you make your staff a staff of islands instead of a huge land mass it is easy to get them to turn

[greenbriar]

we have a new principal this year and in 3 short 9 weeks he has turned a well working staff of teachers and paras to a bunch of paranoid afraid to talk to each other individuals

We made AYP last year after 5 years of not making it

this year we probably won't make it


and part of us maybe think we shouldn't because this asshole will take the credit and next year will be even WORSEEEEEEEEEE

I hate getting up in the morning and going to work. The ONLY thing that keeps me going is the kids



break up the continent into islands it is easier to get people to jump through ignorant hoops to keep their jobs

[greenbriar]

1. many of us are ready to just scream

I have been a teacher 12 years under 5 different principals, this one takes the cake

jebus does he ever

I have been in this district 8 years



We are going to have a union member meeting away from school. We have to stop this shit

[MrModerate]

2. I got about 10% of your message. Please translate.

[greenbriar]

4. our principal is a parinoid little asshole

who is writing up teachers for many ignorant reasons


changing a huge bunch of things and havign us do books studies on subjects like dysfunctional teams, crucial conversations in order to have us have "healty conflict" and if we dare to call him on his bullshit, he then puts us on his "hit list" and starts documenting any little thing he perceives as doing it wrong

he told one of my friends today she was a bad teacher because her desk was totally unorderly

accused one of the office ladies of "stealing" because she checked her personal email during parent teacher conferences...a day when we are there from 6 AM until 8 pm

(her grandson is very sick)

the next day, the same office worker found a stack of papers on the copy machine 1000 or more copies of a self made booklet ready for his Saturday class from a personal venture

[MrModerate]

5. Looks like you've got him on misfeasance, malfeasance, and nonfeasance . . .

Are there no official channels?

[Hekate]

3. Are you unionized? You should at least be having meetings to break down the barriers among you.

I'm sorry you're having this travail. It's miserable to hate coming to work, but thanks for your dedication to the kids.

Hekate

[greenbriar]

6. oh yea and our building this year has become 99% unionized

just in the last 2 months


even the clerical staff has joined the non-certified union...first time in 10 years

we are having a meeting next week at the union office

but we have to be very secretive about it

[Nevernose]

7. Welcome to my whole world

I just smile a lot, keep my head down, kiss ass when it's necessary (and honest), and they pretty much leave me alone to teach however I see fit. I just stopped going to meetings that were bullshit (like yet another lecture from the gang unit on "how to spot gang members"), stopped going to "trainings" wherein we were taught how to shake hands, and started writing grants (albeit small ones) that actually brought in a little money.

I do, however, have the distinct advantage of being male. The misogynistic APs I work for cut me an awful lot of slack on that count alone. Virtually no discipline problems anymore, good scores on tests, good lessons on a daily basis. I'm good to go.

I feel for you, though. The difference being that my fear and outrage is only periodic; yours is probably more regular. Ever notice how everyone always talks shit about how bad the education system is, yet no one, EVER, has taken the suggestions of teachers? Politicians, parents, concerned citizens -- these people are all experts. Teachers? No input whatsoever.

[greenbriar]

8. oh yea

but if we don't go to every little training or meeting, our attendance gets brought up


it is really shitty and petty right now

there are about 4 teachers he thinks are good

the rest of us apparently suck


the VP whom we all think does a hell of a job was told that the "good teachers" have warned him that if she is VP next year they will be gone


the rest of us say GOOD RIDDANCE to them

we want to keep the VP