On 5/07/08, french teacher wrote:
> the interference continues and now the husband's practitioner who is
> a teacher at the school is bullying me 2 or 3 times a day by the
> corridors, I am despair, I can't sleep even to teach and I don't know
> what to do, my forces are abandoning me, help.
What exactly is the husband doing? Because this sounds like harassment.
I don't know what the harassment laws are in Canada, but there must
surely be something in place? If he's harassing you, you'll probably
want, at the very least, to tell him firmly that what he is doing is
unacceptable and it needs to stop, and then to report it.
Actually, it sounds as though the woman's behavior is also close to
harassment.
Are you in a union? If not, then I would most strongly suggest that you
join one immediately. Sadly, it does sound as though the goal of this
unpleasant couple may be to get you fired so that the wife can get her
old job back. If so, then you will be in a much betetr position, as you
try to fight them, if you have the support of a union. For exmaple, take
your union rep with you when you speak to the principal about any
incidents. Then he will find it more difficult not to take action.
As an earlier poster said, do not talk with the woman. If she tries to
look at what she is doing, get up and move. I would also suggest that
you tell her assertively that you would prefer that she did not try to
read over your shoulder. She will probably deny that this is what she is
doing, in which case you can say that even if sthis is not what she is
doing, it is certainly the impression that she gives and that she needs
to ensure that she does not give the appearance of doing so. An, as
others have said, document every incident - dates, times, exactly what
happened, etc. If there are other people in the room when an incident
occurs, write down their names, especially if you have a confrontation.
Th computer incident is completely unacceptable. But how did she manage
to get at the computer while you were logged in? Does she have your
passowrd? If so, then you need to contact your IT service, to have your
password changed immediately. If you left your computer, then you have
learned that she is not to be trusted and that you will need to log out
every single time you get up from the computer.
Do not let her come into your classroom, either when you are teaching or
when it is empty. Does she still have a key? if so, then you might want
to explain the problem to the principal, i the hope that the lock can be
changed, or that he can at the very least get the key back from the woman.
Above all, do not let this woman destroy your confidence in your
abilities. That is obviously one of her goals, so don't give her the
satisfaction of achieving it. Anyone who has to resort to such underhand
tactics can't actually be much good as a teacher. Those who are truly
competent prove their competence by what they themselves achieve, not by
trying to do down others.
Even if this harpy eventually "wins" it does not mean that she is
superior to you: simply that - sadly - in this world the baddies
sometimes win. Treat your battle scars and then go on to a better
school, where your skills are truly valued.
Good luck.
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