Madness, utter madness....

[Spectre]

And I had just begun to think things might return to some semblance of sanity....:mad:

I postively hate February and early March, the time change week, and the long stretch between Christmas and spring breaks. Things just seem to come unwound and my fear is, they might just get worse.

CAUTION: if you've a weak stomach or had student induced trauma in your life, you might not want to read any further.
Okay, you've been forewarned.

One of our boys got suspended for 5 days, last week; I have to agree, as do most of my teammates, that the penalty was overkill and very nonproductive. Up until this time, the boy was beginning to get himself in order. then.... And why was he suspended for such a length of time? He refused to pull up his pants, made some nasty comment to one of the teachers, and slammed a door shut as he entered a classroom. Now, YES, the student should have been punished, no doubt, but FIVE days out of school?

Yes, world, our school is beginning to see an increase in "stupid," and it seems to be our administration leading the charge.

It gets worse.

This boy came back with an attitude. Not sure I would not have myself. Today, he came in, baseball cap on his head, drawers sagging, long shirt out of his pants and drooping nearly to his knees. I said nothing at first, waiting for the proper time to address those issues. Did I mention that this kid stands six foot three? I'm barely 5 foot 9.:eek:

Our procedure for beginning of school is for students to come in and sit down in homeroom and wait until dismissed to go to their lockers. This student decides he is going to his locker without my say so, gets up and heads for the classroom door. I stepped into the doorway long before he ever got there and politely asked where he was going.

"My locker," he snarled. VEry atypical of this boy.

"Not just yet," I said, very calmly and with absolutely no rancor in my voice, "please have a seat."

Not only did he not comply, he pushed me aside (you read it right) and forced his way by me and went to his locker. The other kids were aghast.

The moment of "truth" was at hand. What do I do next? Well, I durn sure wasn't going to tackle the boy and drag him back into the classroom. I did ask him, verbally, to return to the classroom. He ignored me. Another teacher, also in the hallway, witnessed that part.

I was shocked, to say the least, but, admittedly, a little upset at being manhandled like that. I will take a lot, but will NOT tolerate what amounts to assault.

My first impulse was to pick up my classroom phone and call for assistance, but decided that might escalate the situation since the boy would hear me. Instead, I asked the other teacher to keep an eye on my homeroom, while I walked down the hallway, calm as I could (I was close to hyper ventilating right then) until I found our resource officer. I reported the incident. He got on his radio and called the office. NO ONE came for ten minutes. By then I was seething. Meantime, the resource officer went down to talk to the student; I stayed where I was. I was furious. Finally, one of the administrators showed up, I gave my version of what happened and we all returned to the classroom. By then, the offender was seated in his place and the kids were abuzz about what had happened.

"I wish you had not provoked him like that," the officer said to me.

It was all I could do to keep from exploding on the spot. ME, provoke him? I asked for an explanation. It seemed that the story he got, from the student and a few of the others in the classroom, was that I blocked the doorway and would not let him pass.

I wanted to scream, but didn't. I acknowledged standing in the doorway, but only because I needed to stop him from doing something he should not.

Enter the guidance counselor...the one with the rose colored glasses and the kumbaya attitude. She actually did something wise. She removed the student from the classroom and took him down to guidance.

I was really agitated. I understood that the boy was upset, but he had LAID hands on me and now it was my fault.
The administrator who had come down had said nothing yet, and informed me that he was going down to talk to the student.

I had taken all I could at that point. I asked if someone was going to do more than talk. I whipped out my cell phone and (yes, this was NOT a good move) asked if I needed to call 911 to get a REAL policeman down there. I had been assaulted and they were trying to pin it on me.

Both administrator and resource officer told me that they would confer with me later, after the spoke to the student, and they left.

I wanted to punch holes in the wall and very nearly made good on my threat to call 9-1-1. My teaching teammates were as upset as I, but none of them had actually witnessed the assault.

The student did not come back to my classroom. I saw him in another class, later in the day. He said nothing and showed no emotion, one way or the other, when I passed by.

