Hang in there

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Home : 2002 : February : 11

Hang in there
By Leigh

I am so sorry to hear about the situation you are in. According to the other posts on this board, ALMOST all principals behave the way yours does. We teachers need support. It is very poor character for a principal to
bend and bow to every whim of a parent. My principal has been really nice to me this year. One thing I did figure out a few years ago, you have to get parents on your side (If a principal can kiss up to parents, so can we). I have a system in my class that I call "1-800-CALL-MAMA". I have two telephones hanging on my board. One is labeled, HAPPY CALLS the other TROUBLE CALLS. Well,

every day I put about two or three kids under the HAPPY CALLS. Then I call and brag on the kids to parents. This has accomplished two things for me. It inspires most of my kids to be good because they want these calls. Then, when I call about good things, the parents love it. Well, once you get parents on your side, you've pretty much got it made. I always think of something good the parent is doing. I told one parent something like, "I love the way you have helped so and so with her multiplication tables". With the children I have that come in using manners like saying "yes ma'am", I REALLY brag to the parents. Also, I have been very consistent with this, so I have called most of my parents 10 or 12 times this year. I have gotten to know them through this. Sometimes, we even get to talking about personal matters at home. One night I made a call and while I was talking on the phone, my little dog got bubble gum stuck in her hair. The parent told me how to get the stuff out, and now every time I see her, she asks about my pet.

I know this all seems impossible if you have a really bad class. I am fortunate in that I live in a fairly small city where most people still have morals. But still, maybe you can take this advice and adapt it to your needs. I also have found that praise goes a long way, with tough kids especially. I always tell them they "are too smart for careless work like they do". They also love for me to tell them a lot of personal stories about when I was their age.

Back to my subject, principals usually back off if parents are pleased. Do every thing you can to get a few parents pleased. It only takes a few because sometimes parents talk and word spreads. I have been amazed. I came into the situation where the other third grade teachers are way older than me (as a matter of fact, they have all taught more years than I have even been alive). I had to fight that "young teacher" reputation. Parents tend to gravitate towards liking one particular teacher. Well, they are all positive now. My few behavior kids have parents who don't care. They tend to leave me alone anyway.

Hang in there. You will come out on top.