Monday, March 3, 2008

Another Principal

I received an article from a friend about a Principal who was suspended by his superintendent because he supposedly did not do enough observations. My friends comment was, "They must have an underground newspaper that tells them how to get people". Actually I think the most interesting part about the article was that the suspended Principal was very bottom up in his management style and the Superintendent was very top down.

So the superintendent gives the Principal a letter on Friday suspending him, the guy even changes the locks on the Principal's office doors to "protect the Principals stuff". The students walk out on Monday and the sup says he can't comment because it is a personnel issue. I've been there and done that.

I figure these guys are around my age. Probably went to college in the late 60's early 70's. My guess is that the Principal was a demonstrator and the superintendent was one of the guys on the other side, either condemning the loud demonstrators or actively throwing rocks at them. This is the way it has always been. These top down management jerks willing to do what ever it takes to suppress the participatory democracy people.

I think that education (particularly high school education) has always attracted two types of men. One guy is in it because they get a thrill out of helping kids achieve something. They love teaching and they love pushing kids to move beyond the world that they seemed to have been born into.

The second guy likes pushing people around and being dominant. Because they don't have enough guts to push adults around so they choose to work with kids. Kids are much easier to push around.

9 comments:

Chaz said...

I am the first type and that got me in trouble with the second type (my principal). Male teachers in high school that follow the first type can find themselves where you were. "The Rubber Room".

Pissedoffteacher said...

There is the type that like to push teachers around. Every admin I have ever met is one of these. I am always in trouble with the admins in my school because NOBODY pushes me around.

Anonymous said...

You go pissed off. We need more toughies like you out there fighting the man. You must feel the pride taking on the cliches.

Anonymous said...

What type is an APO who calls her secretary "white trash" and is not in the rubber room for it?

Anonymous said...

The type who is allowed to bully anyone she feels like because her boss is afraid of her.

Pissedoffteacher said...

Why does the secretary take it?

Anonymous said...

Why? Because they're birds of a feather. All you have to do is spend some time around that office for a taste of the everyday bile.

Anonymous said...

How long do we all have to be punished by the way this school is being run into the ground? There is no leadership, no working together, only finger pointing, whining and complaining. There is no morality here. This principal is the weakest administrator that the DOE employs. And there is quite a pool to choose from. Some of the rest of the weakest also work here.
It is a cesspool of incompetency,
craziness and time wasting. This principal is so afraid of her APO that the whole school is held hostage by the two of them. WHY WON'T SOMEBODY HELP US???

Anonymous said...

Are any of you familiar with the following website?:

http://www.sic.state.ny.us

It's the website of the:

NYS Commission of Investigation
59 Maiden Lane
31st floor
New York, NY 10038

TEL (212) 344-6660
FAX (212) 344-7806


"With a broad statutory mandate to investigate 'any matter concerning the public peace, public safety and public justice,' the State Commission of Investigation undertakes investigations of corruption, fraud, organized crime, racketeering, money laundering, the conduct of public officers, public employees, officers and employees of public corporations and authorities, and mismanagement in New York State and local government."

Does the above give anyone any clue about which organization to contact regarding misconduct and mismanagement on the part of employees of a school district?