support from principal

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support from principal

by Fred Smith

Feb 11, 2017

I am a teacher at a new high school, and my principal has not fully backed me up several times. Right now, I have one student who is upset that the Advisory course is not "different" than what it is. I have incorporated more of what this particular student has said she wants to do in Advisory--preparing for college admissions and doing SAT prep--but this student still doesn't pay attention in class or do some of her homework. This student is frequently sending emails during class or playing games on her computer during class. She never adds to classroom discussion unless directly called upon. This student wants to be moved out of my Advisory just "because." Even though I have incorporated her ideas about what to do in this class, she is still dissatisfied. She went to my principal to switch to a different class. Instead of straight out backing me up (especially since the curriculum in this Advisory was his own directive of what we are supposed to be doing), he told ...See More

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It is typical Go to the meeting with the facts. Student has this many missing assignments. You are following advisory curriculum. You have met with student. You have adjusted curriculum per student needs.

In reality, she wants in another advisory to be with her friends or with a teacher that doesn't follow the curriculum or doesn't bother her about her ...See More

Feb 11, 2017

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questions Have you had a conversation with the principal about this student and what you see going on in class? What did he say? Why are you tailoring the class to her requests, is it that sort of class or are you letting her call the shots to avoid a confrontation? What kind of student is she - honor student, trouble maker, etc.?

Principals don't w...See More

Feb 11, 2017

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support The principal may be supporting you more than you realize. It sounds like you wanted him to tell the student "get to work, don't play games, etc" and send her back to class, but often when that happens, it has no effect. The student goes back to the classroom and does what she's always done. The principal may have even talked to her befor...See MoreThe principal may be supporting you more than you realize. It sounds like you wanted him to tell the student "get to work, don't play games, etc" and send her back to class, but often when that happens, it has no effect. The student goes back to the classroom and does what she's always done. The principal may have even talked to her before, tried that, and nothing changed. In my school, when a student is continually not doing work or breaking rules in class, the next step is exactly what you described: a meeting between the student, administrator, and teacher. Often at those meetings the administrator will listen to both sides (teacher and student) and in a situation like you describe, would almost certainly point out to the student that the teacher has already gone out of her way to try to support the student's needs and preferences, and the student has not done her own part in return. Now both the principal and the teacher are witnesses to the expectations that have been laid out and the student knows that both of them will enforce them on the same page. The student can't try to "play" the teacher and admin against each other, because they are both present. I would just go to that meeting prepared to discuss the steps you've taken and the behavior you've seen in your class, and bring any evidence you have. Don't go to the meeting in defensive mode. You have done your best and either the principal will lay out a plan to get the student participating in your class, or he will move her to a different teacher where this will no longer be your problem. Also, keep in mind that even if the student is moved to another class, that's probably not the end of it. The principal will be waiting to see how the student behaves in the new class and most likely she will have the same issues there, but now the principal will have more evidence of his own to support the fact that the issue is with her own behavior and that after making changes, it still continues.

On 2/11/17, Fred Smith wrote: > I am a teacher at a new high school, and my principal has not > fully backed me up several times. Right now, I have one student > who is upset that the Advisory course is not "different" than > what it is. I have incorporated more of what this particular > student has said she wants to do in Advisory--preparing for > college admissions and doing SAT prep--but this student still > doesn't pay attention in class or do some of her homework. This > student is frequently sending emails during class or playing > games on her computer during class. She never adds to > classroom discussion unless directly called upon. This student > wants to be moved out of my Advisory just "because." Even > though I have incorporated her ideas about what to do in this > class, she is still dissatisfied. She went to my principal to switch > to a different class. Instead of straight out backing me up > (especially since the curriculum in this Advisory was his own > directive of what we are supposed to be doing), he told the > student "he would think about it" and now he wants me, him, > and the student to meet together to discuss her "issues" and > going forward. Shouldn't the principal just tell the student to get > to work, get her overdue homework finished, stop playing > games and using her cell phone during class, and stop trying to > game the system? I think he needs to feel liked by the students > even at the expense of not supporting teachers who need back- > up. Do I have a loser principal? Or is this lack of support and > back up typical of principals in other places too? >

Feb 11, 2017

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your principal is doing his job. it is NOT to back everything you do, but to back what makes sense to him from all points of view. Sounds like a great principal.

Feb 12, 2017

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principal is doing the right thing A meeting like this is far more productive than setting ultimatums for a teenager.

I would come to the meeting with a list of what you have incorporated as per the student's suggestions, and another list of the work she has not completed.

I would speak calmly and explain that you value the student's input or you would not have adj...See More

Feb 14, 2017

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