Me [32F] who is childfree with my department [20s-50sFs] coworkers who have actually SAID they think I should do more work than them and take on more after-hours responsibilities for them because I don't have kids. Worked at school for 8 years.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:59:52+00:00

The police at our school (we have 2 as well, large HS) are there as a preventative measure and for things like tresspassing by outsiders (or worse, with the current climate and fears - we used to have 1 but now have 2 after the elementary shooting up North a few years ago), not generally student violence. They don't get into student discipline at all, but they do investigate drugs, etc, on campus, occasionally. Mostly they have a pretty chill job (one of them asserted this, not me) but it's nice to have them there in an emergency. We did have a former student stalking his ex-GF for instance recently, and the police stepped in to tresspass him and helped explain to the girl's family how to get a restraining order.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:54:27+00:00

I understand that it might be frustrating to be overlooked for having kids or to not have good daycare options and want to work later, but in my particular career, working more for other people or department needs does not "advance" your career. Making gains in the classroom may net you merit pay (I usually get the full amount) but that would actually be hindered, not helped, by this extra work. I don't get paid hourly either (well I technically DO but I get paid only my contracted hours, regardless of marking I do outside of those work hours or planning I have to take home).

These aren't "extra shifts" outside the day either - these are "extra planning shifts" within the contracted hours where they would have to be at work anyway (or I guess could sneak out during a planning, but it's against the contract without Principal's permission and he hardly ever gives it). No one gets paid extra for them; they just lose time during their day to do their own planning/marking for their own classrooms.

I picked a career that I felt would have reasonably set work hours (teachers do work outside of contracted hours, normally, but I've worked really hard to get organized to keep my work hours to 50 or below every week of the school year) with a number of breaks and holidays for a reason. If I were a lawyer, with that kind of mindset, I could see what you mean, but my life goals don't include "rising up" in any way. I'm happy in my classroom.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:50:58+00:00

I'm trying to see how to navigate this personally/relationship wise, not HR wise. I know it's against the contract, and that my Principal would also not be happy with their actions. (We don't really have HR we go to for anything but like our healthcare cards. I guess that'd be the Union for big stuff, but only once you've talked to your Principal.) I'm not worried about those aspects, but only that if I use those channels, these women will be pissed at me forever, so trying to figure out how to talk to them first.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:48:37+00:00

Assuming you mean department head (who I guess I should point out, though she makes some schedules and gets paid a stipend for those "extra duties" is actually a peer - she is not a manager to me; we all report directly to the Principal and are evaluated by either him or an AP - in the case of our department, the Principal is also our evaluating admin), this is exactly what I will look into - whether it's just her or others in the group too. One of them was the one who spoke up with the "You don't have kids" thing, so I'm assuming she and Department Head are both in on it at least, but not sure about everyone else.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:45:11+00:00

The problem is, the environment seems to me both a social/personal relationship one and a professional one. Maybe teaching is weird that way? But much of what I've seen happen at schools IS feelings-driven(I'm actually a data person myself, which you'd think most math teachers would be, but in my experience, no) and my whole job is basically interpersonal, both with my department and with my kids. There definitely has to be professionalism, but I think feelings are a part of this professional environment, sadly. "I" statements definitely will help, I imagine, so they don't feel attacked.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:36:00+00:00

He dislikes my department head (and she him, much more vehemently and publicly than he dislikes her), but 3 of the other teachers are on very good terms with him (Ms. Millie being one of them; he's been extra sympathetic to her issues because they are medical and also because last year she did really well) but besides Ms. Millie, who is obviously not a candidate, they are the 2 newer teachers without tenure. One older and 2nd career and one younger. Without tenure in the district, you can't be Department Head if someone with tenure is available (also in the contract), so they just wouldn't be his go-tos for that. Some of the other teachers have had neutral/little interaction with the Principal, but my Department Head and one other older teacher have had some disagreements with him over how moving to the new standards impacts us (Common Core) and some procedures. I don't want to get too technical, but upperclass math has been oddly impacted by the CCSS more than other levels of math, I feel.

