Migraine

The teacher I work with in the afternoons is driving me batty. She is teaching Science and Social Studies - South Carolina History. She's a very positive woman, and a good teacher.

Problem is, she has a lot of her facts absolutely WRONG, and won't admit it. Simple things, like the elevation of our town. She says it is 300 ft above sea level. It's only 89 ft.

Major bone of contention - we're required by state standards to teach evolution and the Big Bang. I understand that many people believe in neither of these. She's one of them. Still, it's part of her contract to teach them. She refuses.

I keep biting my tongue to stay silent in front of our students. I've been coming home with 6-7 migraines daily (school started 20 Aug.) I know far more SC History (Mama was a Historian and Geneologist) and Science than this woman will ever know. I think she knows it.

She keeps pushing me into a very subservient role in the classroom. I am a threat to her, very likely, and this is how she "controls" me. I just hurt too bad when I get home to do anything about it.

Rebecca

Oh man, Rebecca, can you talk to the principal? She just can't go around spewing incorrect information.

Are you both on an equal par? Or is she the "lead" teacher? If you're a lead teacher to, go get her.... we can have kids in SC with the wrong info. If not, tell somebody, you will feel much better, won't you???

oh, cripes, Rebecca - there are ego oiks and power-trip tossers the world over aren't there?

I'm so sorry you have to work with such an obnoxious specimen who clearly suffers from an excess of unfounded arrogance! No wonder you're in pain.

Obviously I don't know your school grievance procedures, but here, if a teacher were coming to me and asking what to do, I'd be pointing them initially in the direction of the member of staff with pastoral care responsibility for teaching staff.

Do you have such a person? A staff counsellor?

Then escalate to a more formal exploration/complaint via the teacher's supervisor. In the UK we also have a very strong couple of teachers' unions. I'd be suggesting that the teacher consult the local convenor as well. Are you a union member?

We also have a particularly ferocious schools' inspectorate. Do you have such a body you can drop an anonymous line to, or get your union to do so?

Maybe you 'just' need to change jobs? I know, easier said than done.

But weighing up the fights you have with this oik every day and the fight you could have if you make formal reports, discretion may just be the better part of valour here...save your energy for yourself instead of proving opnely what all your coleagues probably actually know tacitly...that this woman's a royal PIA!

Let us know how it goes on, will you? Meanwhile, take good care of yourself!
HUGS
samxx

But I'm sure you know these routes already.

Geez ((( Rebecca))) you don't need that on top of your migs! My wife sees similar situations at her school. Ignorance and arrogance are such a an obnoxious combination!! It is too bad the kids have to suffer. I think I'd go to the administration with the issues of wrong facts and violations of state law. If the proper organization gets wind of this, they will drag you school district through legal H.

good luck, Bob

Rebecca,

I'm SO sorry to see this. It's awful!

Could you request a meeting with her and the principal? The kids deserve better. You deserve better.

I'll be thinking of you and cheering you on.

Is there a teacher relations person at the district office? It's probably too early to go to the superintendent of schools, but I do think a principal or assistant principal should be notified. Is there a curriculum office in your district? That might even be better than talking to the principal.

Are any of the parents complaining? It's a little early in the school year, but the evolution issue can get very hot. Some parents want it taught and some don't. I'd predict a blowup later on when the pro-evolution parents figure out what's going on.

We took Mississippi history in the 5th grade and again in the 9th. What grade are your kids?

The class a year behind us learned the [obnoxious] state song, Go Mississippi, and sang it at the top of their lungs way too often. I don't remember all the words, but I sure remember the melody.

Hang in there.

Gretchen

Rebecca,

How frustrating for you and terrible for the children as well.

Would it be terribly uncomfortable for you to discuss these issues directly with her? If so, I would go to your supervisor or a lead instructor to ask for direction. I also like Teri's idea of a meeting with the teacher and the principal together.



Liz

Thanks, y'all!

This woman is new to my school, but has been teaching in our district for a while. She is a certified teacher. I'm just a teaching assistant.

Anyone with at least a high school diploma who is over 21 can be a teaching assistant. (An At-Will Teaching Assistant or Substitute Teacher. You just have to pass a basic literacy test and take some training.)

I have over 120 college credit hours (That I actually passed. Let's not even look at the courses I flunked! ) I ran research labs for 18 years. I'm second or third author on 7 or more papers, plus several abstracts and poster sessions. I even pioneered a method for orally dosing small animals! Oh, and I aced every history course I ever took, including History of the Old South.

I don't remember how we got started on the subjects last Wed., but we did get into an argument over evolution and the Big Bang. She said they were just theories, using the commonly accepted definition of the word "theories." She even spouted the old myth that Darwin recanted his Theory of Evolution on his deathbed.

I told her I would bring her proof to the contrary on Thurs. I wrote several websites on a post-it Wed. eve., but we never got back to the subject.

She's still treating me like a HS-grad, undereducated assistant. I don't mind handing out & taking up papers. That's part of teamwork.
I do mind, when I suggest a possible field trip to a local generating station that uses both coal and hydro (in front of the class) being told that we're getting away from using coal, so that wouldn't be useful. (One example of how she treats me routinely.)

I would talk with the dept. head for Special Ed., but she hasn't a clue. She's a Resource Teacher who, I think, never visits the Self-Contained classrooms. Instead, I think I'll talk first with the Science Dept. Head. and clear these issues up well in advance of their needing to be taught.

I did talk with a good friend, who is Faculty Advisor for First Priority. She has handled these subjects with "this is what I am required to teach." This is how a lot of SC teachers handle the issues when they have problems with them.

I do need to tackle how she treats me ASAP. And, y'all are right. I need to do it with her, with a 3rd party present. We need mediation. Will talk with "First Priority Teacher" & find out who I should go to on this first thing tomorrow.

Thanks again, y'all. Y'all set my head on straight for me! for y'all! for her!

Rebecca ("SuperTeacher!")

As far as her not teaching the required content, I think going to the department head is a good first step.

As for how she treats you, and the overall dispensing of inaccurate knowledge, that would be a visit with the principal. I'd meet privately at first, and then if he/she feels the situation warrants, the three of you could meet together.

Unfortunately, we can't always click with everyone, and she's obviously not the right fit for you. There are always going to be those people who insist on being right even when they're so far off it's not funny. While everyone can expect a little personality clash now and again, you do not have to grin and bear being treated like an undereducated, unappreciated person. You do not have to stand for being "stuck" in a situation for all year that's stressing you out and making you sick.

Perhaps an altered assignment away from her classroom is in order, and it would be the principal's job to make this happen.