So I turned in my resignation, and my boss said...
About This Page:

pflamingo · 09-18-2003, 09:10 PM

Well, okay, first she said that she was sorry I'd decided to leave b/c she thinks I'm a really good teacher and the school really needed me (it also needs a couple of full time social workers and maybe a parole officer or two) and then she said, "and I'm sorry for you because I think this could have been a chance for you to grow personally."

Excuse me?????

I'm sorry, but I've had enough "growth experiences" (or as my former minister at the Unitarian Church called them "AFGE's" -- Another "Darn" Growth Experience) in my life for five people in addition to myself. When you're 25, "growth experiences" help build your character. At my age, they just translate to wrinkles and gray hair. No thanks! Had enough "AFGE's". Ready to be shallow and stagnant, thank you very much!

The countdown is on - 10 days with kids, 1 parent-teacher conference day, 2 weekends, and it's "hello unemployment!" Looking forward to it!

statelady01 · 09-18-2003, 10:07 PM

I would hardly call what you were going through "a growth experience"- the whole thing was very frightening and very disconcerting. Give me a break!

Good for you- I hope it all works out and you find yourself "home" in Orlando soon!

Continued pixie dust for you and Dennis..

nightengale1824 · 09-18-2003, 11:06 PM

Good for you!! I am glad you spoke out for yourself. Good luck in your next move. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

wdwlovers · 09-18-2003, 11:48 PM

Way to go Pat! Good for you! Hope everything works out the way you'd like it to. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

**LilMarcieMouse** · 09-19-2003, 02:10 AM

Nothing like a complement and an insult in one sentence. Hope you didn't let it get you down.

**chezp** · 09-19-2003, 02:29 AM

You've done the right thing for you and that's the most important thing, no matter what your boss thinks or says. Best of luck with your next move.

whoSEZ · 09-19-2003, 07:02 AM

Well ... at least you got another confirmation that you made the right decision! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I cannot believe she'd say that, and I'd love to hear how you responded. I think I would have laughed out loud.

Continued prayers and pixie dust coming your way.

**Colexis Mom** · 09-19-2003, 07:41 AM

Wow Pat, maybe if a kid drew a picture of her hanging from a flagpole she wouldn't see it as a "growth" experience either [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] Well, great for you for telling her what you though! Enjoy your last few days [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Snapple · 09-19-2003, 09:09 AM

I can't believe she said that to you! That is crazy! I'm glad that you got yourself out of that situation and followed your heart!

wheatenwalker · 09-19-2003, 02:10 PM

Pat, good grief! I hope the principal is at least older than you!!! I'm with you on this one! Sheila

**Fortissimo** · 09-19-2003, 08:08 PM

I'm sorry Pat, but I have to agree with your principal on this one. If you were to stay in this position you would have grown an ulcer, a severe nervous tick, and a very hefty therapy bill. I wonder if that is what she meant by growth?

Personally I would use the rest of my sick days. If the principal questions the use of these sick days just explain your "growth" spurt is causing severe pain. You can also tell her she is causing you pain in your, well never mind - I'll be nice. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Don't you wonder where they find administrators like these? [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

TxDisMom · 09-19-2003, 10:46 PM

Ugh, Pat, I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I don't know all that has happened, but I pieced some together...glad you made the decision to get out of there [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Sending lots of pixie dust your way, although I doubt you need it [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Sounds like you took care of it all on your own!

Congratulations on making the move and doing what you needed to do for yourself!

Carol

pflamingo · 09-20-2003, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fortissimo:
If you were to stay in this position you would have grown an ulcer, a severe nervous tick, and a very hefty therapy bill.

Yeah, I got my GP to prescribe some anti-depressant/anti-anxiety meds just to get me through the next 2 weeks.

Personally I would use the rest of my sick days.

I would, but I haven't been there long enough to accrue more than one or two. Besides, I'd have to get a substitute, and no one on the sub list wants to work at this school!

Don't you wonder where they find administrators like these? [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Yep. The "Peter Principle" in action.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">9 days with kids, 1 with parents. Not that I'm counting.

**Fortissimo** · 09-20-2003, 10:53 AM

Pat, I think you are teaching in h-e-double-hockey sticks. I am so glad for you that you are getting out. This is a dangerous environment for you and everyone else in that building.

My friend taught in a school like this in Houston. It was her first year and it was a huge shock. When she interviewed for the postition they took her on a tour of a school that was, as they said, "just like the one she was going to teach in." Her school was being remodled so she couldn't actually see it. Her first day of school she walks into her kindergarten room and it has padded walls. She turned to the principal who smiled and told her that she would understand when the kids got there. In her first month she had a knife pulled on her by a 6-year-old, found $800 on another who had taken it out of his mom's purse so she couldn't buy drugs, and was almost run over in the parking lot by a mother who didn't like her telling her precious son he couldn't hit people with bats. At the end of September my friend's parents drove to Houston and made her come home. She never taught again.

I will be sending pixie dust for you everyday in hopes that it will help you make it through the next 10 school days.

Robin

pflamingo · 09-20-2003, 11:21 AM

Jeez, Robin, how horrible for your friend! I can't imagine being 20-ish and facing that. I wouldn't have waited for my parents to come and get me -- I'd've run home screaming! As it is, I've made a lot of tearful phone calls to my mom (who, God bless her, has been incredibly supportive -- Dad too, in his "guy" way).

The county I'm in is having a real problem with recruiting and keeping teachers, b/c of the discipline problems and lack of support for teachers. Although my principal was a bit thoughtless with what she said to me, I feel sort of sorry for her. She was told by the powers-that-be at the Board of Ed that she's suspending too many kids (all of whom deserve what they've received). B/c of "no child left behind" the school can end up on the "needs improvement" list for having too many absences. Unfortunately, discipline problems are being blamed on teachers (e.g., "why can't you control these kids?") instead of on the kids and/or parents.

I've heard that the next county to the north has a four-year waiting list for teachers. Everyone wants to work there. And it's not a "rich" area. In fact, it's fairly rural -- lots of "farm kids", I guess. Likewise, the county that has the Air Force base also has a great reputation with teachers. Different demographics, true, but also much more effective discipline policies.

[ 09-20-2003, 12:51 PM: Message edited by: pflamingo ]