I heard nothing else and am looking towards tomorrow morning like I would a root canal....:(

[sgaestel]

That's tough. I have not yet had a student place an unwanted hand on me...and I fear how I would react in the situation.
It sounds to me like you responded very well to the situation. VERY WELL.
I hope tomorrow gets better for you.

[Chef Dave]

I am sorry you had this experience.

Did you tell the resource officer, guidance counselor, and/or administrator that you not only had a teacher witness, but that you also had your entire class?

I once blocked a student like that. It was in my last school as an elementary teacher. The student in question was a second grader who consistently cut in front of the bus line despite having been told by his homeroom teacher that he couldn't do that.

While on bus duty, I watched the teacher for the umpteemth time, tell the boy to stay in line. He waited until she left and went to the front. As the teacher on duty, I asked him to return to his place in line. He told me to F**K off.

When the bus arrived, I stepped in front of him and again asked him to return to his place in line. He side stepped. I side stepped. He stepped to the left, I stepped to the left. I carefully kept my hands behind my back and continued asking him to return to his place in line.

His response was to kick me in the privates. Another teacher grabbed the student and the other children boarded the bus. The bus left ... without the 2nd grader.

The building administrator was furious. Even though I hadn't grabbed the kid, she threatened to write me up for touching a student and said I was responsible for causing him to miss his bus. She ignored the fact that he had been disobedient, that he had cursed me, and that he had assaulted me.

As with you, I had to threaten to call the police. The student wound up with a one day suspension.

[Spectre]

I am sorry you had this experience.

Did you tell the resource officer, guidance counselor, and/or administrator that you not only had a teacher witness, but that you also had your entire class?

.

Unfortunately, the other teacher did not see the push, only his coming out into the hallway. Only a few of my students actually saw it. I don't know which students the resource officer talked to, but apparently, they sided with the boy....

Odd, because most of them were really upset about what happened....

But you know what...this was not the ONLY incident recently. Yep, there is more.

A 6th grade student wrote profanity on tables, knocked over an aquarium, and generally ran amuck. He got a three day suspension, but since his return, he has written a lengthy and very anatomically detailed description about how he plans to sodomize one of his teachers.

Administration decided to do nothing.

I feel as though I'm in a battle zone. June cannot get here fast enough....:o

[akb]

I too had a similar experience where a child put his hands on me. I am only five foot three... I will not get into the particulars, but I will say that if you want results, you will have to go beyond the administrators in your building. I had to call the police and file a report. It is a good thing that I did because in my state, the school police and the real police are totally different entities. At first, the school police removed this student from my room the day of the incident and eventually the administration had him removed from my roster for the rest of the year.
At the time I was the only accelerated teacher in my grade/ subject area and he was an accelerated student. His parents got an attorney and threatened to file suit against the school if he wasn't allowed access to the accelerated class, but when they learned that I planned to file charges as a follow up to my original report, if I needed to do so in order to keep him out of my classroom, they dropped their threats.
It is a shame that an intelligent kid was denied access to an accelerated class, where he (academically) belonged, but it was not right to expect me to have him in class every day.
To me, it was a matter of principle- I was not going to have a child in my class who put his hands on me, period! The administration and guidance counselors (even at the district level) and even the school police would have been all too happy to appease his family to avoid legal action. Sometimes as teachers, we are put last. My advice, put yourself first and take action with the law outside of your class. That may be the only way the school will take you seriously. Good luck in meeting with the administration tomorrow, but if it doesn't seem to be going your way, end the meeting. You might want to bring a rep from your teacher's union if you have one...

[busbus]

Hang in there, Spectre!

In reading this and some of your similar posts, I think that I am watching the old movie, Blackboard Jungle. These miscreants and that administrative team of yours make for a long and hard day.

You are a better person than I am or you are careful in picking your battles - in this case, I would have filed a serious incident report and called 911. Sometimes we have to allow our students to suffer the consequences of their behavior. With all of the craziness going on in schools and on campuses, we have to try to halt this kind of behavior before it escalates into something worse.

I'm with you and FOR YOU - June can't come fast enough.

