Hello all, Long Story short: I teach grade 5/6. Our school recently hosted a conference, at which our Spec. Ed. teacher presented about a specific math program. She invited me to join her and her friends to sit with them at lunch (all of whom were strangers to me, from another school). She introduced me by saying, "This is _____. She was the grade 3/4 teacher last year. She was gung-ho about (the math program) until she got burned out". Needless to say, I was humiliated. The worst part - I never said a word (too shocked and timid). Nobody else said a word either. Later whenever I passed the other teachers, they avoided my glance. My question: how would you deal with this?
On 3/21/09, Miss S. wrote: > Hello all, Long Story short: I teach grade 5/6. Our school > recently hosted a conference, at which our Spec. Ed. > teacher presented about a specific math program. She > invited me to join her and her friends to sit with them at > lunch (all of whom were strangers to me, from another > school). She introduced me by saying, "This is _____. She > was the grade 3/4 teacher last year. She was gung-ho about > (the math program) until she got burned out". Needless to > say, I was humiliated. The worst part - I never said a word > (too shocked and timid). Nobody else said a word either. > Later whenever I passed the other teachers, they avoided my > glance. My question: how would you deal with this?
Our school adopted a new language arts program this school year and ALL our teachers were burned out within a month. It wasn't the program so much as the top down dictation of HOW we had to teach it: what order, what day each thing was taught, and how long we could spend on each thing, etc. The pace they determined was outrageous. It was basically hit it and move. We even had use timers on ourselves to keep us "on task." Lost were any teachable moments, opportunities for sharing and discussion, and remediation for those who didn't master concepts. It was a nightmare. Everyone felt like an assembly-line worker.
How I would have LOVED to have been in your situation so I could have vented about MY burnout and what caused it. I would have shared the health problems other teachers were having due to the stress of the mandated pace, the many days we stayed at school until 6 or 7 pm getting every duck in a row so no second was wasted, and poor results we were having with our students. I would have asked if they were required to teach this program in a similar manner, if they they weren't...what were they doing differently.
That being said, what this person did to you was wrong and shared volumes about their character. Any supervisor that recognizes the burnout of a dedicated teacher and doesn't try to find out why is far too removed from the front line of teaching to be an effective leader. I'm sorry this happened to you.
Did she say it in an angry way? It is an odd thing to say in any way. Are you angry now? the other teachers were strangers and the conference is over - I'd let it go unless you want to work on your working relationship with the spec. ed teacher. The way to do that would be to open a dialogue with her. Were you burned out? Did you not like the math program? Do you want to give it a second try or do you want her blessing for not trying it again?
What you do would depend on what you want to accomplish - what is that?
On 3/21/09, Miss S. wrote: > Hello all, Long Story short: I teach grade 5/6. Our school > recently hosted a conference, at which our Spec. Ed. > teacher presented about a specific math program. She > invited me to join her and her friends to sit with them at > lunch (all of whom were strangers to me, from another > school). She introduced me by saying, "This is _____. She > was the grade 3/4 teacher last year. She was gung-ho about > (the math program) until she got burned out". Needless to > say, I was humiliated. The worst part - I never said a word > (too shocked and timid). Nobody else said a word either. > Later whenever I passed the other teachers, they avoided my > glance. My question: how would you deal with this?
On 3/24/09, Let's see. How are things like this handled in America wro...See MoreWas the teacher joking? If you don't think that she was, I would ignore it and let it go. Then continue to be nice. The school I am in now is full of things like that. I try to roll with the punches and not let things bother me. The special ed teacher is not your boss.
On 3/24/09, Let's see. How are things like this handled in America wrote: > now? Just watch the news. Surely, you know what I mean. > > > On 3/21/09, Miss S. wrote: >> Hello all, Long Story short: I teach grade 5/6. Our school >> recently hosted a conference, at which our Spec. Ed. >> teacher presented about a specific math program. She >> invited me to join her and her friends to sit with them at >> lunch (all of whom were strangers to me, from another >> school). She introduced me by saying, "This is _____. She >> was the grade 3/4 teacher last year. She was gung-ho about >> (the math program) until she got burned out". Needless to >> say, I was humiliated. The worst part - I never said a word >> (too shocked and timid). Nobody else said a word either. >> Later whenever I passed the other teachers, they avoided my >> glance. My question: how would you deal with this?
On 3/21/09, Miss S. wrote: > Hello all, Long Story short: I teach grade 5/6. Our school > recently hosted a conference, at which our Spec. Ed. > teacher presented about a specific math program. ...See More