Am I to blame?

[ginger1981]

A couple of years ago I started working in a school that I love working in. All of the other teachers within my dept. have been there at least 15 years-some around 25 years. It isn't a school with much movement. Due to cost savings, there have been redundancies where we all had to undertake an interview with members of the SLT and they scored us accordingly against the job description. I got the job over someone who has been there for over 15 years. This has caused so much anger, hostility and disbelief due, in some way, to the fact that as I haven't been there for very long, I don't 'deserve' the position. As all the other members within the team (apart from SLT) have been there for just as long and have, understandably, created longstanding friendships over the years, they have shown support for their long-term colleague and friend and shock and disbelief that I got the job. As part of their support, my colleagues (and the teacher who has been made redundant) have been comparing me and my teaching negatively; they have even had meetings with the Head asking him to pinpoint precisely why I got the job over them-as they are all at a loss. They said that they left this meeting without any clarity as to why I was chosen and that they cannot see why I should have got it. I have lacked confidence at the best of times in my teaching (as many teachers feel), and in my own eyes I can never be good enough, and this situation has made me increasingly anxious. This probably isn't helping my cause, in that I'm becoming more withdrawn and possibly slightly paranoid. I feel incredibly guilty and sad that someone has lost their job, and I know that this decision was entirely out of my hands, but in some way I feel like I am being blamed for this and I don't know how to put it right.

I don't in anyway feel that I'm a 'better' teacher than the one who was made redundant, but the feeling amongst my colleagues is one of 'why the heck have I got the job? I'm not even very good!' Sorry, but thank you for letting me vent!

I don’t understand why they are singling you out against the others that all kept their jobs. 2 years isn’t that short service, maybe I’d get it if you had only just started.
I’d have a meeting with management, they need to put a stop to it. If people keep approaching you about it I’d put a complaint in.

I'll be blunt - you got the job because you were cheaper on the pay scales. Thats the long and he sort of school funding thes days. However SLT should be addressing this, you are right, it is bullying and its also not fair on the collegue who has been made redundant either. It is playing with peoples lives, finances, metal health for all involved. In my experience, teachers can be incredibly petty, hold grudges and your life will be made hell - I'd start looking to move now before they break you and you end up long term sick

Exact same thing happened to me about 8 years ago, I was told the selection was made using a matrix and had nothing to do with length of service.
The colleague who was made redundant was actually very nice to me. She was very popular which made me the bad guy by default.

The fuss died down relatively quickly apart from one person who still made digs for years. I eventually gave her a piece of my mind and invited her to formally present all her passive aggressive whinging to HR and let them address it. She mostly shut up after that.

And no you're not to blame and you've done nothing wrong x

This needs to be nipped in the bud, how horrible of them to treat you this way. You are in no way to blame. 'They've had meetings with the head' - I'm at a loss to understand how this is even being allowed?? A decision was made and if they don't like it then they are free to leave - don't let them bully you into thinking you've done wrong.

Thank you so much for your replies. It is so reassuring to hear that, objectively, it isn't my 'fault'. I think/hope it will all die down once the new term begins and we'll soon have a long holiday to move on. It's mostly passive-aggressive behaviour from my colleagues: ignoring, closed doors, whispering and shutting down any conversations if I try to enter into one. Elliebell-thank you for sharing your experience too-my colleague is, too, very popular amongst teachers and parents alike, which compounds the feeling of guilt. I think I'm being 'blamed' as I'm the last in; should be first out mentality, especially against someone who's been there for so long. She is also very gregarious and outspoken, whereas I'm the opposite, which I feel is viewed as a weakness.

It will get better. What makes me laugh is not one of them would ever have put their hand up to say "tell you what, I'll give up my job/pension/status because a severe injustice has occurred here" but funnily enough they expect that of you 🤷‍♀️

I will second the pay scales comment. From my time on the school board, our principal certainly kept in mind that a mix of lengths of service (or, a mix of pay grades) was needed.

Also, newly qualified teachers can bring youth, energy and new techniques into the mix while giving mentoring opportunities to established staff which may stand them in good stead later.

I think sadly that as someone else said ,you have been chosen because as well as being a good teacher ,the school cannot afford to pay someone with a long service the correct money .This has happened to a cousin of mine as well .Hopefully if you stick with it the bad feelings will wear off.Surely the other teachers must realise what the financial position is?!

Thank you for your comments. Although I am fairly new to this particular school, I have been in full-time teaching for 14 years, but I could still be 'cheaper' than my colleague x