Also remember the admonition in the book to the disciples that any place that did not receive them to leave that place and shake the dust of that place off their feet. (Paraphrased)
:nod:
I've thought against telling this, but maybe it helps knowing that she isn't alone.
My wife went through a similar deal in public school. After laying out of teaching because of staying home with a baby, she started back in our school district. She's taught in some rather rough parts of Texas and Oklahoma in the past. She loves problem kids and by the end of the year, they love her. So first year here, the principal noted how well she handled the problem kids. So at the end of school that year, they scheduled the far majority of the challenging kids to be in her class the next fall. Next year rolls around, and there is a new principal. A real winner. The same kind of leader it sounds like your wife has. I've found that someone that doesn't want to have to defend normal questions about their decisions, actions or thoughts, it's because they can't and they know they can't.
That's how this lady functioned. She brought with her as many confidants as she could- truly amazing when I think back about how she functioned. Before the year was up, 3 of the 4 teachers in my wife's grade had retired mid year, quit to stay at home, or moved schools because of this principal- my wife made 4 of 4. I think there was about 50% teacher turnover in the school by the next year. In a school district that teachers want to be in, something is obviously wrong.
Anyway, with some of the ridiculous things implemented by the principal, my wife questioned them in meetings. So come November, the principal decided that my wife was incompetent in handling her class. And they felt it very cruel punishment when my wife brought home made treats for the kids, that if a kid was misbehaving, they didn't get a treat that day for their poor choices. :cry2: A side kick counselor that the principal brought with her agreed. So they decided that my wife shouldn't be there come spring semester. Funny part was during one of these intervention meetings about my wife not being able to deal with these kids, they decided that they needed to break her class apart for the spring semester because it wouldn't be fair to the new teacher coming in to have to deal with all the bad kids. :lol2: The counselor actually said those exact words! My wife made her repeat it in front of other teachers. (Sometimes she makes me really proud) So the entire grade of kids get their school year turned upside down, classes get split up, and they bring in a young girl that hasn't taught a day in her life so that this principal can get the satisfaction of firing my wife- because she questioned the crap they were doing. That's quality education right there.
Additional background.... after a little snooping, I found out that this principal was allowed to resign from a previous school district after she was caught selling adult sex items on school grounds and there was another situation that I can't recall at the moment. It was amazing how this lady continued to fail upwards in her career.
My wife had been teacher of the year more than once (different school), had kids leading the district in testing at prior job, and one of her past principals was literally upset with her because she wouldn't be staying to teach her grand kid the next year. Many parents once they found out later about this particular deal were ticked about it, but all that kind of stuff where kids are learning is irrelevant.
To continue the story, this principal tells her that she isn't allowed to tell the parents about this decision. Matter of fact, she threatened her that if she said anything, she would ruin any chance of her getting a job in the future.
So that didn't set well with me when I heard this. I had just come off of working a string of 14 hour overnight shifts and wasn't the happiest camper anyway. So I called up the superintendent and when he wouldn't discuss the matter of her threat with me, I was fighting mad. I let him have it about hiring the winner of a principal and the multitude of reasons why, along with he must be incompetent himself for not being able to perform even the resemblance of a back ground check to find out half of what I did. He wasn't too fond of me or what I had to say at that point, so I started down the school board list to inform them of the situation and about my displeasure with their leader and his poor choices. I think I might of even asked them a time or two if they were going to deal with it, or if I needed to consult my attorney friend about this kind of threat. I don't recommend that course of action if your wife plans to continue teaching, but it made me feel a little better smacking the hornet's nest and letting that principal deal with the wages of her corrupt ways.
My wife didn't have to work after we got married, but she enjoyed being a teacher up to that point. She hasn't taught since, and has a suv full of kids that keeps her busy. The principal isn't at that school any longer either- I hope I had something to do with that.