PokerBob gets screwed at work. What would you do?(tl;dr) - Page 4

hyde · #31 06-07-2006, 09:33 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Are you prepared to quit over this issue?

If so, do everything within your legal rights. Take the issue to the school board, and take it to your local newspaper as well. Spread the word that this is happening.

The school board needs to know how your admins are performing.
Other teachers need to know that this could happen to them.
Parents need to know that their kids are getting the shaft.
Kids need to be informed, and they can choose to be a force on their own.

Go up the chain in the most professional manner you can handle.

Good luck!

Edit: Just saw that you don't want to quit. Still think the issue needs escalating, just more delicately.

[/ QUOTE ]

best answer dcasper.
I have been on the school board, wife was a teacher, I had three kids in the system, I coached, my neighbor was the superintendent and my raquetball partner.
I saw it all. From allsides.
And the answer is you are screwed. Probably. There is a nasty beaurocracy in school systems.
It is easy for ineffective teachers to hide as it is nearly impossible to fire one, it is easy for petty personal agendas to be advanced by those teachers who advance to administration, where a decent teacher becomes an ineffective leader. and tenured. jand damned near unaccountable.
My first move would be to meet withthe superintendant and let him know his students were going to suffer and why. Ask him if there is any recourse.
And it is war. I would not be above enlisting students and parents. If my kid were up for AP physics, I would want to know why you weren't teaching it. And I'd request answers in writing from all involved, including the school board.
NOw the other teachers may not like you for this, but F them, they were trying to screw you.
Hell, make the teacher that cries CRY.
When I was on the wchool board we had a teacher that cries apply for assistant principal at the Jr. High. that is primarily a discipline position, and it was in talking with the students that she cried. Totally unqualified for the position. Fortunately enough of us knew the stories.
But I digress, it was a frustrating era.
Good luck.
trip report please.

hyde

PokerBob · #32 06-07-2006, 09:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If the kids scored higher on the AP tests when you were the teacher in comparison to crybaby and new guy I have no idea how the principal could be retarded enough to not let you teach the AP classes. I assume that the kids did do better on the AP tests when you were teaching, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

part of the issue here is TTWC's fragile psyche. i have to work with the lady, so in the past i have treaded lightly. although at this point i am getting fed up and in the next meeting would love to just say "look, i am tired of pussyfooting around here. the fact of the matter is that the kids don't respect or like you and think you do a crummy job. they hate the fact that you weep openly in class, as it makes for a horribly uncomfortable situation for them. are they supposed to console you? you're a grown woman for christ's sake. act like it. if that hurts your feelings, well i'm sorry. but i am tired of pretending that you are doing a great job, because you aren't". maybe that would motivate her. more likely it would get her to set my car on fire.

Tron · #33 06-07-2006, 09:42 PM

Bob,

I don't have any answers for you, but I just wanted to wish you good luck and I hope that you wind up teaching the AP courses; there is little that is worse than being stuck with an incompetent teacher in an AP course. Stay strong.

PokerBob · #34 06-07-2006, 09:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Are you prepared to quit over this issue?

If so, do everything within your legal rights. Take the issue to the school board, and take it to your local newspaper as well. Spread the word that this is happening.

The school board needs to know how your admins are performing.
Other teachers need to know that this could happen to them.
Parents need to know that their kids are getting the shaft.
Kids need to be informed, and they can choose to be a force on their own.

Go up the chain in the most professional manner you can handle.

Good luck!

Edit: Just saw that you don't want to quit. Still think the issue needs escalating, just more delicately.