Good luck at your meeting tomorrow.

[Chef Dave]

Unfortunately, the other teacher did not see the push, only his coming out into the hallway. Only a few of my students actually saw it. I don't know which students the resource officer talked to, but apparently, they sided with the boy....

Odd, because most of them were really upset about what happened....


Yes, that is most definitely odd. It's also a bit frightening that so many of your students seem to lack a moral compass.

During the past year, you've shared a number of experiences about your class. I cannot help but be appalled by the overall attitude of your students. All too many of them are rude, insubordinate, and blatantly disrespectful.

I wonder what sort of adults these children will become. Will this negative cycle continue and be passed on to the next generation?

Since you're white and most of the students are black, it's also all too easy for students and parents to accuse you of "cultural insensitivity" or "racism" in matters of classroom management.

I personally do not think that race or culture should have anything to do with attitude, respect for authority, and student participation and willingness to learn.

Unfortunately, since your guidance counselor and school administrators have acted as "enablers" in the past, I am not hopeful that your school climate will significantly change within the next few months.

The good news is that we're now into March. You're more than halfway through the school year ... so hang in there and get out while you're still sane. Go to a school that will appreciate you.

There is absolutely no reason why you should have to tolerate such abuse. When coupled with a general lack of administrative support, I fear you are fighting a losing battle.

Best wishes!

David

[Spectre]

I've had a night of fitful sleep. This is NOT good for my blood pressure or for anything else. I am taking my case to the local NEA affiliate today. Already called, late last night, and left a message on their answering service. Now we'll see if the hundreds I pay in dues each year was worth the investment. I've been disappointed before.

Chef Dave, it isn't just a matter of race. Not for me. I have minority and hispanic students who are wonderful people and good students. Sadly, this school has gained a rep for being the school for troubled kids and the leadership is known for "feeling sorry for" and enabling such students, all to the deteriment of everyone involved.

No one has had the nerve to tell them that. Now I fear it is too late even if someone did.

Doubly sad, because the principal seems like a good person. But being a good person is not enough. I firmly believe he is merely in over his head and cannot manage the situation.

What a mess....

[muinteoir]

I'm glad you're talking to your union. If you do not get support from them, contact the authorities.
Keep us posted, I"m going to check back in tonight.

[dangercat]

Spectre,
I feel for you. My practicum class was a wonderful class full of lovely children save for one student who really set me on edge. He would look at you with this look of...I don't know how to explain it...other then to say he looked like he considered you to be less then an insect. I watched as this student actually attacked a teacher. He bit at her and was out of control. The same student attempted to pick up a desk to throw at me one day. I think the only thing that kept him from doing it was I didn't back down from him... I ended up asking my advisor how much physical contact I could have with a student to protect myself, the other students, and the offending student from being harmed. I was advised that whatever was nessessary to control the situation and to record everything.The adminstration has even had him lash out at them and yet he still isn't part of thier crisis prevention group. This is a result of his mom swearing that she is taking him to counseling. I keep waiting for the day he actually really seriously hurts someone.

I hope it gets better. June will be here before you know it.

[Spectre]

Spectre,

I hope it gets better. June will be here before you know it.

Ugh! Not soon enough for me. The student was back in my classroom today as though nothing had happened. He came into my classroom, his shirt hanging out, a cap on his head and his pants drooping, an obvious attempt to provoke me. I did not take the bait.

One of the good things about having four classes of about an hour each is that you only have to look at them for 60 minutes and they are gone.

Administration hasn't said a word, even seem to be avoiding me.

That won't work.

NCAE hasn't called me back and that DOES worry me.

This is really getting into my guts....:mad:

[dangercat]

It does sound like this one student really is trying to hit all of the right nerves with you. Are you going to seek out the administration or wait and see if they speak to you?

[Miss T]

Just a note...I'd document everything you've done, what happened, what time it was, when you made phone calls and who you left messages with. You'll need that papertrail if this goes further.

I totally feel for you, keep us posted!

[Spectre]

It does sound like this one student really is trying to hit all of the right nerves with you. Are you going to seek out the administration or wait and see if they speak to you?

