Spectre
12-05-2008, 04:10 PM
As I've said previously, I love my 6th graders (they know it too), like my new school, and like the community it is in, but some of the teachers on staff are driving me to distraction.:angry:
I figured this would happen again. Sadly, it did. :(
That same teacher, on a different grade level, the one who fussed me out about returning the microscopes in poor condition, who has watched and commented on everything I've done (or so it seems) and took me to task over students getting drinks in the teacher work area, was waiting for me outside my classroom door this afternoon, after the students left.
The scenario was the same.
"Got a minute?" came the question. She wore that same "honked off" expression she did the other time. :angry2:
But I had a surprise for her this time.
"No, actually, I don't," I replied with no rancor in my tone at all.
The startled look on her face was almost comical.
With that, I turned and walked back up the hallway in the direction I came from.
"Might I ask why?" she shouted after me.
At first, I said nothing, just kept walking. This woman was not going to provoke me into another semi-confrontation. :gabby:
"If you're going to sign up to use the computer lab, the very least you can do is use it!" she shouted at me, as I rounded the corner on my way to the front office. I bit down hard on my bottom lip, and kept walking, quickening my steps. I sensed she would come after me and, to my horror, she did.
"Others of us could have used that computer time!" she called after me. I could hear her steps coming up the hallway.
This whole thing was taking on an air of unreality. :idontknow:
Turns out that she was upset that I did not take my classes to the computer lab yesterday, even though I had signed up for its use. We had finished working on the project I had started earlier in the week, did not need the additional time, and had simply forgotten I had reserved another day. Yes, it was my fault.
She just couldn't let it go at that.
"Other teachers have rights here too!" she shouted (and I mean shouted) from a position now about 30-40 feet behind me and her words echoed up the hallway, right past a gathering of students in front of our media center. Of course, they immediately took interest and began watching.
How much is a guy supposed to take?
I finally turned around, looked her square in the eyes, and replied:
"You're right! Like the right to not be stalked and scrutinzed by every insecure teacher on staff!"
Mia culpa! MIa culpa! Mia culpa!:o
Durn! She just had to keep after me until I was provoked. And I had to be enough of a dummy to fall into her trap.
The kids didn't say a word, but I know they heard every syllable of what was said.
I turned again and stalked off in the direction of the front office. I had had me enough.
The head man was not there, but one of the assistants was. I spilled my innards. the man, a retired army helicopter pilot (and a war vet like me) listened, then laughed aloud. He wasn't laughing at me, but at the situation.
It turns out that I am not the only "newby" she has done this with. He told me that it has been almost a rite of passage, particularly with men, especially 6th grade teachers (she does 7th) and particularly science teachers.
I acknowledged my fault and imperfection but told him I feel as though I am being stalked. He laughed again and said I most likely was :punch:, but that it would most likely stop once she knew I had gone to higher authority about it.
I most certainly hope so.:shootme:
He assured me of that which I, thankfully, have already heard....that the rest of the school community thinks very highly of me. So do my students, so do their parents, and so did he and the rest of the administration.
I just don't want any more run ins with this person.:confused:
I figured this would happen again. Sadly, it did. :(
That same teacher, on a different grade level, the one who fussed me out about returning the microscopes in poor condition, who has watched and commented on everything I've done (or so it seems) and took me to task over students getting drinks in the teacher work area, was waiting for me outside my classroom door this afternoon, after the students left.
The scenario was the same.
"Got a minute?" came the question. She wore that same "honked off" expression she did the other time. :angry2:
But I had a surprise for her this time.
"No, actually, I don't," I replied with no rancor in my tone at all.
The startled look on her face was almost comical.
With that, I turned and walked back up the hallway in the direction I came from.
"Might I ask why?" she shouted after me.
At first, I said nothing, just kept walking. This woman was not going to provoke me into another semi-confrontation. :gabby:
"If you're going to sign up to use the computer lab, the very least you can do is use it!" she shouted at me, as I rounded the corner on my way to the front office. I bit down hard on my bottom lip, and kept walking, quickening my steps. I sensed she would come after me and, to my horror, she did.
"Others of us could have used that computer time!" she called after me. I could hear her steps coming up the hallway.
This whole thing was taking on an air of unreality. :idontknow:
Turns out that she was upset that I did not take my classes to the computer lab yesterday, even though I had signed up for its use. We had finished working on the project I had started earlier in the week, did not need the additional time, and had simply forgotten I had reserved another day. Yes, it was my fault.
She just couldn't let it go at that.
"Other teachers have rights here too!" she shouted (and I mean shouted) from a position now about 30-40 feet behind me and her words echoed up the hallway, right past a gathering of students in front of our media center. Of course, they immediately took interest and began watching.
How much is a guy supposed to take?
I finally turned around, looked her square in the eyes, and replied:
"You're right! Like the right to not be stalked and scrutinzed by every insecure teacher on staff!"
Mia culpa! MIa culpa! Mia culpa!:o
Durn! She just had to keep after me until I was provoked. And I had to be enough of a dummy to fall into her trap.
The kids didn't say a word, but I know they heard every syllable of what was said.
I turned again and stalked off in the direction of the front office. I had had me enough.
The head man was not there, but one of the assistants was. I spilled my innards. the man, a retired army helicopter pilot (and a war vet like me) listened, then laughed aloud. He wasn't laughing at me, but at the situation.
It turns out that I am not the only "newby" she has done this with. He told me that it has been almost a rite of passage, particularly with men, especially 6th grade teachers (she does 7th) and particularly science teachers.
I acknowledged my fault and imperfection but told him I feel as though I am being stalked. He laughed again and said I most likely was :punch:, but that it would most likely stop once she knew I had gone to higher authority about it.
I most certainly hope so.:shootme:
He assured me of that which I, thankfully, have already heard....that the rest of the school community thinks very highly of me. So do my students, so do their parents, and so did he and the rest of the administration.
I just don't want any more run ins with this person.:confused: