SINISTER
adjective sin·is·ter \ˈsi-nəs-tər, archaic sə-ˈnis-\
According to
Webster, “sinister” means:
“unfavorable, unlucky”
“fraudulent”
“evil or productive of evil”
“presaging ill fortune or trouble”
“accompanied by or leading to disaster”
It can also be a
reference in heraldry to the supporting object situated on the left side of the
shield, with “dexter” being the proper reference to the supporter on the right
side.
So to which of
these definitions do you suppose the preschool teacher in Oklahoma was
referring to when she called a four-year-old in her classroom “sinister”?
According to a
report published last week in Huffington Post, the boy was writing with his
left hand. The teacher allegedly made him switch his pencil to his right hand
because, as the boy later explained to his mother, “This one’s bad.”
When the mother
confronted the teacher, the teacher gave her a copy of an article – the Captain
suspects it came from the internet – describing left-handed people as “evil,
unlucky, and sinister”.
While it is not uncommon
(although archaic) to refer to the left side of something as the “sinister”
side, that’s not at all what the teacher meant. According to the article, the
Devil is left-handed. As proof, it says, look at historical artistic
representations of the Devil – usually holding his staff in his left hand.
 |
| There ya go! |
The article goes on
to explain that in the 17th century it was believed that the Devil baptized
his followers with his left hand.
Thus the
association with left-handedness being evil.
Sinister!
As a proud lefty,
this kind of stuff really pisses off the Captain!
Several years ago
the First Mate was working in the preschool program at the church where I was a
pastor. One day the lead teacher was absent so a substitute was brought in for
the day. It was reported to me later – probably knowing how I would react –
that at one point the substitute had snatched a Crayon out of a 2 ½ year-old
child’s left hand and placed in her right hand, with the admonition, “Oh, no.
We’re going to start you off right!”
As if one’s
predominant hand is simply a choice.
Sadly, some believe one's sexuality is also simply a choice. But that is a blog for another day.
Had the Captain been informed
about the sub's actions earlier in the day, she would have been sent home immediately, never to return.
It can be difficult
for a lefty living in a predominantly right-handed world – think about using everyday
items like can openers, spiral notebooks, computers, and musical instruments.
For the most part, we learn to adapt.
For example, legendary surf guitarist Dick Dale is left-handed. Instead of learning to play "right-handed" [doesn't that sound arrogant?] or re-stringing his
guitar, he simply flipped it over and taught himself to play it upside down.
…lending one more
testimony to my personal belief that left-handed people are smarter and more
creative.
We have to be!
And I must admit
that being left-handed has often worked to my advantage. As a child I excelled
as a little league pitcher. As an adult I found I had an advantage in fencing
class.
 |
| Captain's Note: No, I am not in this photo. |
What irritates me
most about this recent news story out of Oklahoma is that the teacher’s actions are based on pure
superstition.
As a teacher of small children, I expect better.
Yes, I know there
are cultures wherein one eats with the right hand and wipes one’s bottom with
the left, and thus the left hand is considered “unclean”. I get that.
But to tell a small
child that his left hand is “evil” – of the Devil! – is just plain wrong.
The news report
indicates the superintendent is “looking into it”.
“We take this very,
very seriously.”
I wish I could
believe the double emphasis on “very” means something will be done, but the Captain
is not optimistic. To date, the teacher still has a job.
If it were simply a
mother’s word against a teacher’s word, there might be something to “look into”.
But the very existence of the article the teacher gave to the mother makes this
a pretty clear case of willful ignorance – for which the teacher should be
fired.
Or worse.
