Passive aggressive paras.....

[greenfiremajick]

So how do you handle them, if you have a PA para?? I can much more easily handle a honest to goodness disagreement or butting of heads, than passive aggressive issues!

[Bananas]

Sometimes I am passive aggressive with one colleague, or I would be dealing with conflict all the time. I pick my battles and stand up for the important ones. Other times, I go about my work, and just let the occurrences present themselves and then deal with them. I have learned to deal with the battles head-on, civilly but very firmly, or I would long ago become a doormat.

[greenfiremajick]

Sometimes I am passive aggressive with one colleague, or I would be dealing with conflict all the time. I pick my battles and stand up for the important ones. Other times, I go about my work, and just let the occurrences present themselves and then deal with them. I have learned to deal with the battles head-on, civilly but very firmly, or I would long ago become a doormat.

I just don't "get" passive aggressiveness unless it's used due to, as you say, wanting to avoid a continuous drawn out battle on a reg basis...
I guess I should have been more clear...I mean PA people that might resent you for taking "their"place or resent you for some reason, resulting in a desire to make you miserable...How do you deal w/that kind of PA scenario???

[irish223]

Are you the new teacher with paras who have been in the school for a while?

[Chef Dave]

So how do you handle them, if you have a PA para?? I can much more easily handle a honest to goodness disagreement or butting of heads, than passive aggressive issues!

Errrr ... could you borrow your husband's tazer and zap that person?

Seriously though, could you give us a "for instance?"

I had two paras working in the student operated restaurant as assistant managers. One is great and is my strong right arm. The other one got into a disagreement with me over classroom management. When I told her that our discussion was over, she said, "It ain't over until I SAY it's over!"

When I suggested that she was about to get in trouble for insubordination, she flicked her hands at me in a "c'mon" gesture and snapped, "BRING IT ON!"

The end result was that I wrote her up for insubordination and unacceptable conduct, told her to leave the restaurant, and recommended to building administration that she be fired.

She was fired.

[smithmt]

paras are paras for a reason. They are also referred to as TAs or Teacher ASSISTANTS which I believe is more exacting and accurate. They are there to assist YOU, not the other way around.

If, like in Bananas' scenario, they applied for the job and failed to get it, that is not your fault. If they are a certified teacher and trying to get their foot in the door, but then are not hired, that is a HUGE clue that they should seek a position elsewhere. If they are not certified, than they should take THAT as a clue.

The only other thing I can think of is that they liked your predecessor and don't much care for you, but again: not your fault, and they need to get over their issues. Perhaps you could suggest that next year, you don't need an aide in your room.

[greenfiremajick]

Are you the new teacher with paras who have been in the school for a while?

I don't think I'm the one you're thinking about, no.....But I will say that the school I am going to, has had a para running the entire sped program and class under the sped director, since they lost their sped teacher in the middle of the year...I don't even know the para and I'm just wondering about some techniques/tips to use, if she does have an issue with me coming in....I'm a relatively straight forward, say it like it is type of person, so.......

[greenfiremajick]

Errrr ... could you borrow your husband's tazer and zap that person?

Seriously though, could you give us a "for instance?"

I had two paras working in the student operated restaurant as assistant managers. One is great and is my strong right arm. The other one got into a disagreement with me over classroom management. When I told her that our discussion was over, she said, "It ain't over until I SAY it's over!"

When I suggested that she was about to get in trouble for insubordination, she flicked her hands at me in a "c'mon" gesture and snapped, "BRING IT ON!"

The end result was that I wrote her up for insubordination and unacceptable conduct, told her to leave the restaurant, and recommended to building administration that she be fired.

She was fired.

Well, I do have regular access to his mace.........The thing that would worry me about the situation you described, is how it would affect your relationship with the students....I take it, it worked out fine??

[greenfiremajick]

Perhaps you could suggest that next year, you don't need an aide in your room.

No way! I am supposed to have about 19 sped students....I would go nuts w/out an aide!

[Chef Dave]

The thing that would worry me about the situation you described, is how it would affect your relationship with the students....I take it, it worked out fine??

The assistant manager threw her tantrum when there weren't any students around.

We told the students that she left to pursue other opportunities.

Since we lost her, we lost a 2nd cashier ... but it worked out well. We trained student cashiers and operated short staffed the rest of the year.

The students benefited from working as cashiers.