I have been spending the last 24 hours wondering if I did
the right thing when I left public school. Coming to this private school has
turned out to be problem after problem after problem. Oh I know the drill. I
have been teaching for 23 years before I came here. I have been coaching young
girls for more than 30 years. At NO TIME has anyone ever accused me of anything
that would jeopardized my upstanding behavior.
However, since I have taken the job here at this private school
there has been nothing but complaints – none of which are true – all flat out
lies – but they are getting back to the principal and I am being called into
her office about these complaints.
Yesterday’s was the most flagrant and NON-TRUE of all but I
am still on the receiving end. According this one student’s mother, the
students told her that I held her back after class, grabbed her by the shoulders and
told her that I expected more out of her and I liked her but she was not
working up to the standards in class. What could be so wrong about this?
One, I have NEVER held a student back after class. Two, it was
on Monday while we are out in the pod. Three, she was headed to recess. Four,
there were two other boys still in the classroom – which are always the last
one’s out due to problems with their book sacks. Five, she is already making a
100 in class and has done everything I have ever asked of her. Six, her brother
was in my calls last year and he and I worked well together. Seven, – oh heck,
you get the point! Lies, lies, lies. And why? For what reason”?
She made the mistake of telling about a class were she has
NEVER been the last one out, there are student’s in the classroom after her,
and I have to go unlock the outside building door just to let them into the
building because they are so-o-o-o slow. Why would I even talk to her about her
grades since she is making the top grade for this quarter she could get? Lies,
lie, lies.
I have coached for years and years and no one has ever
complained about me and my girls. I have taught for years and there has never
been a complaint from any principal about me, my work, whant I have done for
the students, my love of teaching, the field trips I have taken them on,
nothing. Nothing until I came here.
I honestly believe it is just this group of girls. I dealt
which their lies last year and again this year. I am the new guy so I get all
the blame. The sixth and seventh graders love the help and encouragement I get
them everytime they ask. They know me as a great teacher and love the job I
do. They have never said anything to tarnish my reputation but this current
group of 8th grade girls is terrible. The boys all love me and work
hard to do well in class. Some of the girls have worked super hard and know what
is going on and why these other girls are the way they are but won’t go and
tell.
At lunch yesterday I stopped and asked the two boys who were
“last out” on Monday if they remembered and YES they did. One even told me he
knew he was last out because of his “blasted rolling book sack and dropping
stuff allover”.
Why did I decide to leave the public school? I had a good
thing going and I should have stayed!