Dear Geography Teacher

Dear Geography Teacher,

In a class where learning was meant to take place

You made me feel unequivocally unsafe

I failed tests in your class that I would normally ace

But what did it matter, that was easily erased.

Ds and Fs where there were normally As

I saw the warning signs while those in power denied them

There’s no proof of misconduct so go back they’d say

I knew he had tenure, had them under his thumb

He’s goofy, he’s weird, that’s just how he is

Respect his authority, never question, sit down

No after no after no, it gets tiring living like this

How do I learn while he’s still around?

Uncomfortable, unsafe, just a few words to describe your class

Five years later I read the news: arrested for sex trafficking

“We didn’t see the warning signs” my ass…

A former educator bought a teenage boy, how is this happening?

You didn’t listen, did it have to go this far?

You didn’t listen and here we are

Am I angry? Fuming to be precise.

Am I disgusted? Sure, and even that’s being nice.

You’re locked up now, so stay where you are.

You’re locked up now and we wonder, did it ever have to go this far?

Sincerely,

A student whose voice went unheard