I never thought I'd have drama with another teacher at my school. Everyone is super nice and friendly, and I am friendly to everyone as well. Minus that guy from my post the other day who only speaks to me when my hair looks a certain way, I've never had an issue with anyone else.
Except this one teacher.
I already knew she didn't respect me - which I completely expected and was surprised I didn't experience more of this mindset. It could be because I'm young, I'm new, I'm uncertified, I didn't get laid off when those other teachers did, or maybe it's the light I (hopefully) give off at work.
I've never realized how much a smile can change someone's life. It doesn't take as much effort as it used to, and it really makes other people happy. People have told me that upon seeing me smile, their whole attitude changes.
Wow!
I never thought anyone would say that to me, especially because I was the girl who used to refuse to smile because I hated (and still dislike) my teeth, and because my face gets so fat when I smile. Well, for whatever reason, this gap-toothed fat face affects people.
Anyway, I'll be in the lounge with a number of other teachers and this one lady willl find a way to talk to everyone but me unless she needs something, or wants to challenge me about something, which I usually ignore.
Well yesterday, I almost punched her in the face.
A coworker and I usually complete the daily crossword puzzle together (more like he fills out as much as he can while I'm busy eating and talking, and hands it over to me when things get really tough). Anyway, we were stuck on a word, and asked for her help. She knew the word, so we were pretty happy. I then looked it up, because I had never seen it before.
Casually, I asked her how she knew the word.
O
M
G
It's like all hell broke loose.
"What do you mean, 'how do I know the word?' Shouldn't you be asking yourself why you don't know the word? You're supposed to be an English teacher...." [blah blah blah - at this point I had stopped listening because that smile had faded and my fists were clenched under the table.]
How dare you?
Just because I do not know some specialized field-specific word does not make me any less of an educator. It was a word about tempuring metal, for Pete's sake. Sorry - I don't read about that type of thing in my spare time, of which I know she has PLENTY. It does not make you a better person or make me any less well-read.
Fine, you read more, but do not for a minute insinuate that I have not spent my entire life reading and growing and learning. I worked extremely hard to get where I am and now I am reaping the benefits. And the same kids that are giving you hell are doing my work and learning without me having to threaten them.
She came back later with, "I guess that may have been a little snide. I don't have any food on my stomach."
"Yeah, a little," I replied in the most sarcastic voice I could find, but she either didn't hear, or she ignored.
I don't try to linger on things but it's safe to say I'm done with her. She's been taking small jabs at me ever since August but I've just ignored them. This was a full-on attack in front of a number of my colleagues (and in front of my immediate supervisor, I might add).
I can be cordial to anyone but I won't tolerate blatant disrespect.
What do you do to squash workplace beef (not that I'm interested in squashing anything but her face)?
Except this one teacher.
I already knew she didn't respect me - which I completely expected and was surprised I didn't experience more of this mindset. It could be because I'm young, I'm new, I'm uncertified, I didn't get laid off when those other teachers did, or maybe it's the light I (hopefully) give off at work.
I've never realized how much a smile can change someone's life. It doesn't take as much effort as it used to, and it really makes other people happy. People have told me that upon seeing me smile, their whole attitude changes.
Wow!
I never thought anyone would say that to me, especially because I was the girl who used to refuse to smile because I hated (and still dislike) my teeth, and because my face gets so fat when I smile. Well, for whatever reason, this gap-toothed fat face affects people.
Anyway, I'll be in the lounge with a number of other teachers and this one lady willl find a way to talk to everyone but me unless she needs something, or wants to challenge me about something, which I usually ignore.
Well yesterday, I almost punched her in the face.
A coworker and I usually complete the daily crossword puzzle together (more like he fills out as much as he can while I'm busy eating and talking, and hands it over to me when things get really tough). Anyway, we were stuck on a word, and asked for her help. She knew the word, so we were pretty happy. I then looked it up, because I had never seen it before.
Casually, I asked her how she knew the word.
O
M
G
It's like all hell broke loose.
"What do you mean, 'how do I know the word?' Shouldn't you be asking yourself why you don't know the word? You're supposed to be an English teacher...." [blah blah blah - at this point I had stopped listening because that smile had faded and my fists were clenched under the table.]
How dare you?
Just because I do not know some specialized field-specific word does not make me any less of an educator. It was a word about tempuring metal, for Pete's sake. Sorry - I don't read about that type of thing in my spare time, of which I know she has PLENTY. It does not make you a better person or make me any less well-read.
Fine, you read more, but do not for a minute insinuate that I have not spent my entire life reading and growing and learning. I worked extremely hard to get where I am and now I am reaping the benefits. And the same kids that are giving you hell are doing my work and learning without me having to threaten them.
She came back later with, "I guess that may have been a little snide. I don't have any food on my stomach."
"Yeah, a little," I replied in the most sarcastic voice I could find, but she either didn't hear, or she ignored.
I don't try to linger on things but it's safe to say I'm done with her. She's been taking small jabs at me ever since August but I've just ignored them. This was a full-on attack in front of a number of my colleagues (and in front of my immediate supervisor, I might add).
I can be cordial to anyone but I won't tolerate blatant disrespect.
What do you do to squash workplace beef (not that I'm interested in squashing anything but her face)?
I think there's an opportunity here for growth.
ReplyDeletePerhaps what you sense as disrespect is a reserved admiration on her part.
She apologized for her response, and that is huge. A person who disrespects you would not make an effort to apologize.
To me this is not workplace drama, but an opportunity to be the bigger person and work well with all of your peers.
You might be right. Perhaps I made it bigger than what it was but working with her and experiencing those jabs day in and day out becomes very tiring. I don't find it funny or cute when someone completely ignores me except to challenge my credibility as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteAnd I should also mention that she did not apologize. She blamed her remarks on a lack of food, which she uses as an excuse all the time. She also did not apologize specifically to me. She said it to the room. She just really annoys me.