How do you stop a teacher who is actively trying to find ways to get you (a teacher) in trouble?

Question

I had a bit of trouble with some of the unethical things I was seeing going on, such as copying copy-write materials for an entire grade level, sitting down during the state test in a corner so the moderators won't see you, and hanging out in a large group to chat in a huge play ground rather than actively watching the kids. There were many other things, but by speaking up, I've made them upset and they report me to the principal for every thing they can imagine (I did not behave that way, myself). Any suggestions? I have talked to a lawyer twice and he says I'd win, but encouraged me to find other ways to deal with it if I could. Can you help?

Answer 1

I know it is so frustrating to see people not doing their job. I had a similar situation years ago, and what was going on could have potentially been illegal (the teacher was sending students off campus during lunch time to buy her lunch from the mall or other places).  She didn't find out I reported her, so that bridge wasn't burned, but they did have administrators monitoring the hall and the window outside her classroom (one of those wall length windows, that's how they would sneak off campus).  That could have been disastrous for the school if say one of those students had gotten in an accident or something that was serious and it was discovered that the teacher knew they were doing it and even worse, encouraged it!

But She was also a more popular teacher than I was, and I was jealous. So my reporting had little to do with concern for students and more to do with competitiveness (why didn't they want to have lunch in MY room?).  Eventually, I got over myself and realized that not everyone is going to do their job up to standard, I didn't even sometimes, so who am I to judge?

I think you realize that now, but have already perhaps murkied the waters. I can tell you from personal experience that you will not be able to completely gain the like and trust of these people again, but you can make an attempt to make ammends and bury the hatchet so to speak.

Oh if only someone had told me this before I did something similar in my student teaching, I would have been much happier. So hopefully you can nip this in the bud now, before it gets worse. Or you may just want to apply for a transfer, but it will probably be known that you "don't work well with others" since this is the appearance to your supervisors. Sorry about all that. It really does suck when people don't do their job, doesn't it?  Good luck with it all, eventually things will work out.

Answer 2

Beat the c**p out of him

Answer 3

with all due respect: you dont seem like a likable person.  

1.  you reported them instead of talking to them first...thats the wrong way to go about it.

2.  now you get upset when you get reported for the things you do...that is hypocritical.  

3. now you go to a lawyer?  you started it...you do things to get reported and now you know how it feels.

my advice to you....know that you will always be surrounded by people who are not gonna do their job to the level you feel is warranted (by your own word you are one of them too).  go with the flow a little more.  i dont mean to lower you standards or to let illegal activities go unreported, but you have to work with you tribe not against it.

Answer 4

Do you have tenure? If so, then you have nothing to worry about. If you are a first year teacher, start worrying. A lot of veteran teachers do what they want because they know they have tenure. All you can do is have a meeting with the principal and all of those veteran teachers who are not doing the right thing. If they are new teachers, then it is your job to guide them in the right direction. "Shouldn't you watch the children instead of talking to your coworkers on the playground? Little Timmy is about to fall down the monkey bars!" or "You need to monitor those students during the test. Someone could cheat!"

Answer 5

Honestly, I think that you have burned your bridges.  In the future, go talk to people instead of reporting them outright.  You can try to make overtures in order to attempt to repair the situation, but I wouldn't expect them to like or trust you.

I don't know how hostile your environment is, but you might even want to think of transferring to get a fresh start...these situations can go from bad to worse very quickly.

Answer 6

Hopefully your administrators realize the reason they're bullying you is because you ratted them out.  If the things they're reporting are trivial, your administrators will ignore them or put them in their place.  Other than that, lay low and isolate yourself for a while.  Compliment them with genuine compliments every now and then, and seek their advice.  Eventually they'll get over it.  Or not.  I'm assuming this is elementary, in which case they'll probably not.