Ok, let me please get this off my chest. My story is nothing compared to all the terrible things I read here the last few days but still... give me a hug or just be as pissed as I am

Some of you know I've been working as a teacher for two months. The school I work at is very old-fashioned and I couldn't stand the headmaster from the moment I saw him. He's the kind of person who can only gain 'respect' by forcing people to be afraid of him. I'm sure he can't stand me neither but still he gave me the job, God may know why that is.

Anyway, I've been working like crazy, doing all kinds of extra stuff, being very enthousiastic, going with the students on sport-weekend while exhausted, teaching during my pauses while I shouldn't, just to help out the weakest students, going to reunions etc, working about 65-70 hours a week.

Today we had a project because the school exists 175 years. (as old as this little country is). Me and some young colleagues had organized a big game, quest-like, and I was playing the big white ghost who had to run and 'kill' the small groups of students with a small waterpistol.

It was rather hilarious, me running, dressed up like a ghost. Everybody thought is was funny and was 'scared' of me.

At a one point of time, a colleague asked me to get some papers. While I was heading my way in one of the corridors I stumbled upon the headmaster, who is known for his sarcasm and who had not spoken one word to me since the first day I have been working there, although I had been helping him out (through mail) for his daily school-magazine.



He looked at me and said very drily 'What the hell are you doing?'. I explained the whole game and assured him of the fact I was not using the water inside the building.

He said 'Have you looked at yourself? You look completely ridiculous' (the expression was stronger but I can't translate it). Then he just turned his back and walked away.

I still can't believe this rudeness. I'm replacing someone, being very enthusiastic and working like crazy. Instead of a 'thank you' I get this.

i think you should ask him what the hell is his problem and is something stuck up his ass-in the nicest way i might add.

You should have squirted him!

Thank you i needed this laugh too. I think its a funny story. A three's company like thing. All headmasters or principles are mean. Like managers, if u union, they will try and put u down at all cost. Its natural

brownsugar said:

He deserves at least a water-pistol in his ass, but I'm not touching that creep.

Seriously though, I'm a very direct person, and I would normally have reacted strongly, instead of my weak response 'I didn't know spooks had to look good'

But the thing is, he might fire me, that is less harder for him to do than for me to get a new job.

This is not the worst thing, 'cause I wouldn't mind to get fired, although I love the kids already.

But... he's known for things like this, and know for having power, and making the whole school-community of this city not hiring people for stupid reasons like this.

God, this is really about the worst characteristic people can have, in my humble opinion.

I totally understand what you're going through... working for assholes. Hell, IBM was full of them when I worked there!

That's sad. Some people only know how to intimidate instead of properly communicate.
Come here

Here's your squeeze, luv

Your demon headmaster's one helluva regimated asshole that probably obsesses about tasks like ironing his socks and folding the toilet paper into a point after his synchronized 7:46 a.m. shits every morning.

I can't stand authoritarians like that Not only are they reliant on fear and intimidation to gain "respect" but they also choose to demean the juniors who work hard under them, believing in their own untouchable immunity granted by their positions.

Are you sure he isn't stuck in some sort of backward time-warp? 'Coz the rigid little stale biscuit may have been there since your school began, 175 years ago!

MarieLouise said:

I think it was a pretty good response.

Anyone with a bit of sense would have felt ashamed when you said that, but I'm sure he didn't. His loss, not yours.

.

senik said:

Well actually, he is there for thirty years now, he became a headmaster at the age of twenty-five , and before that, he was a Dutch teacher at the elite-school for boys. So he studied the same thing as I did, but I can swear you we're handling what we learned at university in an opposite way.

One of his main concerns for example is that people can not use their dialect (complicated issue here in Belgium).

I don't think that is very important, I'd rather show the pupils the power and danger even language can behold. He would never discuss these things, but be manipulative and rule by rules without ever discussing his decisions.

I'm still mad and don't like the idea of returning there tomorrow.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!
[Edited 10/19/05 6:03am]

you should write him a curt and short letter saying that you did not appreciate his behaviour and found it very unprofessional.

it is a risky thing 2 do considering how he is...
but that should not be happening, especially in a learning environment where one of the values that should be honoured is RESPECT.

SammiJ said:

The problem is I sent 65 letters to find a job and this school gave the only positive response.

This doesn't mean my letter sucked, this means it's rather hard to find a job with the university degree I have.

If not, I would have followed your advice. I've already written about 20 letters in my head.

Congrats with your engagement, btw !

i had a boss like this and once he tried to intimidate me. so i just went over his head and told his boss about it. it straightened things out for awhile but right before i was getting ready to leave that job i started to get real vocal about what an ass he was. It didn't help matters but it was kinda fun being a real bitch and watching him stew in his own juices.

i also didn't leave the place because i knew i'd be hard up for a job if i did. although looking back, it may have been fun to have just up and quit and become a waitress.

brownsugar said:

Co-sign...It might have felt good to tell him you couldn't possibly look as funny as him walking around with that stick up his ass.

Nothinbutjoy said:

Oh I'd like to be there if THAT was ever said!

First.. a big for you!!

I advise you to talk to that guy and tell him you really didn't deserve that stupid comment!
You are a very dedicated teacher
I understand it's difficult to find a job but if he can't appreciate an honost person, I'm not sure I even want to work there!

But first cool down and find the right words!!

Come to the Netherlands...there's a lack (sp?) of teachers here!!

And one other thing, Marie, 65-70 hours-a-week he TOO MUCH! (I am presuming it's Mon-Fri). I think I've told you this before, but if you carry on at that pace you're just going to burn out, babe Reward yourself more 'free time', seriously

HowComeYouDontCallme said:

Thank you my dear. Maybe if I really cool down I'll try to have a talk with thim. The sad thing is people have tried to do the same thing for over thirty years, but as long as you aren't eating out his dirty arse, these reasonable solutions don't seem to work.

I know there's a lack of teachers in the Netherlands. If I would find a job near to the frontier I would consider this !