Teachers your comments please

[Megan's Mom]

Teachers I want another teacher's view on what is happening at our school. Little background. Our school is new this is the second year in business. We have a tyrant for a principal. He never says anything good to us that we have done. Doesn't appreciate things that we do for the school etc. I waits in the hallway with his clipboard every morning when we come in taking notes. ( I get there 15 minutes before we have to be there). He writes people up if they are sitting at their desk calling roll first thing in the morning. This is just the tip of the iceburg but we don't have enough time or space for everything else. Well two weeks ago was teacher appreciation week. It was never talked about. He makes announcements on the pa every morning and for a week we heard that it was Library week and she got a plant on Librarian day. (He likes her) He never once said this is national teacher appreciation tell your teacher how much you appreciate them or anything to that affect. All the other schools in our system had things all week. Not a lot but one day they had a cake, one day biscuits for breakfast, lunch brought in, stuff like that. So the longer the week goes the madder we get and are feeling unappreciated. Then on Friday of that week someone (secretary that was taken out for lunch for secretaries day) sent around collecting money for his birthday. Now we have done Christmas and Boss's day. We haven't gotten so much as a Christmas card in the last two years. Most of us didn't give. We were wrong in doing this? What do some of you do at your school? As someone told me appreciation is a two way street. We have to do all kinds of things at school. Work ballgames, have club meetings after school, and they are always making us stay for something as if we didn't have lives of our own outside the four walls. Sorry this is long but had to vent for a little bit. not much longer. We hope he will transfer to a high school soon. We are willing to pay.

 

[Sonya]

I'm sorry, I know how hard it can be to have a bad boss/principal. I wouldn't have given anything either! Do you all have principals evaluations at the end of the year? It is standard here and is really good for them to see the feedback.

 

[disykat]

He does sound bad. When I worked I always felt like my principal treated us like children/students and it made me and others resentful. Now I work closely in a different district with my children's principal (I'm PTA president there) and can't believe how well the staff is treated. Her respect for them shows in the behavior of the staff - they are much more willing to go above and beyond.

PS - I'm so sorry your parent organization didn't do anything for teacher appreciation. Although it's mainly done by the parents here (and we include the principal and other staff) I know our principal would be kicking us into gear if we ignored it!

 

[Megan's Mom]

disyket
We don't have a PTA. He doesn't want one. I guess he is afraid someone wil tell him how to do things or he doesn't want parents sticking their nose in his "school".

 

[Serena]

Megan's mom, you teachers need to get together and give your own appreciation dinner or whatever.

I'm not a teacher, nor do I plan on being one. But I am pto and we did give something each day for our teachers. I'm sorry your principal seems like such a jerk. I wouldn't want to work for him either.

Forget the principal, get together and do something for each other. I know it may not be the same, but it might be fun. And don't invite the principal. lol

 

[disneyjunkie]

I've always viewed TA week as a time for parents to show the school staff how much they appreciate all the hard work they do.

How can your principal tell the parents they can't form a PTA? Don't they have the right to form some type of parent group?

 

[jamsmom]

I might have donated a penny....no, I just would have thought about it.

 

[lindamg]

Sounds like it's time to transfer to another school. Don't you guys have a contract that specifies how much extra time a teacher can be required to stay after school hours? Ours basically says we can only be required to stay for a regularly called faculty meeting and for an Open House. We'd be filing grievances over some of this stuff! That's what a union is for - to prevent abuses of this sort. Now that doesn't mean we don't stay more - we all show up for Reading Night (in our PJs even) and science fair night and school concerts and the spring fair and the winter carnival . . . . but the key is we do it because we want to and because it is appreciated.

 

[lindamg]

Double post - sorry

 

[Megan's Mom]

We have that "duties yet to be assigned" part of our contract. All the extra stuff falls there. We don't mind doing the extra stuff if we were appreciated for it. Let me say this though our Assistant Principal is great she does appreciate us when she asks us to do things she is very appreciative. but she is in the same boat we are in. She says her pants fit better now without so much rear end.

 

[Kteacher]

It's tough having an administrator you don't get along with. If it makes you feel any better-we got nothing for Teacher Appreciation Week- not even a mention of it from administrators, PTO, or parents.

 

[Cindy B]

Now is this a private school or public school?


I work at a public scool (middle school) with four administrators in my building. One principal, three assistant.

Our union is pretty solid, and is pretty involved in telling us what is in our contract and what isn't. (I am new, so I ask questions all the time!)

As for teacher appreciation, my childrens school, and the school I work , it was all either parents, student governement, or specific teams of teachers doing something.



To put it in perspective, I used to be a secretary. Did I get upset when it was forgotten for four years? No, I didn't. I just kept on doing my job. I'm sorry you don't feel appreciated by the principal.. but focus on the long stretch.. with the kids. The kids are the reason you are there!

 

[tar heel]

I don't believe teachers are unionized in Alabama. We don't have a lot of unions in much of the South.

I think a principal who does not want a PTA has a problem. I would work really had on moving to a different school.

 

[isyne4u]

I have had several bad principals in the past and the one we have now is wonderful. I feel horrible for people that do not have a great admin.

As for being appreciated, I think it is important for teachers to be recognized since so often we are slammed for not doing enough for our students. (by the public, the media, etc)

As for donating or not to anyone's birthday, retirement, sobriety fund, I personally believe you give if you want to give. If I don't like someone I don't donate. I would hope this would send a message to the person who gets a gift from the dollar store from his entire school.

Be happy knowing that there are people out there who support you and appreciate what you do everyday, even if it isn't the principal (apparently he doesn't see the "pal" at the end of his title. Eventually, he will get what he deserves or better yet the powers that be will move him out of your building to a higher position so you won't have to deal with him.

good luck to you and all of your fellow teachers (I'm a teacher and can't spell collegues correctly!! hehe)

tara
teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing!

 

[damo]

In my experience there are principals that are good for the teachers and there are principals that are good for the students and every once in a while you get a principal that is good for both or none. Nothing much you can do. How long is he allowed to stay for? In our area, principals move a minimum of every 4 years.

 

[jamsmom]

When I did teach, there was a clause in the contract mentioning that all duties might not be explicitly expressed or something like that. My best friend teaches for a district that requires them to be on X number commitees, have after school/before school duties, make X number of "positive calls to paretns per each 9 weeks; and other things.

Most of these have to be done after the day. No extr pay for this, either.

 

[Kissimmee JP]

Lean on me. When you're not strong, I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. For, it won't be long, till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.

Everyone join in.

 

[J&D]

Most of us didn't give. We were wrong in doing this?

No.

Our former principal followed the philosophy that if you take care of your people, then your people will take care of you. He was wonderful. Unfortunately, I don't think many principals have this same philosophy.

Lean on me ...