I am mostly waiting to see if my local NEA affiliate will provide me some advice on this. I don't plan on waiting very long...

[dangercat]

I am mostly waiting to see if my local NEA affiliate will provide me some advice on this. I don't plan on waiting very long...

Have you heard anything yet?

[MissTeach]

I hope you receive help from the NEA. A student should never push, shove, or put their hands on a teacher or any other authority figure!

Keep us updated.

[dangercat]

I hope you receive help from the NEA. A student should never push, shove, or put their hands on a teacher or any other authority figure!

I completely agree. To this day a guy I used to go to school with still whines that the system was unfair to him when they sent him to alternative school. He attacked a teacher hitting her more then once in the face with a football after she told him to take his seat one day. The really sad thing is the poor woman stopped teaching completely because of him and she was a very sweet teacher. I think if anything the system was too light on him. He'd been destructive to school property in the past and had pushed a teacher. I know lots of kids have problems, but we should not have to be in fear of our students because of what they could do to us.

[Miss T]

It makes me angry for you. I wrote up a student for throwing the top of a Kleenex box across the room. We have a strict one-day suspension rule for throwing anything at all. So I told the student that he would be going to OSS, especially since it almost hit me in the head. Sometimes these kids are so violent, I have nightmares that I get attacked by one. I know that it's only a kleenex box top in my case, but it's only the beginning with some of these students.

[wtrafton]

I agree, being afraid of what students might do to us is not part of the job description. What about the parents? We shouldn't have to fear them either. It really makes me wonder.:mad:

[Spectre]

I was about to post that I had heard nothing yet, but ten minutes ago, I got a return phone call from the NCAE rep. I explained the situation. It seems, somehow, she already knew a little bit about it because other faculty members have approached her about similar incidents (now THIS I did not know) and they referenced my situation too. I had mentioned what had happened to very few people...in fact, only my three teammates and administration, of course. Somehow, the word got out!;)

Bottom line: the stuff is about to hit the fan!

Administration gave the boy two days of in school suspension, to begin tomorrow....

NCAE is furious!! It appears I am not the only one, as I think I said, to report serious incidents that have been overlooked.

For starters, the rep has a call into the superintendent himself, has contacted local law enforcement and there is a chance our resource person will lose their job. There is talk of a lawsuit.

Lord have pity!!! It seems we have busted a hornet's next!

Duck and cover!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

[Chef Dave]

I agree, being afraid of what students might do to us is not part of the job description. What about the parents? We shouldn't have to fear them either. It really makes me wonder.:mad:

During my first year of teaching back in the '82, I taught 5th grade. One of my students constantly acted up. He talked back. He told me to F**K myself. He refused to follow directions ... so I sent him to the office.

The assistant administrator applied corporal punishment.

The boy came back to the classroom in tears and told me that I'd better F**King watch my back.

After school I got a phone call from a very angry parent. The father shouted at me over the phone and told me that a real man don't take nuth'n offa no one.

How dare I disrespect the father's authority by telling his son what he could or could not do.

The father ended the call by telling me that he was coming to discuss this matter further. He added that he was bringing his shotgun.

I reported the incident to the office. Within minutes a DPS trooper's patrol car was parked along the street leading to the gate that fronted the parking lot to our school. The assistant administrator, a grizzled Vietnam war vet who was built like a short version of the Incredible Hulk, grabbed a baseball bat and stationed himself at the gate.

The parent never showed up.

The sad thing is that a few years later, he was involved in a shooting incident. His son had pulled a shotgun from the back of the father's pickup and was shooting it into the air at a wedding reception. When the father of the bride asked the boy to put the weapon away, the kid told him what he could do with himself.

An argument ensued and the boy's father wound up grabbing the shotgun. He shot the bride's father and as far as I know, is still serving time in a Texas state prison.

Some parents are downright scary. :(

[MissTeach]

I'm glad to hear that something is happening now! I'm glad you didn't just let this go. It may be difficult at times, but hopefully the students in your school will learn that they cannot abuse teachers!

