AIBU to stand up for myself or best let it go?

[AngelL7]

I come into a school one class a week to teach a specialised subject. Obviously I’m not a proper member of staff - I don’t even know what’s the principal’s name is, I deal directly with department in question and that’s it. I’ve had no induction, no idea of what school protocol is etc. Essentially I’m there to deliver the knowledge/skills and that’s it.

The school have had a problem with several students in the class I take (it’s minor, not a behavioural issue) and today a VP (first time I met him) came in in the middle of my class, read them the riot act & then proceeded to chastise me in front of them. What they have done isn’t my fault or anything I could have done to prevent. I don’t even think it’s an issue that I should be dealing with given the fact I’m not a proper teacher.

I was gobsmacked / angry / mortified that he spoke to me like that in front the students, as were they - they were asking if I was ok afterwards & I could hear them whispering about it.

Afterwards I spoke to the department and they admitted it was out of line and that was it. Part of me wants to pull him on it next week (I never stand up for myself) but then I be thinking I should just leave it for an easy life.

What would you do?

HI

I've been in a very similar-ish position to you (without the humiliation thing that led to your making the post). I was a "proper" member of staff, but only working on a VERY part time basis. As such, I wasn't given to door code to get in ("we only give that out to staff members" "I AM a staff member" "..."), I had to sign in the visitors book every time I went into the school ("but I'm not a visitor - you pay me a salary" "you still have to sign in"). It was ridiculous.

I thought about things I could do to change it, and couldn't come up with anything that wasn't me whinging. So, after 2 years, I handed in my notice. My H/T was DEVASTATED. Turned out, they really valued the little thing I was there to deliver (I got 3 personal mentions in their OFSTED report, without being on site when they had their inspection!). When I explained WHY I'd quit, the head persuaded me to revoke my resignation and I got the door code and my name on the staff list and everything else that made me a 'proper' member of staff.

Please do stand up for yourself. It might surprise you!

And if your experience isn't as positive as mine was, then hopefully you won't find it too difficult to find that time elsewhere?

Good luck!

I would give him a bollocking. How dare he do that and undermine you in front of a class. Dont let it lie op!

I’d make an appointment to see him and discuss.

Thanks peeps - I don’t even need the hours, my regular job would pay me more per hour & less travel involved. It was the more experience I wanted and I really do go above and beyond for my students.

Without me they couldn’t run this particular course (I let them use my equipment & don’t charge for depreciation or other materials the use, they don’t have the budget for it themselves) which is why it feels like such a kick in teeth for me.

I’m more cross today now 😡

On Monday contact the HR department and ask to talk to someone about having ben humiliated by someone from SMT in front of students.

Explain he did NOT introduce himself, so you don't actually know who he is, you had to ask colleagues to guess from your description.

Further explain that the issues he berated them for had not happened during any of your sessions and that his having berated you for a situation you had no involvement with was compounded by his unprofessional conduct of having done it in front of the students - add that the students were upset on your behalf - and that you do not accept having been undermined in this manner especially by a member of the management team.

Tell them that you wish to make your complaint formal and want to discuss the complaints procedure, immediately!

Twats like that have no business being VPs. They make it a personal power trip and absolutely destroy staff : pupil relationships, often seeing that as a feather in their own caps!

That’s bloody awful.

What would happen to the students if you resigned?
Depending on that I would resign stating the this incident with the VP as the sole reason you are leaving and copy in the Governors.

I’ve been in education on and off for my entire career and it’s people like this that shouldn’t be in teaching.

My Dad was a senior teacher at one point and related kind of a similar story. He walked past a classroom and it was so out of control he thought the teacher had stepped out of the classroom for a minute so he went in to restablish order and bawl the class out only to realise the teacher was in there and had just completely lost control so he had to say something to the teacher too.

Is it possible it was that sort of scenario and he didn’t initially realise you were there?

I don’t think the students wouldn’t be able to finish if I left, I wouldn’t want to jeorodise their exams - they are all good kids at the back of it

I have a simple rule OP, don't take shit from anyone at anytime. Your VP was a dick, an unprofessional dick. Call him on it, get a witness, and call the union if you are in one. I have seen horrendous bullying in the workplace, and the only way to stop it is to let the person know that you will not stand for it. My dh is very good at stopping this kind of nonsense, and has been asked to be an 'advocate' at work for people in similar situations.

I would contact the department and say that since you are not treated respectfully in front of the children due to VP interrupting your teaching and undermining you in front of others, it has made your position untenable. It was incredibly unprofessional of him. The number one rule of working with children is not to undermine each other in front of others. If he had an issue he could have pulled you out of the classroom and handled it privately.

Sounds like there is no benefit of you keeping this position.

I would definitely take it up it’s completely unacceptable to speak to you like that in front of the students, how does he think you will be able to maintain any sense of control of the class after that?!