PokerBob gets screwed at work. What would you do?(tl;dr)

[QuickLearner]

Good luck to you PokerBob. I worked in higher ed for 15 years, and was a public school teacher before that. One thing that I don't have to say to you is that the politics you fight in that world would scare the Borgias. I see your options as follows.

1. Go along and try to preserve your sanity by finding as much joy as possible in teaching those less-gifted students. I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job. Or,

2. Make the biggest disturbance you can and thereby make enemies who will live to see you destroyed. At the very least, torturing you will become the only project they care about. You probably know that. Or,

3. Use the upcoming year to conduct the most successful job search possible and aim to get hired someplace where they value ability over tenure status. maybe a charter school, or maybe a prestigious prep school somewhere. In the meantime take their filthy money.

If it was me I'd combine 1&3. Start the school year committed to teaching the kids and enjoy yourself as much as possible while beginning the job search. By Christmas you'll either have prospects somewhere else or you'll have remembered all the good things about being a teacher.

If I could go back to teaching I'd do it in a minute, but I don't think I have the option at this stage of my life. I'd be leery of starting a war, which is what dragging the students and parents into this would do. It would guarantee the maximum amount of stress that you will ever experience, and I know from personal experience how badly a person's health can be wrecked by stress.

[PokerBob]

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Good luck to you PokerBob. I worked in higher ed for 15 years, and was a public school teacher before that. One thing that I don't have to say to you is that the politics you fight in that world would scare the Borgias. I see your options as follows.

1. Go along and try to preserve your sanity by finding as much joy as possible in teaching those less-gifted students. I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job. Or,

2. Make the biggest disturbance you can and thereby make enemies who will live to see you destroyed. At the very least, torturing you will become the only project they care about. You probably know that. Or,

3. Use the upcoming year to conduct the most successful job search possible and aim to get hired someplace where they value ability over tenure status. maybe a charter school, or maybe a prestigious prep school somewhere. In the meantime take their filthy money.

If it was me I'd combine 1&3. Start the school year committed to teaching the kids and enjoy yourself as much as possible while beginning the job search. By Christmas you'll either have prospects somewhere else or you'll have remembered all the good things about being a teacher.

If I could go back to teaching I'd do it in a minute, but I don't think I have the option at this stage of my life. I'd be leery of starting a war, which is what dragging the students and parents into this would do. It would guarantee the maximum amount of stress that you will ever experience, and I know from personal experience how badly a person's health can be wrecked by stress.

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thanks for the well thought out response. unfortunately it is riddled with reason and common sense, and right now all i care about are spite and vengeance. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] when i cool off and have to make decisions, this is the post i'll read.

[microbet]

Maybe one of the younger siblings of one of your students is going to be taking one of these classes; maybe one with a mother in the PTA.

Or, ask TAP WTF? (maybe you did. tl;dr and all.)

[PokerBob]

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Maybe one of the younger siblings of one of your students is going to be taking one of these classes; maybe one with a mother in the PTA.

Or, ask TAP WTF? (maybe you did. tl;dr and all.)

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i have considered asking TAP wtf, but i am likely to get a canned response.

[RJT]

I get the impression that your teach at a relatively prestigious HS. I say this because of the number of students taking physics - not your typical public HS. You might want to clarify (confirm?) this for those suggesting to look for another place to teach. Is it private/public good pay etc. Btw, I assume you have no union.

[PokerBob]

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I get the impression that your teach at a relatively prestigious HS. I say this because of the number of students taking physics - not your typical public HS. You might want to clarify (confirm?) this for those suggesting to look for another place to teach. Is it private/public good pay etc. Btw, I assume you have no union.

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it is a suburban school in a rich district. good pay. we have a union, but there is nothing they can do. i was promised a job, and i have one. what i teach is up to the sole discretion of the administration.

[banditbdl]

PokerBob,

You're pretty much screwed near as I can tell.