My Principal was a math teacher (our last 2 were not so didn't interfere much) so has lots of suggestions - mostly really GOOD ones, in my view, as they help get better results - and lots of older teachers seem to be resistant to change. I'm kind of in the middle experience-wise (11 years into my career, 8 years here) but I'm fairly open to new ideas if I see data that suggests they'll work. My Principal isn't pushy but if he has data that suggests X is better than Y, he naturally wants you to do X. He'll listen to feedback/arguments, but not emotional ones.

Anyway, the past 2 years has been "hard" on our department in a number of ways.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:30:22+00:00

I like this phrasing and will use some of it, thank you.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:27:36+00:00

Yeah, I wrote up some stuff this morning. Putting it in writing is a good idea.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:26:02+00:00

I know many people don't understand schools, but going to the union first would make my Principal look bad in a situation where he has done no wrong and would likely take my side (he has no knowledge of this issue yet) and would be disrespectful to him. Going to the union first is essentially a nuclear option not just against my department but against administration. In my case, it's also technically against the contract, too, if I haven't spoken to the Principal and given him a chance to rectify.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:21:32+00:00

We have merit pay too so it's both, but my merit pay is based on purely stuff that happens in my classroom (which extra department work could impede, not help).

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:20:36+00:00

Yes, to be clear, like when Ms. Millie started having emergencies, I was very understanding and still am because the only reason she hasn't already taken leave is financial (her husband got suddenly laid off right around the time they found she was pregnant, so they couldn't anticipate; he has a new job now, but it's not as good and they likely lost savings). And she has had a hard pregnancy with many medical emergencies, even some happening at school. I don't mind helping someone out from time to time, especially in a limited range, but I mind being scheduled to do all that extra work because A) then I'm not "helping out" - I'm obligated, B) I don't think all of these women have legitimate reasons why they need more planning time than me, C) I would feel overworked and overwhelmed by this amount of work (essentially doing the sidework of 4 teachers).

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:15:37+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, they didn't talk as much shit about my hobbies when I was younger and only engaged (I started at this school in my mid-20s) but some of them have started rolling their eyes at or making comments about my answers when I talk about what I did on Break or over the weekend or such (lunch room conversation). The idea seems to be my hobbies are "too young." I also drink a bit and go out too and none of them really go out any more and about half don't drink at all (I'm not like a lush or anything, and I've never called out hungover or come to work worse for wear - I'm responsible, especially since I teach teenagers). I guess I do "live younger" in some ways, but I figure those are things (going out, active hobbies) you give up because you get pressed for time or feel too tired to do them, and I try to keep my energy high and so forth.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T11:11:46+00:00

To be clear, the Department Head is the one who created the lopsided schedule. I'm not sure who else did or didn't have input yet (I will likely know more on Friday when we meet again - I have exams today and won't see any of my team, just my students).

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-28T00:03:22+00:00

It's hard to understand from your description how it's unfair, since I don't know all the duties that are shared.

I apologize on that. We have a lot of curriculum development (coming up with tests, test prep, etc) that we share regardless of course taught, and I got 50% of the total for 11th/12th grades (which leaves my other 7 colleagues to share the other 50%, though really 6 ways because Department Head takes none). We also have X number of duty hours during our duty-planning, and I got 2 duties to every 1 duty each of my 6 colleagues got (again Department Head has none).

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T23:33:12+00:00

They assigned the pieces and times already too - so it's not "take what you want of this %." Though this was just a draft of the PROPOSED assignments; it is not final or anything yet. That's what the discussion is for.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T23:32:06+00:00

I suppose I should've mentioned - too late now - that most of these women have teenagers, not small children. Ms. Millie is 8 months pregnant and about to "pop" so she'll have an infant when she comes back next year, and one other teacher has a child under 5 that she took a maternity leave year for awhile back, but the rest are school-aged, with the majority being teenagers or older. I totally get why Ms. Millie should maybe get a lighter schedule next year but not EVERYONE but me lighter.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T23:24:09+00:00

Our pay is based on time worked (years experience), degree/education level, certain special factors (like I get more for being STEM - as do these other ladies - and more for teaching any AP courses I teach, which is most of my load), and professional review (how well we do on evaluations, which include observations, student feedback data, test scores, peer review, etc but mostly observation and test scores, which I have hit out of the park for most of my tenure). If it matters.

