Re: need an opinion

Frank

Posted on 10/01/09

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$10,000 is a significant increment to your income, and the
other teacher, who did not agree to a change which would have
allowed you to earn the extra money, is an apparent obstacle to
that extra income. What is not clear, and would not
necessarily be clear even were I to know the individual
teacher, is the motivation for his or her actions. I can
proffer a few thoughts:

The teacher may have felt slighted or deprived in that he or
she was not offered the opportunity you were;
The teacher may have felt no obligation to you that would
induce him or her to make any accommodation for your benefit,
and that feeling of no obligation may have any of dozens of
motivations;
The teacher may have an animus toward either you or the principal;
The teacher may have felt that some friend or acquaintance of
his deserved the extra pay;
The teacher may have felt that the principal understaffs the
school, and should be forced to hire more teachers.

Then there is the issue of the principal caving to the other
teacher. In most work environments a supervisor can make
reasonable adjustments to a subordinate's work schedule. If I
were a supervisor confronted with an employee who refused to
make a simple accommodation, such as changing a conference
period, without a substantial reason, I would consider a direct
order, and would fire the employee who refused the direct order.

If the real source of trouble is a weak backbone, and the
principal is simply greasing the squeaky wheel, then you might
consider filing grievances or threatening lawsuits. You might
even speak to an attorney. Attorneys have a technique known as
"shaking the tree." Sometimes a simple letter from an attorney
will cause an immediate settlement of a dispute in your favor.
In fact, sometimes simply letting a big-mouthed coworker know
that you are talking to an attorney can have the same effect.
You could also find out if your state law would construe the
offending teacher's actions as some kind of tort.

Be careful though. The offending teacher is a squeaky wheel,
and may also enjoy the legal process. When you wrestle with a
pig in mud, you both get muddy, but the pig loves it.

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