This is my 4th year of teaching 3rd grade and my second year at my current school. After a first year I never thought I'd make it through alive, I am feeling more confident and capable as an educator. In the beginning I thought I'd be part of the statistics that show most new teachers quit before their 5th year, however I intend to pass that milestone next year (and celebrate with champs of course!) Last year was terrific. I was welcomed in with open arms to a staff that operates as a supportive unit. Every teacher in the building is generous with sharing resources and I genuinely believe we're after the same goals. This year I feel the same way about my colleagues, but I am at my wits-end with our administration. At staff meetings we're told on one hand that our P believes that our instruction is sound and that what we do each day matters but in the same breath we're told that our teaching bars need to be raised. We're told that we need to believe that all students can learn (and I think we agree on that) but when I bring students to him for tutoring opportunities I'm told that they'll never pass the test and it'd be a waste of resources to include them in tutoring. We had conferences last month and were discouraged from telling parents that due to a new state law their children may be retained if they don't achieve a particular score on the upcoming assessments. My team and I couldn't support that and ended up telling parents who of course had more questions for us than we had answers but at least they are aware of the possibilities. This week took the cake. I don't send students to the office regularly. I know that each time I ask for intervention from the administration, it communicates a message to my students that I'm not capable. My classes are learning communities and 90% of the students in my class are united towards common goals (behavior, academic, social, etc.) It takes hard work but I believe this type of community is important. This week one of my students who has struggled with behavior and consequences all year kicked a chair across the room when the class was seated on the floor and threw supplies. He then stormed out of the room and began hitting his head against and kicking the wall. I called down to the office and asked for back up. My P arrived and talked to the student about the poor choices he was making and even threatened possible suspension if the student would not cooperate. He took the student back to his office where he remained for an hour or so. Lunchtime came and while I served my duty the same student came in with a huge grin and informed me he would be attending a portion of recess. I asked him to return to the office after lunch to see how much recess he would partake in. Sure enough, he received the entire 30 minutes. I never heard from our Principal about the situation and the student was sent back to class after recess. At that point, I felt completely devalued. Anyone else feel like their P or one person on the staff is at the core of nearly all of the building problems? I've never seen such low morale in a workplace as their is in my school this year.
In short, yes. This was especially true at my last school, where the administrators placed unrealistic demands on teachers and did not provide adequate and consistent support with behaviors. Morale was extremely low! My new school is not nearly as bad, but there is low morale among some staff members in the building. I won't place all of the blame on the administrators. In fact, in my opinion, most of the problems stem from teacher/staff conflicts or lack of teamwork between staff members. The reason I might put the blame on the administrators is because, while they are aware of the issues between staff members, they don't routinely step up and intervene. They allow the issues to persist. In my opinion, part of an administrators role is to lead staff through times of trouble rather than standing by and waiting it out. Of course, we're all adults and should attempt to solve our own problems without administrator intervention, but when the problem persists, I think an administrator should step up and put an end to it. I think you did the right thing calling your administrator for that incident. I know administrators are busy, but I, too, HATE when administrators don't follow up with the teacher about what happened in the office. Maybe there was a very good reason the student was able to return for recess, but the administrator should have communicated with you.
I just recently found out a kid got a Saturday school for something that happened. Sometimes they get busy. I also had a kid who put on a huge show about something even though I knew he got punished. I love, love, love our P though!
With an administrator like this, I think it is best to not rely on him too much for discipline. If a child throws a chair again, send him with work to another teacher and then take away recess for 3 days. I'd also contact parents right away. Some P's tend to like to make their own decisions on discipline, and the one's who are wimps about it, I cut out of the loop as much as possible. These P's rarely mind as they often HATE disciplining children whether they deserve it or not. This year I have a great P, so I keep in touch with him, but I have been where you've been. It is very frustrating waiting for a P like this to change as it usually won't happen.
sorry to hear about that. Maybe there was a consequence that you'll find out later. I love most of the administrators at my school. One administrator can be difficult though. I had a student (high school) call me an F-ing B---- because I asked him to remove his hat. He wasn't a student of mine but I was on hall duty. I walked him to the office where the administrator promptly gave him a lollipop and told me that I just don't know him well enough to understand why he does what he does. ???? Umm, he cussed me out because he got caught breaking a school rule. What else is there to know?
I've sent this student to other rooms before and it's been effective. I tried to use that option this time but the student refused to move. We're not allowed to offer multiple days of lunch detention without administrator approval. If we even offer 30 minutes in one day, we have to report this to the P with a 2 page form. I appreciate your sharing that this goes on elsewhere as well. While I've dealt with this situation all year, it's recently just hit me hard as it doesn't seem like anything will change. In the first semester, the P didn't conduct evaluations by the book (mine was fine because I like to make sure all of my ducks are in a row and made his job easier) and grievances were filed by the union. He then sought out the teachers who filed the grievances and copped attitude (throwing the grievances down on their desks, slamming doors, etc.) Basically it seemed like he wanted to be removed, you almost have to actively try to be that bad at the job. District office acted annoyed with his behavior and apologized to those involved, offering various solutions. We thought he would probably be non-renewed for the next school year. At our last staff meeting, he let us know that he was offered a one-year (probationary) contract but was resolved to make the best of the situation. I just don't see anything changing. Even though I know the grass isn't always greener, I'm hoping to get into another school in the district if at all possible.
That grin...oh, I'v seen that grin. And it made me VERY, VERY angry toward my administrator. He actually trashed the referral slip right in front of the student. And trust me, I very rarely sent a student to an office and this student certainly provided a legit reason to do so. I would email the administrator and ask if there was a consequence you need to be aware of, but that's just me. I wouldn't feel the need to hide my concern. Something should have been communicated.
One way to shut down that grin is to make it known up front that you handle your own consequences and that sending a student elsewhere is in ADDITION to what you lay out. If a student gets away with it with admin, then they pulled one over on ADMIN, not me. We have a dress code at our school. Most of the administrators adhere to it and expect teachers to do so. One will chastise teachers for following it. School rules state that students are to be sent to the front office for dress code violation. How it is handled depends on which admin responds to the front office when they call. Sometimes the kids are sent to ISS. Sometimes they wait in the office for a parent. Sometimes they come back to my class with a smirk on their faces. I always greet them with a "glad you were able to come back. I will see you after school today or tomorrow so you can make up what you missed while you were in the office."
Yes. My school last year had weak admin, and it showed in the school culture. I regret thinking I could depend on them. They needed to be more supportive in a school full of first and second year teachers and they had no idea what to do! You were in every right to call with the head banging, but is there other behavior that you could just ignore? I have a frequent chair chucker and tantrum thrower....I trust my admin completely this year, however I know putting him out is totally ineffective. He doesn't have a relationship with them. I have found that if we let him get over himself in the hallway he usually does. Now.....that's cause I have ONE kid like that. I had about SIX last year, and sometimes they all went off at the same time. It's hard.
