The only power my AP and principal have over me is the power I give them. I choose to give them none and this drives them crazy. While they do decide what classes I teach and what periods I teach, this is all they can do. Since my school will have a new principal this term I think I will send him/her the following letter:
Dear New Suit,
I am an experienced, veteran teacher with enough years to walk any day I choose. I'm here because I want to be here. After all these years, I still get a charge out of standing in front of the classroom and having 34 bodies think I am an expert and know exactly what I am talking about. I will not let you or anyone else take this feeling away from me.
I know your tactics well. You can put me on late session if you want. I've been there and done that and like the song says, "I WILL SURVIVE." You can give me the hardest kids in the school to teach, but I've done that too. And, while I can't reach them all, I will reach many of them. I'll just stock up on an extra large bottle of Motrin and keep that six-pack cooled in my fridge and "I WILL SURVIVE." You can write me all the nasty notes and make all the snide comments you want. I've written plenty of those notes and made many of those comments myself. Yours roll off my back like water on a duck. "I WILL SURVIVE."
Dear New Suit,
I am an experienced, veteran teacher with enough years to walk any day I choose. I'm here because I want to be here. After all these years, I still get a charge out of standing in front of the classroom and having 34 bodies think I am an expert and know exactly what I am talking about. I will not let you or anyone else take this feeling away from me.
I know your tactics well. You can put me on late session if you want. I've been there and done that and like the song says, "I WILL SURVIVE." You can give me the hardest kids in the school to teach, but I've done that too. And, while I can't reach them all, I will reach many of them. I'll just stock up on an extra large bottle of Motrin and keep that six-pack cooled in my fridge and "I WILL SURVIVE." You can write me all the nasty notes and make all the snide comments you want. I've written plenty of those notes and made many of those comments myself. Yours roll off my back like water on a duck. "I WILL SURVIVE."
New Suit, don't waste your time trying to get me to retire. I'll leave when I am good and ready to leave. Nothing you do or say will push me out sooner. Instead, why not try to use my expertise to help out some of the new teachers and our students. Try to be smarter than Old Suit.
Sincerely yours,
Ms. POd Teacher
8 comments:
i just want to say that i love your blog and it's amazing to see someone who loves teaching so much after 30 years. i'm starting my 5th year in nyc, at my 3rd school and find it harder every year to maintain any semblance of positive attitude. here's hoping the year is quick, and the vacations long.
Are all the principals so bad that you would deliberately start off your relationship with the new one in such an antagonistic way?
Perhaps I am just lucky, but in the four schools I have been in I have had had 5 principals. One amazing, one great, two well-meaning but relatively ineffectual, and one that was horrible. If I knew I was getting someone like the last one again, I would write the letter, but the odds, for me at least, are against it. I am sorry for your situation.
I am sure those in the rubber room under false charges would disagree.
Principals do have ways.
Schoolgal
Ah, I guess Terrence has packed it in too?
Schoolgal you are right. I guess I am so close to the end that I don't worry about things like that affecting me.
Excellent letter! If New Suit has any brains, he won't even think of mentioning retirement to you.
Terrence is gone, but Philip still prevails....
A perfect attitude. Taking away their petty hold over people. Best route to mental health - Seek nothing but what is coming to you.
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