Saturday, May 15, 2010

Once a bully

Once upon a time there was a teacher who wanted to become an administrator. The teacher was bright enough, but interpersonal skills were not a strength.

Instead, he was an OCD type, who wanted control over everything.

He could be mean.

But he felt he could do a better job as an administrator than the ones he worked for. And his ultimate goal was to be in the district where he could control even more.

And he became an administrator.

His method of management is by control and intimidation. The teachers are always wrong. If he can humiliate them or belittle them in some way, then he has made it a teachable moment.

Do not complain about the way an AP does his job because you are obviously inept and can't judge quality work. So, rather than do what is expected of a teacher who has taught for 10 years, you are told to run everything by the administrator he can judge whether you have a clue.

Do not try to discipline these undisciplinable kids - whatever you do may harm their little egos and damage them for life.

Did I mention that most of these discussions are held at the top of his lungs, complete with insults? (I get too many calls from parents about you and I cannot defend you because you do not do even an inadequate job)

And, if he disagreed with a decision by two professionals with over 30 years of experience between them about the best way to help a student finish the year with at least some success, then obviously the best method is to send an AP to the classroom to babysit and call the offending teacher to the office for a drill sergeant reaming out, complete with spit.

The only good news in this economy is that if you don't bother him and stay below his radar he will forget that you are incompetent and you will be offered a contract. And you will join the minions who are silently building submarine files for the day the district decides they have had enough.

If he runs off the highly qualified in the meantime, well that's too bad.

[that felt good. And, no, none of the teachers were me]

2 comments:

Pissedoffteacher said...

We've got several of those in my school.

Ricochet said...

Like bad seeds in class, it only takes one.