[/ QUOTE ]

best answer dcasper.
I have been on the school board, wife was a teacher, I had three kids in the system, I coached, my neighbor was the superintendent and my raquetball partner.
I saw it all. From allsides.
And the answer is you are screwed. Probably. There is a nasty beaurocracy in school systems.
It is easy for ineffective teachers to hide as it is nearly impossible to fire one, it is easy for petty personal agendas to be advanced by those teachers who advance to administration, where a decent teacher becomes an ineffective leader. and tenured. jand damned near unaccountable.
My first move would be to meet withthe superintendant and let him know his students were going to suffer and why. Ask him if there is any recourse.
And it is war. I would not be above enlisting students and parents. If my kid were up for AP physics, I would want to know why you weren't teaching it. And I'd request answers in writing from all involved, including the school board.
NOw the other teachers may not like you for this, but F them, they were trying to screw you.
Hell, make the teacher that cries CRY.
When I was on the wchool board we had a teacher that cries apply for assistant principal at the Jr. High. that is primarily a discipline position, and it was in talking with the students that she cried. Totally unqualified for the position. Fortunately enough of us knew the stories.
But I digress, it was a frustrating era.
Good luck.
trip report please.

hyde

[/ QUOTE ]

well, our assistant principal dosn't cry, she just storms out of meetings hurling profanities.

hyde · #35 06-07-2006, 09:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If the kids scored higher on the AP tests when you were the teacher in comparison to crybaby and new guy I have no idea how the principal could be retarded enough to not let you teach the AP classes. I assume that the kids did do better on the AP tests when you were teaching, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

part of the issue here is TTWC's fragile psyche. i have to work with the lady, so in the past i have treaded lightly. although at this point i am getting fed up and in the next meeting would love to just say "look, i am tired of pussyfooting around here. the fact of the matter is that the kids don't respect or like you and think you do a crummy job. they hate the fact that you weep openly in class, as it makes for a horribly uncomfortable situation for them. are they supposed to console you? you're a grown woman for christ's sake. act like it. if that hurts your feelings, well i'm sorry. but i am tired of pretending that you are doing a great job, because you aren't". maybe that would motivate her. more likely it would get her to set my car on fire.

[/ QUOTE ]

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!
Honest savagery. It's good stuff. Calm delivery is important.
You know that tread lightly thing you've been doing....she's been playing you and the whole school.
Buy a beater for this time period.

black_russian · #36 06-07-2006, 09:52 PM

1. I would only focus on the reasons you should teach AP Physics and dont get into talking s*** about the others. Even though it is true shes a nut it just wont come across well. Put together CLEAR and MEASURABLE evidence why you should be in that position..ie test scores of previous students Student reviews of your teaching by students etc.

2. Think long term...one year is nothing...dont let your feelings make you do something dumb. Try and get a committment to change things next year! You may have an easier time selling it that way.

3. Pay students of TTWC to make fun of her/throw spit wads at her and make her cry so much she has a mental breakdown and has to go into an asylum!

DrNo888 · #37 06-07-2006, 09:55 PM

I think it's obvious what happened here.

-TAP slept with everyone and got them on her side.

PokerBob · #38 06-07-2006, 10:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Think long term...one year is nothing...dont let your feelings make you do something dumb. Try and get a committment to change things next year! You may have an easier time selling it that way.

[/ QUOTE ]

once i lose a class, it will be VERY difficult to get it back. that is just the way it works.

[ QUOTE ]

3. Pay students of TTWC to make fun of her/throw spit wads at her and make her cry so much she has a mental breakdown and has to go into an asylum!

[/ QUOTE ]

she cries on her own and is likley near a breakdown anyway.

PokerBob · #39 06-07-2006, 10:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I think it's obvious what happened here.

-TAP slept with everyone and got them on her side.

[/ QUOTE ]

too disgusting to think about.

black_russian · #40 06-07-2006, 10:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
Think long term...one year is nothing...dont let your feelings make you do something dumb. Try and get a committment to change things next year! You may have an easier time selling it that way.

once i lose a class, it will be VERY difficult to get it back. that is just the way it works.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well I guess I would do #1 really well and hope for the best. Other than that I would just offer that life/jobs are not always fair and we sometimes just have to deal with it. Dealing with it could be quitting or teaching frosh science.....for you to think about and decide.