My 1000th post

A smidge of background for you: I am a middle school teacher assistant that works with 6th and 7th grade regular ed and inclusion special ed kids for homework help, remediation, make-up tests and quizzes, organization, etc. It's 45 minutes every other day. It's more than a study hall and not an academic class. Our principal has made it abundantly clear that he does NOT want us handling conflict with staff members/faculty and we are to go directly to HIM with any concerns. Sooooo, here's the email I plan to send him tomorrow after I have a couple people at work that I trust to check it out before I hit the send button. I'm posting this here tonight to see how people who aren't part of my circle of co-workers react. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.


Dear "Principal",


I know Wednesday is going to be a crazy day, but I'd like to sit down with you for a few minutes to discuss something that happened during the second half of my resource class today. "Idiot Assistant Principial #1 (IAP1)" was setting up for the staff meeting. I had asked one of my ESL students, Student A, to come up to my desk so I could ask him a question. "IAP1" was down in front of the stage setting the projector up.


When (IAP1) heard me call Student A up, he turned to the child and said, "No hablas, no hablas!" Student A looked at me and I told him that I just needed to ask him a quick question, it was obvious by my tone of voice that he wasn't in trouble or anything like that. "IAP1" then looks directly at Student A again and says, "No hablas! No hablas!", putting his hand up next to his mouth as if I wasn't supposed to hear him saying it. Student A had a confused look on his face, but he came up to my desk anyway. I asked him if he needed help with something or had a question and he very clearly told me that he was asking a friend about homework his ESL teacher had given him. I repeated back to him what he said to me, and he confirmed that he was asking a friend about homework. I told him that was fine because I knew his ESL teacher wasn't available for her students during 8th block today.


I have been working on my relationship with Student A and his twin sister since they were enrolled at our school. They were both very timid when they started here, and we always speak when they come to resource. The ESL teacher has them come to me and ask to sign out before they go to work with her, so that they can become more comfortable talking to me and we usually have some sort of conversation every day they have resource. I try to talk about the weather, the weekend, an outfit that the girl is wearing, etc. and they always seem pleased that they are improving with their conversational English.


It's difficult enough for children from other cultures to come here and try to learn the language as well as our customs, and in our case, behavior that is appropriate with teachers and adults at school. I guess it was supposed to be a joke or funny, but it was an uncomfortable, confusing situation for "IAP1" to put this child in, and frankly, to me it was an immature thing to do. It also showed my other students a lack of respect for me. I'm just not sure what sort of message "IAP1" was trying to send to Student A by telling him to pretend that he didn't speak English and/or didn't understand me. That's one of my biggest classes with 78 students and the team teachers will agree that there are a good number of children in that class that need little to no prompting to act poorly. I would prefer to have "IAP1" treat me in a positive, supportive manner in front of the students in the future.

I hope so. Beyond that, I think you make your case well.

I am having trouble understanding WTF IAP1 thought he was doing? Joking? Is he actually fluent in Spanish?

I would add a line (or start with one) reminding Principal of his directives about staff conflict so that you show you are following the "rules" and not just complaining to the boss.

Good point putting that line in using the principal's little rule about coming to him instead of trying to resolve things like big boys and big girls. This asst principal is one of the most immature adults I have ever met. So many teachers have been embarrassed by this guy during meetings and parent conferences, but as usual, I'm gonna be the one of the only people to complain. I was floored when he said that to this kid. At least I was more professional than he was and didn't call him out in front of the students like I wanted to. I guess he thought he was being funny. That's why I used the wording about what kind of message is he trying to send to the student. Principal says he wants to be in the loop, so I'm gonna toss him the rope.