Shannon Falls, August 2012

Monday, December 8, 2008

Slap on the hand...

Today I received my first "official" reprimand. I made a judgment call in asking the principal to come speak to my classes (because they are the classes from hell--sorry, but they are). Only when he showed up to do so, he put me on the spot and had me call out those students who were giving me trouble. I just wanted him to put the fear of God into them, not take them out! So those I called out he took to call mom and dad who then had to come to the school! Great. He did this with one class last week then hadn't returned, so I figured things were smoothing over. Well, he returned today. I sent 2 boys out. And then while on lunch duty, my assistant principal comes up to me and lets me know how I should have let her deal with them and we didn't have a paper trail and there were all these other steps to go through. All I could say was, "I'm sorry" and "Yes, ma'am." IT SUCKED. Okay, so I screwed up. But did I - a hormonal, pregnant woman - really need to be told that at the beginning of my lunch duty when I still had to stand in front of a cafeteria full of students? At the end of my duty, the principal came in and asked how things had been with the other class he had spoken to last week. I told him better and then apologized for not following proper procedure with everything. He said, "Who's upset? _____?" I replied affirmatively and he told me not to worry about it. We talked a few more minutes and I felt better, but the whole ordeal did not sit well. So from now on I'll either keep my mouth shut or inundate the office with referrals. I hate getting into trouble. And I was doing so well, too.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like someone feels threatened about their position....

I wouldn't take it too seriously.....

New job is going well.

Love ya,
Aunt G

The Haines said...

There will always be someone like that in higher positions- just do what they say and move on. Sounds like you are doing a great job!

April Chen said...

Jamie--They'll get over it fast, I think! That ---- Asst. Principal needs to examine what's really important and the fact that you CARE about your kids' behavior and you don't let them run wild!

Amy said...

Kudos to YOU and to your PRINCIPAL for doing the right thing! I bet those kids got an earful or more when they got home from school, especially with the parents having to come to the school... The Asst. Principal should NOT have approached you at the beginning of your lunch duty to discuss this matter. A true professional would have conducted such a discussion in the privacy of their office, so as NOT to UNDERMINE YOUR authority as a teacher in front of your students, because this was at lunch in front of more than just your students.... Keep your chin up! I think you are AWESOME for holding your own with 8th graders! Continued best wishes to you!

Love ya',
Amy

P.S. From personal experience, one of the hardest parts of sending a student to the office is having to relinquish control of the situation. Once you send them to the office, how they are dealt with from that point on is up to the administrator.... But do whatever you feel is necessary to get your point across to the "higher ups"....