I
have been dealing with biases and prejudices all year in the work place, this
year I have been the only one yelled at for wearing jeans on a Friday even
though everyone had them on because we were told we could wear them, I was yelled
at in front of volunteers for things that were not my fault and she never even apologized
when I pointed them out, I was told I cannot take off, while right in front of
me my assistant asked off and nothing was said but remind me later, I was told
I cannot leave my classroom even if my assistant was under ratio, but my
assistant could enjoy coffee in the office all morning leaving me alone with my
class but most recently was right before we left for the summer I was told that
I may not have my class when I come back. By all rights I should have seniority;
I have 10 years working with young children, 7 of those years with Head Start
and I am the only one with a Bachelor’s degree. So tell me why my assistant
with no experience as a lead teacher, who just got an associate degree maybe
running the show? With the last agency we were under, I made teacher of the
year every year I was there, so it is not like I do not know what I am doing or
am a bad teacher.
I
was hurt about the situation but not surprised because my assistant had been
saying towards the end of the year how she could not wait to get her own class,
I just knew this was going to happen. I was told that a comment was made about
me that I will say anything…what does that mean? I can assume what the comment
meant, but that will make me no better than my boss for saying it. So I have
been looking for other positions, I hope to find one that will value me for
what I can do with children not what I look like. I only named a few things
that happened this year, it was a nightmare, I got to the point I did not want
to go to work because I was forever being yelled at for something, and when I
say yell, I am not exaggerating, people heard her in other classes. I finally
had to go to her boss and discuss the situation, but now I feel like I am being
punished for that.
I
do not even know how this could be changed to make it more equal except for it
not to happen at all. It is one thing not to get a position that I would apply
for but to be told that my class my no longer be mine for no apparent reason
other than my assistant wants her own class that is unacceptable. She needs to
apply when there is an opening like the rest of us did, not have someone pushed
aside so she can take over. If she does not get her own class, my boss is
taking the 3 year olds away from me and giving me 4’s because that is what my
assistant wants. My mother keeps telling me that God is in control, and he will
put me where I need to be whether if I remain in my class or find another
position, I need to pray and have faith, so that is what I am doing this summer
because I really cannot go through another year of that.
Hi Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteIt is awful that you have being going through this inequity at your work place. Dealing with this on a daily basis has to be stressful and make going to work difficult. What is the cause of all of this unfair treatment? Is it because your supervisor thinks that you are too vocal? And even if she thinks that, it does not justify the way she has been treating you! I agree with your mother, God is in control. I pray that you will find happiness and peace where you are, or wherever you may decided to go. Hold your head high and remain faithful!
I can't believe that people today still act this way. I wish I knew how to make others change in how they think and act towards others, but I can't. I would have to look for another job if I was still being treated like this and I pray that God leads you to a better position than the one you have now.
ReplyDeleteWow! I can only imagine what you are going through on your job. I had a rough year also this past school year as i was a new teacher at this particular school. Like you, I felt that any and eveything was thrown at me from all different angles simply because I was the "new kid on the block". Like you, I didn't understand it because I had done an outstanding job at my previous school in which my students scored the absolute highest on their tests, but for some reason, this school just did not want to acknowledge my hard work. There were several nights that I went home in tears because I felt that it was just NOT fair. However, I stood my grounds and eventually it all stopped. I'm not saying to stay (because I totally felt like relocating also) but sometimes thats the ultimate goal of others--to make you quit! Stay strong and (like your mom said) God has the final say so. Right when you think you are losing, he'll find a way to turn it all around. I wish you the best in whatever route you decide to take. Good Luck! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the support...yes I do believe one of the goals was to have me go...if God has plans for me to stay than I will have to soldier through...the funny thing is, I was the only one to have folders done and in perfect order before school was out and my room packed up and everything turned in...my friend said that should speak for itself...I need to figure out what I needed to learn from this and use it toward good
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear that you had such a difficult year. I hope that you are able to find peace in knowing that you are good at what you do and hopefully someday soon others will see your gift too.
ReplyDelete