Month: January 2017

The shock of having to go back to Pemberton after a week off is almost unbearable.  I want out.  It’s just miserable.  Everyone exists in fear.  We’re like a bunch of cowering dogs just waiting for the next beating from an unjust master.  Increasingly, I’m asked to do things with which I am very uncomfortable, either because they are inappropriate for the children or because they are unethical ways to treat the employees.

One of our sweet little teachers in the toddler full-day room has been hoping to become a teacher in the public school system eventually.  Like all public school teachers, she has to pass a battery of expensive tests before the state will issue her a license to teach.  She has tried several times and failed.  She’s hoping to try again in the spring, but I secretly have little hope that she’ll pass.  While she’s wonderful with the children and fabulous at her job, she’s not overly bright.  If she hasn’t passed the basic tests by now, I doubt that she ever will.

Anyway, she’s been a full-time employee with Pemberton long enough now that she’s eligible for benefits, such as health insurance coverage and a few paid vacation days.  Linda pointed out to the administration that the teacher had reached her anniversary date with the school and asked for forms for the teacher to apply for insurance.  Instead of being given the forms, she was immediately asked if she had said anything yet to the teacher about this.  She replied that no, she hadn’t.  Their response: “Good!  Don’t say anything at all.  She’s been trying to leave us.  Why should we start this process when she’ll just leave us anyway?”

Ummm, because you owe it to her?  It is her legal right?  You promised it to her?  She’s worked hard for you and has earned it?

As Crystal had still not shown up for work, I expressed my concern for her to Linda in a moment we had to ourselves in the back office.  She finally filled me in on the details.

It turns out that Crystal’s baby was afflicted with a chromosomal condition that causes severe intellectual disability and physical abnormalities in many parts of the body. Crystal was told that infants with this condition do not usually survive the first few days of life, and her baby would likely not even make it to birth.

It seems that Crystal and her husband were faced with an unthinkable decision.  They wanted that baby so badly.  I can’t imagine going through my first pregnancy and learning something like that was wrong.  There was so little hope.  My prayers go out for Crystal and her husband and their baby.  My heart breaks for them.  Sometimes this imperfect world is so harsh.