Finally put my foot down

[Ms. K]

I just have had it at my school. It seems like if you are totally incompetent you don't have to do any work. But if you are totally competent you get hit with all the extra stuff.

Well every month or so the principal goes on a tirade about something that isn't getting done on campus but instead of going to the people who never do a thing, she yells at all of us.

Now we get this email about having to sign in every morning because she doesn't see us on campus as much as she thinks she should. Well, I refused , flat out refused. I am early everyday and I stay late most of the time. My lunch has been changed from 30 minutes to 20 so that is an extra 10 minutes that I have to put in. The principal is supposed to be on campus 1/2 an hour before kids come and if ours ever showed up before 8:30 (classes start at 8:10) then she would know who was late all the time.

Anyway, that is my vent. I will not sign in and if she has a problem with it I guess she can just bite me.

 

[sadie]

I've never been at a school where we didn't have to sign in.

 

[Giggles]

me too

I, too, have never been at a school where you didn't have to sign in.....but - if your principal doesn't think she see's you enough on campus, shouldn't she make more effort to get out and see everyone more - what would signing in have to do with seeing you guys more?

 

[imalith]

ridiculous

I can't imagine signing in. Our principal is the first one here, after the Janitor. He usually arrives at 6:30.

I hate it when leaders are afraid to confront the few people that are in the wrong and expose the entire group to a unwarranted tirade. It is funny that she models bad behavior by showing up late and then demands the sign in sheet. I'm with you...I wouldn't sign the sheet. Heck, sometimes the office is closed when I leave, so how would I sign out?

 

[wig]

Straw that Broke the Camel's Back

I understand your frustration and it appears that perhaps the administrator is more at fault than the teachers. However, IMO, I would save "putting your foot down" for something bigger like serving on too many committees, or getting extra jobs because "you are so good at it"

 

[careful]

insubordination

I understand your frustration. I understand your rage.
However, I'd be careful of doing anything that she can call insubordination. If she has directed that people sign in she may well be within management rights to do so.

If you have a union go to them. This may be covered under a 'change in working conditions' clause that many contracts have.

 

[PrivateEyes]

PrivateEyes

I was thinking the same thing as "wig" and "careful." I don't think signing in and out is the place to take your stand. It's just not worth fighting over, is it? Maybe I don't understand the layout at your schook, but I have to go right by the office, pick up the mail, and since our sign in sheet has us record time in and out, there's a record of me being early and staying late. The way I figure it, if I ever happen to be late for any reason, and they make a big fuss over it, I'll just tell them I'll be glad to work my contracted hours in the future, and not a minute more.

Now, I might take a stand on the 20 minute lunch, or refuse to do extra stuff (I really need to concentrate on my class just now, sorry. I wish I could help. Maybe some other time.)

And of course, it depends on whether or not you're tenured. Good luck.

 

[Ms. K]

Unfortunately, there is no tenure and there never will be. So I could be perfect for years, get on someone's bad side and be out just like that! So after discussing it with my husband we came up with three scenarios: 1) I can sit back and take it and watch the principal get weirder and weirder, 2) I can fight it and take her down (and she needs to be brought down), or 3) quit. If I'm going to quit anyway I might as well fight the injustice for those that come after me.

 

[Bonnie gr. 2]

Safety concerns

One of the reasons for signing into a building is safety concerns. The office then knows who is in the bulding, in case of an emergency.

 

[sw]

another reason

Another reason for signing in is so that the principal knows that all classes have an adult present, and there are no kids left unmonitored.

 

[Laura]

Sign in

We must dign in each day (though I often sign in for several days at a time). Our assistants do so teachers are asked to do so as well. Our school has the policy that you are there 15 minutes before school and 30 after. We have several teachers there as the children walk in and several others walking out with the children DAILY. Signing in does not stop insubordination but principals who do not enforce code do.

 

[LA teacher]

sign-in

Are you kidding? We have to punch a time clock at my school! It is a parish-wide requirement.

 

[maryteach]

I have never

had to sign in, anywhere. If we have a day where it snows a lot and the roads are bad, they'll call our room to make sure we made it, but I don't have to sign in and out as I leave--unless I leave during the day, like during my plan time (periods 3 and 4). If I leave then (and I'm allowed to) I have to sign out and in, in case there's a fire or something. But we never sign in and out on a daily basis.

No tenure is a sad position to find yourself in. I'm glad I have a union AND tenure.

 

[Ms. K]

Signing in and out has never been a policy at our school. If it had then I wouldn't have a problem. My issue is that she is all of a sudden doing this to make sure that the 2 or 3 teachers that are always late are putting in their time. Since I am always early and never leave early then the sign in shouldn't apply to me.

Another point: Her contract states that she is supposed to be on campus 1/2 hour before students arrive (7:40) and stay two hours after they leave (5:15). She never comes in before 8:40 and she has worked from home more this year than she has actually been on campus. If she followed her contract then she would know exactly when we all get there and when we leave.

Also, she started on this tirade on Valentines day. She hates all holidays and doesn't have a significant other. I think she was upset that we all had better places to be on that day. Still I was in early and left at my normal time, so it still isn't my problem.

 

[wig]

I understand that. I appreciate your annoyance and frustration, and obviously you can do what you want - you don't need our permission. (Which is good since you aren't getting a lot of support for your decision.)

However, no matter what her reasons behind it, she has the authority to implement this policy and any others she chooses to do, and you have no authority to tell her to get to school on time. Perhaps you need to let the superintendent know about the hours this person keeps.

I hope you aren't cutting off your nose to spite your face" as the old saying goes.

 

[Ms.Greenapple]

Sign In

Do not let this become your fight! it is not worth it!
Believe me...you will have to fight bigger battles with this person and you will not have any power.

Just sign in and fight the bigger fight later on!

I just can't believe that you have never had to document that you were there...what if there was a fire at your school? how would you know who was there are who was not? We have to take our class list out to a fire drill as teachers and the office grabs the teacher sign in sheet...