[Spectre]

Got another phone call, here at home, about 90 minutes ago.

The NCAE rep tells me she spoke to the deputy superintendent, that an investigation will be done, and that the principal has been placed on administrative leave, beginning immediately, pending the results of the investigation.

As I believe I said, the problems run much deeper than the one I recently had and all of the proverbial pigeons are coming home to roost....:eek:

By the way, I went down to the local police department this afternoon and filed formal charges of assault and battery. They were very cooperative and compliant, calling me "sir" etc etc.

I think they realize they are up to their hindquarters in alligators.

[busbus]

I'm so happy for you. It's about time that someone or some entity has begun to look at the situations at your school in a serious light.

Good for you and good for those who have made former complaints. I'm so glad that your union is supporting all of you.
And, I hope that there is some resolution before the end of the school year.

Nice going and good luck. :)

[Chef Dave]

The NCAE rep tells me she spoke to the deputy superintendent, that an investigation will be done, and that the principal has been placed on administrative leave, beginning immediately, pending the results of the investigation.

http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/bigimages/grayson3.jpg
HOLY COW BATMAN!

Was the building administrator placed on administrative leave because he failed to follow through with an investigation of the assault?

Does this mean that there will now be a consequence for this student?

What happened to the resource officer? Did he ever change his attitude?

[Spectre]

http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/bigimages/grayson3.jpg
[
Was the building administrator placed on administrative leave because he failed to follow through with an investigation of the assault?

Does this mean that there will now be a consequence for this student?

What happened to the resource officer? Did he ever change his attitude?

My situation was only one of several, it appears. With each passing moment, more and more comes to light. The school principal was placed on leave, I suspect, because he is seen as being responsible for the overall welfare of the school and if things aren't being done properly.....

The student was placed into in school suspension for two days, a small consequence for assaulting a school staff member. Not a problem. Like I said, I have sworn out a warrant for arrest. That will get everyone's attention.

No word on the fate of the resource officer. I wonder if he still thinks I "provoked" this student.....:D

I really should not be gleeful about all this, but I have watched things deteriorate for almost two years now, and just about no one was inclined to do anything about it. It's good to at least see the situation recognized for what it is.
It's also a comfort to know that I am not alone in this, so I should not be singled out for retribution, as sometimes happens with whistle blowers. And YES, that was a concern. :eek:

Now? I don't think the suits want to draw anymore attention to themselves than has already been done.

[dangercat]

It's good to hear that something is being done. I am also glad to know that there are teachers who will stand up for themselves. I seem to hear too many horror stories of teachers who just duck and cover instead of taking a stand against what is going wrong in their school.

[akb]

Wow! I am glad to hear that something is being done. Cheers to you for sticking to your guns. Dealing with administration and law enforcement is tough and scary. You mentioned something about a warrant. What does that mean exactly? I hope you at least get an order where the student cannot come near you. This is really about much more than an in school situation. As others mentioned items about parents, I think we can all say that more often than not, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. This student is in for a rude awakening if he thinks he can conduct himself like that in the real world and not face substancial consequences...

[Spectre]

Neither the principal or the resource officer were at school today. There was another officer there. I don't know what that means, if anything.

I have mixed feelings about all this, really. The principal has always been very decent to me. It is really his underlings who are dropping the proverbial ball....

[Chef Dave]

I have mixed feelings about all this, really. The principal has always been very decent to me. It is really his underlings who are dropping the proverbial ball....

Have you heard the expression, "The buck stops here?"

I understand your feelings. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, who is responsible for everything that happens at the school? It's the building administrator.

You were in the army. You were an officer. Who was responsible for the unit under your command? The senior NCO or you?

As a chef, I'm responsible for everything that happens in our student operated restaurant. If a bone headed freshman were to forget everything he learned about sanitation and if he were to begin tossing salad with his bare hands ... and if the health inspector chose that moment to walk through the kitchen door ... who would be responsible for the health code violation? The freshman? :eek:

I think you know the answer ...

[Spectre]

Have you heard the expression, "The buck stops here?"

...


