Banter with Griffsdad

[BootheBunch]

I am scared of that moderator!!  

You know, this whole thing is just blown out of proportion.  It is great news...it always is when it involves scandal in the schools.

I got my master's degree in administration.  During that year, I learned a whole lot more than I had intended to learn.  Educational adminstration is political.  And there is nothing one can do.   As a result, I finished up my master's degree and have no intention of ever using it.  Heck, there are politics in the church!

Again, the parents did not get their way with boundaries, so they did this.  A political move?  The board and Fleming know how this all got started, and I applaud them for not backing down on boundaries to save their butts.  

Whistleblower?  Or spineless tattler?  He didn't tattle while he HAD his job!

 
Lisa

[DK&3kids]

I am scared of that moderator!!  
 
 You know, this whole thing is just blown out of proportion.  It is great news...it always is when it involves scandal in the schools.
 
 I got my master's degree in administration.  During that year, I learned a whole lot more than I had intended to learn.  Educational adminstration is political.  And there is nothing one can do.   As a result, I finished up my master's degree and have no intention of ever using it.  Heck, there are politics in the church!
 
 Again, the parents did not get their way with boundaries, so they did this.  A political move?  The board and Fleming know how this all got started, and I applaud them for not backing down on boundaries to save their butts.  
 
 Whistleblower?  Or spineless tattler?  He didn't tattle while he HAD his job!
 
 
 Lisa

Yep, I got my MA and Tier I in Admin.  Spent 3 years in the office as V.P. and went running and screaming back to where I can work with kids and make a difference!  It's a political nightmare full of amazing amounts of red tape.  Amen sister!

[BootheBunch]

Yep, I got my MA and Tier I in Admin.  Spent 3 years in the office as V.P. and went running and screaming back to where I can work with kids and make a difference!  It's a political nightmare full of amazing amounts of red tape.  Amen sister!

I didn't know you were a VP!  Oh, while doing my admin degree, I had to watch my principal do things she didn't believe in, but it was the politically right move.  I told her that just wasn't in me.  

In fact, we had to approve something I didn't agree with (it was a purely political situation--superintendent was involved), it needed my signature, and I refused!  I told her that I was not admin yet, still had the union behind me, and was not signing--and no one could make me.  I went home in tears that day, and announced I would never go into administration!  In fact, I finished up my master's, but did not take the test for the credential....I seriously have no desire.

For a couple of years, they would ask me to be ETAP (admin duties, but still a teacher)...and I refused.  The principal we have now doesn't even know I have my master's in admin----she keeps needing an ETAP, and I won't volunteer.  For the past two years, our ETAPs haven't even had an admin degree!  She would probably kill me if she found out I have the degree!

Lisa

[griffsdad]

I think our other teacher, Ms. Laura needs to chime in. I would have been a teacher but administrators and parents took away corporal punishment.

[DK&3kids]

I didn't know you were a VP!  Oh, while doing my admin degree, I had to watch my principal do things she didn't believe in, but it was the politically right move.  I told her that just wasn't in me.  
 
 In fact, we had to approve something I didn't agree with (it was a purely political situation--superintendent was involved), it needed my signature, and I refused!  I told her that I was not admin yet, still had the union behind me, and was not signing--and no one could make me.  I went home in tears that day, and announced I would never go into administration!  In fact, I finished up my master's, but did not take the test for the credential....I seriously have no desire.
 
 For a couple of years, they would ask me to be ETAP (admin duties, but still a teacher)...and I refused.  The principal we have now doesn't even know I have my master's in admin----she keeps needing an ETAP, and I won't volunteer.  For the past two years, our ETAPs haven't even had an admin degree!  She would probably kill me if she found out I have the degree!
 
 Lisa

My principal BEGS me to be her VP....NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!  A few days a year, I end up being admin. designee when she and the VP are both out...and that's only because she remembered it on my resume...I never volunteered...that's for sure.  I'm proud of you for sticking up for your principles in that one matter.  It's sad to say, but all of the people I've known that have gone "up" have been forced at some time or other to compromise their beliefs...just sad if you ask me.

You know, I wish we taught together - we have a lot of the same ideas - it'd be a blast!

[DK&3kids]

I think our other teacher, Ms. Laura needs to chime in. I would have been a teacher but administrators and parents took away corporal punishment.

