In His Image

She started her career as a kind hearted, caring person.  She loved the kids she worked with, especially the kids on the lowest levels.  She never saw race, religion or nationality, only  a child in need of help.

Unfortunately, along with her soft heart came discipline problems.  Her very rigid supervisor did not approve and he started showing up in her classroom many times during the week.  Each visit was followed by a session in the supervisor's office where he would yell and belittle her and then threaten her with U ratings and the loss of her job.

She was scared.  She had young children and needed the job.  She reinvented herself in the image of her supervisor in an attempt to win his approval and stop the continual harassment.  Things slowly began to get better for her.  Her classes got quiet and the supervisor was happy.   Unfortunately, the children in her class did not fair as well.  The environment they once flourished in was gone.  The loving teacher was replaced by a heartless Gestapo guard.  There was no longer any love and caring in the air.  The kids who were failing before still failed.  The children who once blossomed under her care were now doomed.

(This is what happens when people with no ability and no heart get a little bit of power.)

The Need To Bully Continues



The supervisor can't beat up on the teacher anymore so is s/he beating up on the teacher's students?  Why is this horrible, unbelievable thought gnawing away at the teacher's heart?

Two girls were having trouble scraping together the $87 they need for the AP exam.  (These two did not qualify for a fee waiver.  One filled out form wrong originally and the other has a parent who just lost her job.)  This person came to speak to them, took them out of class to talk to someone else and brought them back, in tears, 15 minutes later.  They never got to talk to the other person so the teacher knows exactly who is responsible for the wet eyes.

We had a senior assembly today.  The kids were told all that could be done to help them graduate on time.  Lots of money is being spent to get everyone out.  Two top kids, two kids needing help were reduced to tears as the bully who pretended to help just delivered some blows. A teacher who did something like this would be taken out of the classroom, justly so.  The supervisor just goes on his/her merry way.

Well, there is a happy ending.  There are people that care and both girls will be taking the exam with the rest of the class in May.

Not Putting Up With His S*** Anymore (Not That I Ever Did)

"Ms. will you be upset if I throw a penny at you", said Problem Boy from the back of the room.  The class immediately jumped on him for making not only an inappropriate comment, but making one that was anti- Semitic as well.  I called to have him removed immediately.

The dean brought Problem Boy to Mr. AP, who I went to see as soon as the class ended.  Mr. AP said there is nothing he could do about him, there is no other class that fits his program.  (I know he would have found a class if the boy made a comment like that to one of his little cuties.)  Mr.  AP also found nothing wrong with the comment.  He said he questioned Problem Boy about the incident.  Problem Boy told Mr. AP that I was teaching when he made the comment and he and his friend were sitting in the back, making jokes.  Mr. AP looked at me and began, "I've told you time and time again, do not teach while the kids are talking and,,,"  At that point, I cut him off.  I said I am not going to listen, got up and slammed his office door on my way out.  With steam still pouring out of my ears, I found my way to a higher authority, someone who listened to me, understood that I had done everything possible to control the situation.  This person called Problem Boy in and dealt with the real problem, him, not me.

I know I am upset about Problem Boy, but he is a child and that I can deal with.  My bigger issue is with Mr. AP and his constant negativity and his demeaning of every female over 50 in the department.  (Yesterday's department conference is a prime example of his actions.)  Hopefully he heard loud and clear that his actions are totally unacceptable.  I don't believe he will ever learn.  Unfortunately, we all believe that life will go on and nothing with him will ever change. He'll leave me alone for a while but find someone else to attack, someone who won't fight back. And, before you know it, he will be on me again.  Only I don't back down.  He'll get a fight every time.