Two weeks ago, I had a mother who was convinced I was a terribly mean teacher to her son. She discussed with Mr. Collins and I over a conference call her concern over how awful I was… .how I yelled (hmmm..), how I didn’t explain things (I explain them about 3 times to her son alone), and how I’m unapproachable (her son starts every morning out with telling me a 3 minute long story of what he did the night before).
Mr. Collins suggested I keep in close contact with her to keep her happy. “It’ll be much easier this way,” he explained, “than have her always assuming bad things are going on in the classroom.”
One week ago, the same mother (whom we’ll now refer to as Russian Nazi) told me over the phone, “I appreciate just how wonderful things are going for Unhappy Harry. Things are so much better now.” She ended the phone conversation with, “I’m glad you learned how to communicate with him effectively.” I flipped the phone base off as I said, “I’m glad he learned how to communicate with me more effective, Mrs. Russian Nazi. I’m happy he now knows how to raise his hand.”
Mr. Collins was pleased to hear. “You see, just keep communicating effectively.”
Today, Russian Nazi began an emailing circus that ended with her rationalizing why I need to give her son 3 copies of a practice Math test, you know….. to practice on. Three. Three, fucking three. Yes, that’s three practice tests. She made sure she loaded her emails with digs and insinuations of why I’m a bad teacher.
Mr. Collins was not pleased. “You’ve been communicating with her too much,” he explained. “Stop it. Tell her, ‘this is how I do it,’ and leave it at that. Start making her come in with conferences when she has all these problems.”
Later on, Merry Mel called me, letting me know that Mr. Collins spoke to her on the issue. She explained that Mr. Collins expressed I needed her help (along with other new teachers). I got sick to my stomach. Although I know his comments were not to insinuate I did not have effective communication skills, I remember back to last year’s annual evaluation: “Mr. McManson, I do have to say, I’m impressed. You’ve handled your parents well. They respect you; they enjoy you as a teacher… good job.”
I’m never listening to Mr. Collins again. His advice of constant communication is what got me into this mess! From now on, I’m being as blunt and to the point as I was last year with the parents.
I have a feeling I’ve begun a war this year. I’m expecting many battles with the Russian Nazi. Call in the troops!
