Reading and responding to another thread this morning jogged a memory from long ago and I'm still bristling at the unfairness of it.
I went to the church Sunday school from the age of 5. I was a regular attender and those of us who were used to get prizes every year. Hence my library of prayer and hymn books. I really enjoyed going the women "teachers" made it fun and interesting.
Every year we voted for a Sunday School Queen - sort of Queen of the May who officiated over the church fete and carnival. Girls aged 12 -16 were eligible. There were no nominations those eligible were sent out and names read out in alphabetical order and votes cast. Before they went out there was a reminder that it should be someone who was a good attender and who was kind and helpful. Usually it only took a few minutes.
The first year I was eligible it took ages. This was because after we'd gone out one of the teachers gave a speech about fairness and how it was one child's last chance to be Sunday School Queen etc. Her mother was the church organist. She was not popular because she was arrogant and up herself.
The voting began and I won. But I didn't get to be Sunday School Queen. When we came back in I was told it was very close (it wasn't) and that because it was G's last chance it was to be her. I felt intimidated by the circle of adults around me and agreed to their "request". Then my friends told me how it had really been. The girl wasn't even second. My best friend was furious and stomped off with her brother to tell my parents about the unfairness of it all.
My Dad, on the Parish Council, was not pleased. As he pointed out if those eligible had been asked before the vote to stand down to give the other girl her chance we would have done so. Because we were nice people. But the way it was done was bullying and very unchristian.
He would have left it there but the vicar got to hear about it and was not at all pleased. He felt all the Sunday School members knew what the real result was and it was a dreadful example to them.
He insisted I should be reinstated but by then I'd decided I was done with it. I never went back. A couple of the teachers left and my friend was Queen. She was the genuine second place.
I still find it hard to believe this happened. I see one of the teachers who bullied me out of it around the village often and she can never meet my eye, even after all these years.
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Remembered Unfairness from Your Youth
16 replies
FlySheMust · 05/09/2020 10:58
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