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the new guy · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

so... we've had some major re-structuring of the language only school where i work.

Mr 51% sold his part to Mrs 49% and has since left the city. Mr. 51% was the one that seemed to know the most about running a business.

Mrs 49% has been so consumed with planning her wedding for the last 6 months, she has been neglectful of the running of the school and all of us teachers have noticed the absence and deterioration.

The "new" sole owner has made the longest employed teacher the DoS. She is only 23, and has no interpersonal skills when it comes to talking to the other teachers and students alike. She is the classic model of the "Ice Queen".

For example... there have been some new teachers sitting in on the classes, and not once has she introduced me to them, or said that they will be sitting in on my class beforehand to see how we teach.

I've said to the other teachers that she is not even capable of taking orders at KFC. They agree with me.

We have all lost respect for her now. She talks down to us, puts up notices in the staffroom telling us about how we should do things, when in fact, she is guilty herself of doing such things. It's all about "do as I say, not as I do".

She is making up policies as she feels the need, and there are no notices posted for us teachers to see with the new policies. So I challenge them. I am not going to let some power-drunk woman 18 years my junior tell me how to do things that defy logic and betterment for the school.

We have asked for some new teaching supplies to make our jobs easier, and it has fallen on deaf ears for the past 3 months. She always has an excuse as to why nothing has been done. BS!!

Everyday I just shake my head in amazement as to what she comes up with.

Thanks for letting me vent. Smile

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Why is the longest-employed teacher at your school only 23? That doesn't speak too well of the school itself! Is the turnover really that high?

d

the new guy · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

the school has been in operation for 3-4 years, and she has been working there for the last 2.5 whilst going to uni.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Well, at least it's one up from: New DoS in My School - Incontinent.

Dragonlady

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Have you thought about having a meeting together with everyone? All the teachers and the new DOS? She probably doesn't realise that she's being distant. Also, you could ask her to divide the tasks, appoint senior teachers, try to help her out.

the new guy · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

let me clarify a few things....

"The New Guy" is merely my handle on this website along with 3867+ others that i visit. I am not the new guy in my school. Been there 1.5 years and there are other teachers my junior.

Once all new teachers for the coming school year are in place, I will be demanding a staff meeting. Don't worry 'bout that.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Good luck!

I wonder, though, if her age is really the issue behind her incompetence... Maybe it's just a case of being inexperienced (same end result, I know, but less problematic for me.) There are people out there far older who are still incompetent! At least since she's so young she's probably not too set in her ways.

d

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Age would likely be a factor here, as well as some of her time in while she was finishing her degree. But management skills don't come naturally, and sometimes someone may need to point out to the owner that filling the spot from inside the company may not have been the best choice.

As to ploicies, why don't you go to the owner and suggest that the teachers meet to suggest what they might be. The company is young, and it doesn't seem to have a well established set of work rules, something that is a receipe for disaster.

slaqdog · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 211

some guys just don't like women: this is the subtext to this post
"so i challenge them" very constructive

Dragonlady · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:55 pm Post subject:

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

Well, an option is to stake a claim to her position. Explain to the owner that there are things you'd do differently and stress that you could bring improvements both to teacher morale and the general running of the place.
best
basil

the new guy · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

/\ ya i peeped at the website. full of all the same useless drivel that most TESOL TEFL sites et al say.

I wasn't chosen as what?? the DoS? I am not native of the country. So I cannot communicate with students in their language. Pretty easy to see why.

Mr 51% was boring, married, & never there. Now i miss him even more.

As for "challenging them" do you just accept policies made off the cuff without anything written on paper? Doubt it. If u do... time to grow some grapefruits. It has NOTHING to do with hating women. I hate it when the managers (of any business) start making the rules as they are needed, and then give u schit for sth.

Dragonlady · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject:

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Age is a big factor here. You said it yourself when you wrote that you were not going to let someone "18 years your junior" dictate terms. You wrote that you had worked there 1.5 years. Ok, how long have you been teaching? I ask only because some people get into teaching later in life, and if you are 18 years older than her, that doesn't necessarily mean you have more teaching experience. If that is true, then perhaps that is one of the main reasons she was chosen, not you. Don't know until we hear from you on this.

On to more primary concerns. Your working relationship. You can stay there or leave. If you stay, you can deal with this situation directly or indirectly.

Directly: An aggressive face to face confrontation, with or without other teachers. The newly hired teachers will be hesitant to team up with an outwardly negative person, so remember that when you call that meeting.

Indirectly: Two approaches here. 1) Sneak around behind her back, or post anonymous Post-its on her staff room notices to ask the questions you should be asking more directly (and perhaps more professionally).
2) Don't attack her, but instead see what can be done to understand the situation. I'm not there, so I can't give you details on what will work, but here are some examples:
* Offer to help with something while she steps out of the office, whether to plan her wedding or for business.
* Bring a copy of the staff notice to her office (on a scheduled visit) and ask for clarification on things. Perhaps even suggest that a teacher policy manual should be written. (I think a work policy manual is required by law and should be posted openly or at least be made available openly. Offer to help write it.)
* Go to lunch with her (or have lunch in a private office) and tell her it is a business meeting just between you and her, because you have worked there long enough to be her peer. Hash out a point of contention. Point out a weakness in her management style and how you think it might be corrected. I mention this last one based on experience, as someone who was older than his female boss (different type of job).
* Or just corner her in her office (at the water cooler, so to speak) and ask her how she feels about the new responsibilities. Who knows where this might lead?

All I can really tell you is, sniping and backroom conversations that are all negative about her will be unproductive if she is not somehow included. She is not a mindreader, and grousing about the situation behind her back may feel good when you vent, but it accomplishes nothing toward fixing the situation.