Snobby co-workers

[anonymous]

I work with a great staff at a great school in California. Two of the staff members, however, feel it is above them to say hello to me in the hallway. Yes, I know this is petty, but to me it is extrememly rude and unprofessional. These two teachers feel that they are the most competant teachers at the school and snub anyone who is not in their teeny, tiny, very elite clique. I find it difficult to understand why certain people feel they are entitled to this priviledge of being rude to others, especially teachers. As teachers, we need to model to our students how to get along with others and cooperate within a group. As teachers, it is also our responsibility to understand that all individuals deserve respect and kindness from others. My question is this.....do I attempt to break the ice or just ignore the situation?

 

[Miss C]

break it!

Definitely be the bigger person! You'll be a good role model to your students of how to treat others nicely even if they're being rude. It'll make you feel better too. And maybe (this is a BIG maybe), just maybe the coworkers are just really shy or something. I dunno. Just a thought. Anyway, yeah. Go ahead and say hi. Be super friendly every time you see them. See if you can find out something about what's going on in their lives and ask them how it's going. Not anything tabloid-worthy of course. Like if they have a kid in college, ask if the kid is coming home for Thanksgiving. You know what I mean. Anyway, JMO!

 

[CDHElmo]

CDHElmo

Kill 'em with kindness, and don't let them get to you!

 

[marguerite]

kindness theory

I subscribe to the 'kill them with kindness' theory.
I would go out of my way to say hi to them. Doing that puts the onus on them to either respond or to look like jerks. I bet they will respond as they want to be considered the best and the best can't look like the snobs they are. If they don't answer at first I would go on saying hi. Sooner or later one of their cherubs is going to say "Ms A said hello and you didn't answer" and they will be forced to start saying hi.

 

[anonymous]

I will try!

All of you are so great. Yes, I know I should be kind too but UGH it is so difficult at times. Tomorrow, I am going to walk down the hall, look straight into their eyes, and give them a happy hello and these two will not make me feel worthless! Thank you for making me feel better with your replies. This part of teaching is not what expected!

 

[Miss C]

Good for you!

Let us know how the experiment goes! Granted, your colleagues should be encouraging you - not being so unpleasant that you seek support in dealing with them. Just be glad that you're in your shoes and not theirs. Keep your chin up!

 

[tish]

Kill with kindness

You are always going to run across people like this. You be the better person and continue to be your cheery self. Go out of your way to say hello and let them be the one to realize that you will not let them become get you down. I was always brought up to believe that i am just as good as anyone else. I will not let anyone try to put me down. Let us know how things are going.

 

[musicbug]

Cliques

I agree with the others. Be kind and the bigger person. They're the ones that will miss out on the support and warmth of the the rest of the staff. I feel sorrry for them.

 

[Bertie]

quote

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self centered...forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives...be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies....succeed anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous...be happy anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough...give the world the best you have anyway."

Mother Theresa

 

[lynn]

I think I worked at your school before

I have so been there and kill them with kindness. I had two teachers on the same grade level as me who would walk on the royal red carpet and snub me. We had weekly planning time where they would grill me for ideas, but never shared their ideas, they had 20+ years of experience compared to my 8 years. I found out by accident they stayed after school and planned together, purposefully excluding me. I walked in to ask a question and just blew it off. I think they were intimidated by newer ideas, hello they were still doing the dittos I did in school. I think they wanted to get a rise out of me and I never let them see me sweat. Some girls never grow up!