As most of my readers know I was a teacher in Middle School for my whole career. I taught all core subjects except one and also a number of options. I also held down three department head positions over the years. I liked Dept. Head positions as you got to actively direct your program and select materials with staff. One department head position was a big surprise and a bit of a joke that I played on myself.
I never found a conference or professional development activity that I didn't like. These activities provided much personal and professional growth.
Our jurisdiction decided to bring in and implement a health program. There were 6 parts to it and the main focus was more on getting along with people. It was fun to teach as there was much role playing and debriefing. There were many excellent group activities and projects.
Our Principal decided that for his school he would take one hour per week out of the language arts program and teach the health program in that hour. He would automatically have the teachers...the language arts (LA) staff.
One day the LA dept. head asked me if I would like to go to a week long work shop on the new health program. He was supposed to go but had some lame excuse. Sure I would go. The program was more about teaching strategies than introducing the new health program.
About a week after I got back the Principal called me in to tell me that he was going to set up a health Dept. and health Dept. Head. Would I like to be the Dept. Head. Okay sure! I was to see that all staff received professional development before teaching the new program and provide guidance for using materials. I believed it was a good program and was enthusiastic.
Now as most people know one of the six sections was called human relations and most kids referred to it as sex ed. It was a fun unit to teach and I think very worth while.
We had to hold a parent night before we taught unit 6. Guess who got to run the meeting? The Dept. Head of course! I'd had lots of experience with parent meetings, but this one turned out to be a big challenge. There was an organized group who were adamantly opposed to teaching about birth control. Surprise! Surprise! They dominated the meeting and vigorously pushed their agenda. We had no clue this would happen and were caught totally off guard. My principal wisely left me hung out to dry!
So a position I got by surprise turned out to have a big curve in it that was thrown at me. I learned a lot through the experience although it was tough to go through. I still think the LA head and Principal worked together to set me up!
It takes a special sort of person to devote their life to teaching. I know I couldn't do it.
ReplyDeleteNot everybody would like to teach. it's much more challenging today and I''m not sure I could cut it. I retired in 1997.
DeleteOh yeah.. I think they could envision what was going to happen even if you didn't. I suspect that there would be far less opposition these days. At least I hope that would be the case.
ReplyDeleteThe program was greatly modified and allowed people to opt out. These two were awesome to work for.
DeleteYes it sounds a bit like a poisoned chalice to me. But I am sure they were better off with you in the role than many of your colleagues
ReplyDeleteYes, I did not really fight this one. They wee both great to work for and gave me opportunities.
DeleteLife is full of surprises and curves and most days give a challenge we did not have the day before - sounds like you were set up to take the brunt of this, however, a challenge is right up your alley Red. I would choose you for the wise man you are to teach anything :)
ReplyDeleteI guess the surprise was that I was not looking for the position. Curves are always a challenge.
DeleteNot fair! But I bet you handled it well.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there was any evil intent. It was a plus for me even though it was a surprise. I liked them both and they were good to work for.
DeleteSometimes we get slammed for wanting to teach. I work with home school kids with science. It took me back a bit when a parent told me to work with Creationism to do this. We were at a Natural History Museum at the time.
ReplyDeleteWe sometimes have to do some dancing to get the job done.
DeleteI hope those parents were teaching sex education at home. Most likely not. Sounds like a real mess to me. :(
ReplyDeleteYou've got it figured out. this cannot be left to chance. It was some good planning and both these guys were excellent to work for.
DeleteI taught for a decade before burning out from all the nonsense and hoops teachers are forced to go through. It does sound like you were set up.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the hoops.
Deletethe hops were coming in when I retired in 97.
But it all turned out all right in the end. MUCH better to have had you there than him, in the first place. Sounds like a win/win for he kids. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou've got it. It was a good situation. It ended up being a two year position until we got the program off the ground.
DeletePrincipals can be weasels in disguise!
ReplyDeleteI've worked for some top notch weasels! I loved them all!
DeleteThey may have dumped on you, but they also knew you could handle it, and apparently you did!
ReplyDeleteYep, sounds like you were set up - but it was probably for the best. You were able to handle the situation much better than they probably would have.
ReplyDeletewhat a tough spot to be in! people/parents can get quite adamant about their views - especially if it comes from their religious beliefs.
ReplyDelete