Well, damn.
I finally got the email purporting to explain why the amazing teacher got fired. Except, of course, it didn't explain anything. The email claimed that the amazing teacher DID know why she'd been fired and that they weren't saying more to protect her privacy.
I did not like that email.
Even though I was relieved that it didn't say something like, "The amazing teacher is awesome, but we fired her because she forgot to teach a few Bible lessons last year" or "The amazing teacher is a fine person, but she broke her contract by getting drunk at the Blue Moon restaurant a few weeks ago." It still didn't answer my questions.
So I sent Facebook messages and emails and smoke signals out to see if anyone knew anything else.
Most people responded that they trusted the school and the director to do what's best, but that they didn't understand what happened either. Then a few stories trickled in. Not abuse stories or anything horrible, but a few things that might be considered unprofessional, shall we say. And as I read those stories, I remembered a story I'd heard a few years back. The other mom hadn't named the teacher, but I'd always assumed that it was a teacher who'd already left the school. What if the story had been about the amazing teacher?
I don't know anything for certain, of course. But what I suspect is that there were several instances of this borderline behavior, which the amazing teacher didn't see as a big deal and the school director did. And so when the director fired her, the amazing teacher didn't feel it was justified. And the director felt like she had no choice. Then they didn't tell the parents right away and all the drama started.
And it sucks.
But does it suck enough for me to remove Hugmonkey from the school? The one he knows and loves? The one we can afford? Especially since I can't observe other schools right now, it being summer and all. I can't believe I'm saying this, but. . .I don't think so. I'm not going to discuss specifics here, but once when I was teaching I did something that was similar to the stories I head about the amazing teacher. But after my principal talked to me about it, and after I reflected on it, I never did it again. If my theories are true, it did happen again for the amazing teacher. Possible several times. So I get the director's reasoning. It absolutely could have been handled better from the get-go, but I think it would hurt Hugmonkey more in the long run to be dragged somewhere else than to stay at the school.
Even if I did trash the paper work in an initial fit of frustration over this whole episode.
5 comments:
Funny thing about being a parent, it so comes down to being " All about the kid" and what is best for your child.
You can still support this teacher and do what is best for your child, even if the action is different for each belief. You are a parent and a person..
Send your child to school in the environment that is best for the childs happiness and wellbeing. Choose to suppor the beliefs you believe in and say /do what you like.
great post.
like part 1 too.
How frustrating and disappointing for you.
I wish you the best in finding a new place for your child.
Is it bad that I'm still dying to know what she did?
Suzanne - You summed it up perfectly.
Special Needs Mom - Thanks.
Abbie - I think I'm going to keep him there. It's the lesser of the evils.
Leslie - I would be too if the roles were reversed. Email me and I will tell you!
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