That said your best option is to try and work out something with TTWC and TNG. I'd agree your new schedule seems reasonable but in order to have a shot you are going to have to give away more, maybe something like this:

TTWC- Gets the 8 AP Chem quarters, 2 Chemistry Quarters and takes 2 Freshman Science (possibly physics if she really won't move)

TNG- Gets 4 AP Physics, 6 physics, and 2 Freshman

PB- Gets 4 AP Physics, and either 4 Physics/4 Freshman or 2Physics/6 Freshman

Focus on getting one period of AP Physics back above all, everything else is gravy after your initial anal-pounding. Talk/Beg with TTWC and TNG directly. Pray the two of them can find a little compassion to give you SOMETHING, this is really your only hope.

You are in all likelihood going to get nothing from TAP and the new principal no matter what you do. The more you raise hell with administration and publicly with students/parents/other faculty the digger hole you make for yourself with everyone you work with. Period. The administration who have to deal with it will hold it against you. Any students/parents who get involved will most likely be placated and told by administration there isn't much they can do because of... your leave/promises to TNG/TTWC seniority/whatever. (Not fair, but reality). TNG and TTWC might become true enemies and the other faculty will tell you that you're getting screwed but won't do anything about it cuz they don't wanna screw themselves.

[PokerBob]

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PokerBob,

You're pretty much screwed near as I can tell.

That said your best option is to try and work out something with TTWC and TNG. I'd agree your new schedule seems reasonable but in order to have a shot you are going to have to give away more, maybe something like this:

TTWC- Gets the 8 AP Chem quarters, 2 Chemistry Quarters and takes 2 Freshman Science (possibly physics if she really won't move)

TNG- Gets 4 AP Physics, 6 physics, and 2 Freshman

PB- Gets 4 AP Physics, and either 4 Physics/4 Freshman or 2Physics/6 Freshman

Focus on getting one period of AP Physics back above all, everything else is gravy after your initial anal-pounding. Talk/Beg with TTWC and TNG directly. Pray the two of them can find a little compassion to give you SOMETHING, this is really your only hope.

You are in all likelihood going to get nothing from TAP and the new principal no matter what you do. The more you raise hell with administration and publicly with students/parents/other faculty the digger hole you make for yourself with everyone you work with. Period. The administration who have to deal with it will hold it against you. Any students/parents who get involved will most likely be placated and told by administration there isn't much they can do because of... your leave/promises to TNG/TTWC seniority/whatever. (Not fair, but reality). TNG and TTWC might become true enemies and the other faculty will tell you that you're getting screwed but won't do anything about it cuz they don't wanna screw themselves.

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look at the schedule i proposed. in any other year TTWC would be THRILLED with it.

[VORP]

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Didn't bother to read past the OP, so it might be covered. One thing I know about new administrators (I used to teach, and my wife currently teaches) is that they have zero backbone with parents. Take up the students' offer and let the parents raise the hell.

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I think this is probably your best play. Multiple parents complaining will definitely get your opinion heard.

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the thing is, the kids who know i am a good teacher already had me and are gone, so they really have no incentive to do anything. i am not so well renowned as to have a following among parents whose kids have yet to have me.

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Really? No one who loved you when you taught regular physics and wants to make sure you’ll be there for the AP class? Or parents who have younger kids coming up in a year or two?

I can empathize with your situation as my Dad has had to deal with a couple strikingly similar situations the past few years. Populations can vary greatly but, at least at his school, some of the parents are fanatical about AP classes and, as has already been said, they can exert a lot of influence. I would think that getting a few parents on your side as well as emphasizing your past test scores will be your best bet.

[JordanIB]

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Didn't bother to read past the OP, so it might be covered. One thing I know about new administrators (I used to teach, and my wife currently teaches) is that they have zero backbone with parents. Take up the students' offer and let the parents raise the hell.

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I think this is probably your best play. Multiple parents complaining will definitely get your opinion heard.

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the thing is, the kids who know i am a good teacher already had me and are gone, so they really have no incentive to do anything. i am not so well renowned as to have a following among parents whose kids have yet to have me.

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There are undoubtedly younger siblings coming into your classes where this could work.

I was the 3rd of 3 coming through the school system...my parents knew exactly what type of path they wanted for me, including some specific teachers along the way.