KIm,
You've got it right on with the teacher bit! I absolutely despised him, and never told my paretns. He got layed off from his job at a cigarette company and got a job at my school since his wife worked there. I was pretty miserable at the time of this dream, I was kinda hoping for a good, guiding influence, but nope!

I agree that drowning could have to do with loss of control.