Oh yeah. I've been thinking the same thing and, yes, my military background does come into play...the commander (in this case, the principal) IS ultimately responsible for what does and does not happen.

Still, it makes me sad. Most of the real failure has been the work of subordinates, but YES, he is still responsible.

I wonder when the investigation is going to begin....
He is on leave until that is complete. That can be a long time.:eek:

[sgaestel]

I am shocked at the administration in this situation! And I am so glad that they are being held responsible for the problems you have endured this year, finally.
We were told at our first faculty meeting this year by our resource officer that if a student even CURSES at us, they will be cuffed and taken to the police station for disorderly conduct.
I am happy to report that the situation has not occured.
I was cursed at last year, but have been lucky enough not to have it happen again.
Like I said, if hands went on me, I don't know how I would react in that situation, from what everyone else has stated about their situations, it sounds like you all handled it very well.
You can make it till June, Spectre! Then get the heck out of there!

[Spectre]

You can make it till June, Spectre! Then get the heck out of there!

Oh and I SHALL.

Friday, I emailed the head of our science department for my school district, politely, but firmly letting him know that i was seeking another teaching assignment and that If I did not find one, I was definetly leaving the district.

He shot back an e mail within the hour and is coming to see me, personally, tomorrow (Monday); I am both flattered and encouraged. :D

Am I concerned that my current administration will put heat on me over this???? :eek:

Nah...they are too busy trying to save their own tails right now. Besides, I have had outstanding evals since coming to the school two years ago and if things suddenly turn sour, I will merely contact the NEA again and they will yet more ammunition to sink their ship! :D

Hooah!!! Teachers rule! Suits drool!!!!

[Spectre]

Our science director came to see me, as he pledged. We leave for a field trip at 3:30 PM today and we'll be gone all week, until Thursday night, but the following week, I am going to meet up with him at another location.
I've actually begun to think I am really going to extract myself from this situation.:D

[dangercat]

I've actually begun to think I am really going to extract myself from this situation.:D

That's good. I'm still glad to know that something is being done.

:) Brook

[Chef Dave]

Our science director came to see me, as he pledged ...I've actually begun to think I am really going to extract myself from this situation.:D

One thing to think about is this ... is the problem you experienced with the general lack of administrative support TYPICAL of the district or atypical?

If the rest of the district is pretty good, you might consider an inter-school transfer ... but if the rest of the district has problems, you're running the risk of setting yourself up for a very difficult year next year.

After 18 years of teaching it continues to amaze me who much good will or havoc a single building administrator can exert over the overall school climate.

I've worked with building administrators who were verbally abusive. Two of my building administrators have used their large physiques to try and intimidate their staffs. One administrator was a micromanager who drove his teachers nuts. One brown nosed with the parents and gave them anything they wanted no matter how ridiculous their requests were. One administrator hid in his office and was so rarely seen that when he finally visited my class, my students didn't know who he was. (Since he was reluctantly providing a tour of the school for the district superintendent, the superintendent was not impressed and the administrator's contract was not renewed.)

If you'd like to have a good year next year, find yourself a decent administrator ...

[brotherbart]

My issue is this... this seems to be a universal problem at our level of education. I'm not sure what has happened in the past 5 -6 years or so. At what point did the shift change to require the educators to justify themselves. I feel like in just about every situation, the teacher has to be on the defensive (at least in my school)... you disciplined a child? Why? How? To what extent? What were your intentions? "Did you provoke the situation?" Did you overreact? ... an endless stream of attitudes and questions that insinuate that it is the teacher that owes an explanation as to why he or she dealt with a problem student, or a broken rule instead of the administration holding students accountable for their behavior.

There has been a very tangible shift in behavior in the past few years (especially the past 2) and I am wondering if anyone else has noticed? But instead of nipping the behavior in the bud, we choose to pick our battles. What does that say to our kids?

Well my opinion is that is teaches them to let behaviors, morals, rules slide and deteriorate providing they don't put you out too much right now.

Maybe I'm wrong but this seems to be my current reality.

Any thoughts?

