25 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make and How to Avoid Them

Mistake
6
Physiological Discrimination
SCENARIO 6.1
The Antifat Motive
When I was in ninth grade, I tried out for the cheerleading/pom-pom squad. I made it.
I was thrilled. I was excited because even though I was a little overweight, I had been
chosen. I went to practices, games, followed the routines, and tried to have fun. It was
difficult sometimes because the others girls would make fun of me or call me names.
Now during this time, I didn’t really lose or gain any weight. So here was the issue. My
coach called me into her office and said that one of the main reasons I was on the team
was so that I could get more physically fit. Boy was I taken aback. I was so hurt and
disappointed in her and myself. I still love being a “stand cheerleader,” but I never tried
out again.
The coach obviously had a
hidden motive for selecting
the overweight student for the cheerleading
squad: to make the student
lose weight. When the student did
not lose weight, the coach felt compelled
to reveal a personal “antifat”
motive. This candid revelation clearly
communicated to the student that
she was not okay, that she was fat
and she needed “fixing.” Perhaps the
coach’s intent was to shame her into
losing weight by telling her that she
was chosen because of her weight
problem and not her merit, skill, or
value. The coach’s motive was selfserving.
If the student lost weight
once she was a member of the team,
the coach could claim credit for healing
the student’s “fat affliction.” The
cost of this “benevolent” act to the
student ’ s self-esteem was immeasurable.
Although the teacher may have
felt her intentions were good, her
behavior was indefensible and needlessly
painful for the student.
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