Philosophy Classroom, PW office hours, Sunday 1-4pm

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara Maclay is in her office (well, okay, at her desk in the classroom. Who needs a separate office?) should parents wish to speak to her this afternoon.

Comments

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara bites her lip, trying to find an appropriate way to phrase her response. "Parker has a very strict moral code, and she articulates herself well, but she can be... reluctant to accept other people's views."

[ooc: repost because I am a doofus.]

[centre-sydney.livejournal.com]

Sydney smiles at this, clearly amused. "You mean she is stubborn, and argumentative, perhaps?" He cocks his head. "Is it a problem in class? Or is she allowing others to at least speak their minds?"

_{[ooc: I am a bigger doofus. *headdesk* Thankyou!]}

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara laughs. "Yes, she's actually very active in class discussion. I think it's good for the other students to have someone to challenge them, but I think she's finding the class quite emotionally demanding."

[ooc: Thank *you*. All fixed.]

[centre-sydney.livejournal.com]

"Ah." Sydney's face sobers, and he puts a finger to his mouth for a moment, clearly thinking. "Yes. She finally confided in me about her health problems yesterday. Would you say the class is too demanding? Parker has...." He sighs, clearly at a loss. "Many difficulties, in her life. I wouldn't want her to put any more undue stress upon herself."

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Mr. LaVert, to tell you the truth the class would be less demanding if Parker didn't keep so much to herself. If I'd known she wasn't well - particularly stress related - I wouldn't have asked so much of her. I'm afraid I inadvertantly added to her stress by assigning her to debate last week."

[centre-sydney.livejournal.com]

"I doubt she would have accepted any considerations for her health, had you known. Parker allows her pride to overrule her good judgement, on occasion." Sydney cocks his head, and again studies Tara closely. "You understand, that for Parker to -- share? She must trust. I can count those she trusts on the fingers of one hand, and still retain my thumb. It is not any slight on your abilities as a teacher."

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"I understand that," Tara nods. "I just need to readjust my expectations. She's not shy in the slightest, and because she does talk, I was presuming she'd say whatever was on her mind. I need to pay more attention to what she's not saying."

[centre-sydney.livejournal.com]

Sydney smiles in approval at this. "Good. Precisely, yes. Most often, her confidence will allow her to communicate quite well. But there are areas in her life on which she will not forgive any trespass." He stops, and sighs, looking at Tara with his head bent. "Her mother's death is one such area. Her father, to a certain extent, is another. Will the content of this class-- force her to face these things?"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara furrows her brow a little. "I don't know, Mr. LaVert. Without knowing the circumstances of her family life..." she sighs. "I think I brushed against the father issue in the most recent class - we were talking about the ethics of caring for the helpless, particularly children."

[centre-sydney.livejournal.com]

Sydney visibly winces. "Mmm. Yes. That would be an issue." He stares off into the middle distance for a moment, obviously concentrating deeply. Then, carefully, he turns his gaze back to Tara. "I would not wish you to receive the wrong impression. Parker's mother loved her very much, but the circumstances of her death were... extraordinarily painful. Parker's father has many pressing demands on his time-- perhaps too many-- but he loves his daughter, and has never abused her. She has additional reasons for finding that topic distasteful."

Sydney suddenly nods in decision. "One of Parker's closest friends from childhood is autistic. And he did not always receive the care he should have."

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara nods, unconsciously echoing Sydney. "Thank you for clarifying that. I don't want to pry, but are there any particular issues I need to watch out for Parker on?"

[centre-sydney.livejournal.com]

Sydney nods, once. "Imprisonment, for reasons which touch on her friend, as I mentioned." He pauses, and his face becomes very sad. "And suicide. I would highly recommend-- that you avoid that topic, around Miss Parker. She is, unfortunately i think, far too comfortable with other, more violent topics, but they should not present problems."

"I hope that your class can be a place where Parker can explore these issues at a comfortable remove. However, should she become illl again, I hope you can be understanding." Sydney gets to his feet. "And again, I think you for your time, Ms. Maclay. Is there anything else I should know about Parker's progress at this time? I would like to leave you my email address, should any problems arrive in the future," he adds, taking a small business card out of his wallet.

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Mr. LaVert," Tara replies, taking the card. "I don't think there's anything else now, but I will certainly email you as appropriate. And thank you for the warning."

[centre-sydney.livejournal.com]

_{And I crash *hard*. Thanks. :>>}

[brambless.livejournal.com]

No kidding. It's 2:40am here, and I have *got* to get some sleep!