[Chef Dave]

Any thoughts?

NCLB has driven a lot of teachers out of the profession. I'm one of them. Although I'm now a chef instructor, I started out my career as an elementary teacher and spent 17 years as a classroom teacher.

Just as NCLB has driven out teachers, it has also driven out building administrators.

I believe that some of the administrators being hired today are not administrators who would have been hired 20 years ago.

I think we're scraping the barrel when it comes to hiring some teachers and some administrators.

Administration has always to some extent also been a political game. In today's world of NCLB with schools required to meet AYP, administrators are increasingly under the gun.

My last building administrator told me to ignore teaching science and social studies because they weren't tested. She wanted me to teach extra reading and math. She also told me not to "waste my time" teaching kids who were significantly below grade level because there would be no way to catch them up in time for testing. I was told to focus instruction on marginal students. By doing this, I could "tweak" my test scores.

I wound up resigning and leaving the elementary classroom.

In today's world I think there is an increasing tendency among certain administrators to "cover their own butts." Some administrators would rather blame their teachers than to stand up to parents. They will blame anyone to avoid having to take personal responsibility for anything.

Consider the recent case of a Catholic principal at a school in the Bronx. He was fired for having "inappropriate" pictures on his computer. In remarks to the press, who did he blame for losing his job? No! He blamed teachers who had a vendetta against him.

Never mind the fact that he had inappropriate pictures on his computer and never mind the fact that he had "relations" with a male subordinate and that he forged credentials to get this man hired ... none of this was allegedly his fault.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/02/28/2008-02-28_bronx_catholic_school_principal_blames_s.html?r ef=rss

I realize that this is an isolated case in point - but google a search and you'll find administrators who have been fired for embezzlement of school funds. You'll find administrators who have falsified test scores. You'll find administrators who have had sex with their teachers in the faculty lounge. I even found one person who had been fired because she hired someone to perform a voodoo ritual to "cleanse" her campus of negative energy. Included among the rites was the sprinkling of chicken's blood on the grounds outside the school.

[busbus]

"I believe that some of the administrators being hired today are not administrators who would have been hired 20 years ago."

I agree with you, Chef. As I go around my district, I see principals who I knew as teachers and some that I have heard about. Many were not effective teachers, yet, they were in the right place at the right time and were placed in schools as principals. Some of these are the ones that are trying so hard to make tenure that they tear down their staffs to get it. They are intimidated by the effective experienced teachers and they can bully the new teachers who are still learning; but, who are trying and developing their teaching skills. It's so sad. Not only are we loosing good and effective classroom and content area experienced teachers, we are loosing the new and beginning teachers. :mad:

[Spectre]

If you'd like to have a good year next year, find yourself a decent administrator ...

I know that this the key, chef Dave. :D
This is one of the reasons I find what has transpired in my current school so tragic. The principal (the one who has been suspended) has always treated me decently...got down in the mud and helped me pick up dropped science notebooks last spring...but under his watch, the school is simply going to he** in a handcart. Yes, he treats his staff well, but that is not enough. Problems have been ignored or glossed over, all in the name of political correctness and now the entire school is suffering.

We were in DC this past week (monday-thursday) and so I do not know the status of things at school. I will find out Monday.

[Spectre]

There has been a very tangible shift in behavior in the past few years (especially the past 2) and I am wondering if anyone else has noticed? But instead of nipping the behavior in the bud, we choose to pick our battles. What does that say to our kids?

Well my opinion is that is teaches them to let behaviors, morals, rules slide and deteriorate providing they don't put you out too much right now.

Maybe I'm wrong but this seems to be my current reality.

Any thoughts?

This is year #25 in the classroom for me, most of it at the middle school level....

One of the reasons I have survived, thus far, other than my relative flexibility, is that I have chosen to pick my battles wisely. To do otherwise, at the middle school level, is to set yourself up for an almost constant struggle, one that no one wins, in the end.