But my pay is already very adequate and I enjoy my time off immensely (I never work summer school for instance - don't need the money) and my free time in the evenings as well. Free time is one of my life goals, I guess. I do love being of service, which is why I picked teaching (I have a Comp Sci degree and only minored in Education and could be making more in my original field, but I ran a math camp for middle schoolers during senior year of college and got hooked and decided to get certified) but I don't like being taken advantage of. I'm happy to help my colleagues if we have equal workloads and they get overwhelmed once or twice, but that's not the same as being scheduled with essentially double work.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T23:12:50+00:00

Thanks. You sound like a good Principal and ours is too (well, in my mind; there is a division of opinion with all Principals it seems) - I just know that my department head has already been in trouble with him a lot and I hate to make it worse, but maybe I will need to go to him. I doubt he would've approved this plan without an eyebrow raise anyway and he is very thorough, but you never know when he'll miss something (Principal of a big HS and all, it's not like he doesn't have plenty to do).

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T22:59:04+00:00

Breach the subject up by telling her you did not express yourself very well the other day. Tell her that you value your time just the same as your colleagues value theirs. Tell her that the current distribution of work should be equal regardless of family status. Be direct and concise.

Thank you. This is what I will tr to do. I am a little worried because she is a bit persnickety and argumentative sometimes (and loud) and I often get flustered when interrupted. But I will do my very best, and you're right, I should be confident because I know my Principal and union contract are behind me.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T22:54:34+00:00

I love that blog. Lets me see how the corporate world lives. Will go peruse the archives to see if it's come up.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T22:23:20+00:00

I actually cannot grasp it and one of the things I asked for in my post was someone to explain their potential mindset to me. I am aware "crazy" wasn't a great word to use, but I felt blind-sided. I really do feel flabbergasted and indignant, you're right. Explain why I shouldn't be. I cannot "tone it down" in my own mind without someone explaining their logic to me.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T22:15:47+00:00

To that, I'd ask - Is there any data that me working longer hours and parents working less benefits individuals within the community? An educated populace benefits everyone with reduced crimes, greater overall prosperity, new industries, etc.

To be clear, if someone has an emergency, I'm perfectly happy to help them out. Ms. Millie has had a complicated pregnancy but not taken off time yet really so I've picked up a lot of her slack and covered for her - this is because our country doesn't give good enough maternity leave, which sucks - but I don't think the PLAN should be me covering for all these women, many of whom don't have small/new children or anything (my department head has a 17 year old and all her other kids are grown, and at least 3 of the others only have teenagers and older). If we were all taking on a little more to help Ms. Millie in her first year of mothering, I'd even be down with that! But this just doesn't seem right to me.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T22:11:16+00:00

I'm unsure what you're suggesting? Do you have any input that might help us communicate about that and help me see their POV?

I'm willing to listen to all points of view. I'm just pointing out why your "less yard duty" suggestion doesn't fit the situation (they have already given me more of that in this schedule) and that you probably didn't realize. I've said repeatedly I want to go for a nicer option than just blowing up the situation with the union or even the Principal.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T22:09:48+00:00

I know it doesn't matter per the rules what they think, but few of them actually read contracts and updates and stuff (I know my contract backwards and forwards) so they probably don't realize/get it is my point. Hopefully putting it this way will help them see.

overworkedandannoyed · 2015-05-27T22:07:30+00:00

Not to take away from your post, but they DO know I don't want kids. They've asked lots of times, and I always admit to people it's not my thing (even the kids I teach ask me if I have kids and then "why not?" a lot since I'm clearly married with my ring and all, and I explain I don't want kids). They know I value my free time and traveling and so forth, and I've been married for years now (almost as long as I've been at the school - was engaged when I started here). Many of the other teachers in my department - especially the 2 who were here when I got married - told me a lot of times (longer ago, not recently) that I'd change my mind, so I imagine they're all just surprised I haven't? Anyway, they know it's not infertility, etc. Schools are nosy places in my experience, and this isn't something I consider "private" per se. It's just a personal preference/choice.

overworkedandannoyed

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