Okay...going out on a limb here....but if I could use corporal punishment...90% of the time, it would be on the parents!!!!  With the exception of truly challenged children (which are a small minority), working with difficult children isn't hard if the parents work with me as a team.  I've yet to meet a student in that scenario that I couldn't reach.  Now, give me the typical overly permissive, inconsistent parent with priorities way out of wack that exists in the population I teach and there is a REASON their kids struggle with behavior.  I call it "acornacia" i.e. "The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree."

[griffsdad]

Okay...going out on a limb here....but if I could use corporal punishment...90% of the time, it would be on the parents!!!! .

Hey, I'm with ya. Parents, kids, other teachers, principals,etc. Anyone who gets out of line needs a little paddlin'. That's what schools need today. Some old school education - a few well placed whacks and everyone is well behaved. (any nuns out there)    
 
And by the way - teachers are in the trenches fighting the daily battles. The administrators have it easy and they're over-paid. OK I'm done.
For now.

[BootheBunch]

Dave....I would have agreed with you years ago on administrators having it easy.  But, you know, principals don't really have it easy anymore.  It is on THEIR head if test scores don't show growth (of course, then they call in their teachers and come down on us!).  And, at least at my school (we have been an autism magnet)....my principal is ALWAYS in IEPs!  I feel bad for her!  She usually doesn't get out of work until 6 pm.  And, there is so much paperwork!She really works hard for her six figures!  And, our principals have to work 12 months of the year now.  

However, thank you for acknowledging teachers hard work!  We do work hard!  

Kristi....you are right about parents!  I can deal with basically any child (being a former fifth grade teacher) (can't seem to be able to control my own kids!)...it is the parents!  Many parents don't seem to have the respect for teachers like in the past.  Sometimes I am just flabbergasted by a parent's disregard for my expertise/experience/education/etc.  We always say we'd rather teach a classroom of orphans!!

It'd be great to teach with you, Kristi!  We'd kick those parents booties!

Where is Laura on all this?!

Lisa

[TheViking]

Does anyone else miss getting swatted in school?  Or is it just me?..........

[Azusateach]

I'm reading ... and thanking God that my master's is NOT in administration.  I entered teaching "late", and swore that I'd never do anything other than be a teacher.  A senior exec. for a major Christian relief organization once talked about being an important influence in just one person's life.  That's all I want to do.  It's the hardest work I've ever done, but it's also the most rewarding.

Y'all keep talking about administrators.    Frankly, the whole public educational system is in deep doo-doo, and it's not going to get solved by allowing my blood pressure increase.  My mantra right now is, "I'm still getting paid."  Works for me.  And I'll keep praying that the politicians find something else to hold captive (like healthcare, maybe?).  Educators need a break.

So there.

[griffsdad]

You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!

[DK&3kids]

Does anyone else miss getting swatted in school?  Or is it just me?..........

I can bring a paddle to Pismo...give you a few for Kristi if you get out of line...:J

[DK&3kids]

And I'll keep praying that the politicians find something else to hold captive (like healthcare, maybe?).  Educators need a break.
 
 So there.

Amen to THAT!:)

[zamboni]

My wife (Kelly) is a Head Start teacher... and her kids are always definitely a challenge.  No manners, tempers, even harsh language (and they're only 3-5 years old).

Unfortunately, the parents are a big reason for it.  Many of her kids' fathers are "away" (vacation? traveling?  The kids don't know, but they're in jail).

Then, there are the parents who see the school system as a lottery.  In one case, a kid begged people to "play with him", and got one of the kids to cut a small lock of his hair off.  When the parents picked him up, they were contrite about their problem child.

Bam!  Suddenly, they filed a lawsuit against the school for "negligence" and "endangering their child".  Of course, the district settled (they always do).  It seems that many of her parents' attitudes are "what can I get out of this?"... and they expect the teachers to be responsible for 100% of the education, without realizing that they, too, have to help at home

I could never handle what Kelly does... so why isn't she paid appropriately?  sigh...

[griffsdad]

Suddenly, they filed a lawsuit against the school for "negligence" and "endangering their child". Of course, the district settled (they always do).

Bantering on ---- Probably, because it was cheeper than trying the case.