But having said that, there are some things we cannot overlook or endure or we descend into chaos... :eek:

Sadly, I feel this line has been crossed at my current school. As I think I've already said, the situation I endured was merely the tip of the iceberg. There have been some other situations with violent or potentially violent students, staff neglect of duty, and some other issues I am not privy to know about, that have not been dealt with, often in the name of the sacred god of political correctness.

That is where the wrong has come into play. :(

[Spectre]

One thing to think about is this ... is the problem you experienced with the general lack of administrative support TYPICAL of the district or atypical?

If the rest of the district is pretty good, you might consider an inter-school transfer ... but if the rest of the district has problems, you're running the risk of setting yourself up for a very difficult year next year.

After 18 years of teaching it continues to amaze me who much good will or havoc a single building administrator can exert over the overall school climate.



.

I've only been with this school system for two years and it is so large that I've little idea about the quality of school administrators overall.

I do know one, personally, however. She attends my church and seems like a good person. She and I have talked "unofficially" and mostly just exchanged viewpoints and ideas, but have not talked about next school year, as we are not supposed to do that, "officially" until we make our intentions for next school year known to the school system. I can do that at the end of this month and the moment I do, I will contact this person forthwith.

If I can get a position at this person's school, then I will most likely remain in my school system. It makes sense. I am eligible to retire with full bennies in 5 years; why start off new in another school system and risk having to "break in" there? Besides, there are some good things about my current system, with some VAST improvements over the one I came from. Why throw all that away?

The only exception to that will be if I can find a decent position in one of the mountain counties in North Carolina (very tough to do) or at one of the new charter schools springing up in the western part of the state. :D

[Spectre]

I, too, have noted a general downturn in the overall quality of school administrators in recent years. My observation has been that far too many are entering administration because there is more money in it and because school systems are desperate for administrators and NOT because they have good leadership qualities or good visions of what schools out to be like. And it's true, the pressures of NCLB haven't helped.

[sgaestel]

I know I am blessed to have a wonderful principal and administration where I am. I am also lucky enough to have this administration be my first. My principal is in his second year as a principal, and I in my second as a teacher.
This man is headed up, and I know he won't be my principal for my whole 30 years...I will be very nervous when we get a change in administration.

[DarrenB]

I received my masters of school administration about two years ago, and halfway through the process realized that admin was definitely not the direction I wanted to go. They deal with all the negative aspects of our jobs and none of the positive. That's a bit simplistic, I know, but combining those elements with the longer hours and the not-so-much-greater pay, and it was a deal breaker.

Instead I switched to working with teachers to help them become more effective in the classroom.

I don't envy our administrators. So many headaches and so little thanks. We as teachers put so much on the shoulders of our admins when really it is we- the teachers- who can collectively have the biggest impact on a school's climate.

But only when we are willing to subdue our egos and collaborate for the greater good. Difficult to do since we're all so used to being kings and queens of our classrooms.

Darren B.
Helping Teachers Grow . com

[MsCoffeeLover]

Spectre, please keep us up to date on the new job. After three awful years, I was a nervous wreck, anxious, and vomitting all the time. People only called you in to see them for something negative, so you end up feeling as though nothing you do is right. For the first time, I felt insecure in life, and my outlook on life and humanity was so far from optimistic.

Hang in there because you just never know. There are a lot of awful administrators and schools out there, but this year was the last chance I was giving education, and it has been a good year. You can tell a change in my behaviors since the beginning of the year and now. This is a good supportive team, I am coming out more, interacting more, and have felt hopeful and have begun to trust again.

My situation coming in was not good nor were my evaluations. I was honest with the principal, asked for a chance, and he gave it to me. He had a gut feeling about me, and took that chance, and I feel truly blessed. The principal and assistant principal support the teachers in ways I had never seen before.

This year has been an awestruck year in how things can turn around for the positive. Keep that in mind because it really is out there. It is sad you have to look around and experience a lot before you find it, but it can be found. Something more really does exist.

Do you teach 8th grade science because we are looking for two 8th grade science teachers at my school. :)

[Spectre]

Do you teach 8th grade science because we are looking for two 8th grade science teachers at my school. :)

I do, but really prefer 6th grade.

Thanks for the encouragement.