience Lorde had in her kindergarten class, she had turned in an assignment for her first grade class that exceeded expectations. Her teacher refused to believe she had done the work herself, dismissing the fact that Lorde was a smart student.