Shit, I didn’t realize this was a common experience.
In kindergarten, because my teacher really didn’t like me, she attempted to get me put in special ed classes. And no, I do not mean gifted. I mean where the lead-paint-eaters and droolers were housed.
In one of the few times my mom had anything to do with my education, she found out I was to be placed in special ed and was outraged. She went to the school and had me read from adult books in front of the principal and guidance counselor (that they picked, so no way I could have memorized them)1. And she had me talk about current events in the news and some other parlor tricks — stuff that a normal five-year-old would not have been able to do.
Luckily, as a result of the intervention, I did not get placed in special ed. But neither that kindergarten teacher nor her aide spoke a word to me the entire rest of the year.
I loved public school.