>
> I don't understand what's going on here. Are there other
> teachers who were in this position when they started, where
> they didn't see something in themselves that others saw or
> perceived as detrimental to staff support or students'
> instruction? I'm at a very good school -- is it possible
> there's some sort of insular/protectionist attitude with
> the goal of getting me fired or getting me to quit?
>
> I'm at a total loss here. I need some help.

Most schoolteachers have only worked in schools and schools
are strange places. Teachers love to tell kids they are
preparing them for the real world but most teachers have
never worked in that real world.
You have and likely with success and as a result, you're
probably far more worldly than many teachers. And you bring
real world knowledge... that will be threatening.
There is a pecking order in schools... most teachers spend
their career as teachers - there's no ladder to climb and it
makes them more than a little batty. Thus, the pecking order
and the extreme sensitivity and the very easy to raise the
hair on their backs stuff. And - the classroom is a little
kingdom unto itself ony adding to the lack of real world and
lack of sophistication you may see in schools.
If your near colleague is well entrenched and well networked
and high on the pecking order, the rest of the faculty will
usually go along and echo his opinion. Indignation abounds in
schools - it's a first response reaction to almost everything.

Are you sure you want to work in this place? By now you're
rethinking the dream job idea...

I too came from outside of schools to work in one and I found
to get along, one had to wear gray and be as retiring as
possible. You're a man and I'm not so it was easier for me to
bumble and stumble a bit and look helpless - and classroom
management is no easy think to quickly master so I had some
real learning to do.

Never speak of what you did before. Try to be humble, humble,
humble. As a woman, apologies come fairly easily to me even
if I didn't do anything. Thank your principal - play the
game - if you want to stay and work in peace. Thank you, Mr.
Principal, it's certainly never my intention to be so.
Pompous? Thank you so much - I will mend my ways because they
don't reflect what's in my heart - I LOVE this school and am
very grateful for the oppotunity to be here."

Even if you have to bite the bullet to say it. Smile warmly
at the school secretary - she is VERY powerful.
Good luck.

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