Tattling and showing a little respect.

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Home : 2004 : September : 25

Tattling and showing a little respect.
By Anon

Not that I need to justify anything to you, but you also have made some quick judgements - like my co-worker and myself - without getting all the facts.

When I dropped the kids off, my co-worker was on the playground.
I saw she was there on the playground; I didn't have a conversation with her at this time. I must have assumed she had the duty - remember I had the brain flatus and totally forgot it was my duty at the time.
I turned around on the sidewalk when my last student was on the blacktop running away from me toward the playground equipment, and I walked back down the long sidewalk around the

corner of the building to get back to my part of the building. I begin my break time routine of rushing back to get materials out & ready - and getting the room prepared for the next activities. Plus we are required to clean out/check our mailboxes in the office twice a day - so a run to the office is usually a must during a recess break that you have to do. On my walk back to room from office was when my other co-worker reminded me that I had the duty. Big OPPS! And I ran to the playground and apologized to no avail.

FYI: There was someone on the playground when I dropped my class off - It was my co-worker!!

I would have loved to have "tattle" on myself to the principal - instead of being "tattled" on. My co-worker ran directly (She didn't stop at "Go" and collect 200 dollars.) After she left the playground when I returned to it, she run to the principal's office. Because she is new to this school district, I was disappointed that she was going to handle conflicts in this way - running to tattle - And I was disappointed that in front of my face, she told me that it was no big deal and not to worry about it and then she turned away and made it a big deal by tattling. Ouch!

You are also assuming the parent who was on the playground - was angry. I don't believe the parent was aware of the situation - for my co-worker was out there shortly after the first grade teachers dismissed their kids for recess. When I got to the playground "the second time," I did speak several times with the mother while supervising the playground. (Yes, I was testing the waters so to speak!) She didn't seem to be aware of what was going on with the staff members. She was busy entertaining her son who was in a wheel chair - an accident with a golf cart.

If one had spoken to the first grade teachers, they would have gained some understanding about why this situation may have occurred. Our district has just hired four new associates. Many of us hadn't even met these associates. When talking with the first grade teachers myself, they had thought the parent on the playground was one of the new associates. They were wrong, of course.

This adds a new light to the situation - an understanding why the situation may have occurred.

I agree it doesn't make it okay - but now I can understand why the first grade teachers sent their kids out early. They saw an associate on duty in their minds.

Maybe this "tattling" co-worker could have asked the principal to introduce to all the staff the newly hired associates - in some kind of quick meeting so everyone would see their faces and know who they were.

The advice that I should go to the principal and tell my side wasn't followed by me - thank goodness - especially after speaking to the other parties involved. I figure if the principal wanted to hear my side, she would have asked.

I feel like I was being scolded by you in your post . . . And I didn't like it.