Monday, August 25, 2008

Ways Bad Principals work...

Someone sent me these 10 ways bad principals operate.....any sound familiar?


1. Avoid hiring older experienced teachers who are thinkers./Keep a staff of young revolving door teachers so roots and opinions won't establish.

2. Praise conformity./Staff of Stepford teachers who won't question anything.

3. Give perks to a small group of teachers that form first line of defense against other teachers./Create a barrier clique between administration and teachers by rewarding a few good soldiers who will serve as positive voice pieces for the administration.

4. Overload with work./Create inability to complain about issues - keep too busy.

5. Limit assistance with difficult children or purposely load certain teacher with difficult children./Create inability to complain about issues keep too busy to speak out.

6. Limit support with difficult parents and create barrier between teachers and parents./Attack self-esteem so won't feel empowered and won't trust their own thinking while eliminating parent allies from forming.

7. Place children of high profile parents with teachers who conform./Avoid having parents form allies with strong teachers.

8. Write up false reports./Flex muscles so teacher will know they are being controlled and will become confused.

9. Create files with false and negative reports; create separate file in case contract requires teacher is to be informed, and keep documents out of teacher's view./Build a case against teacher.

10. Threaten- directly or through rumors or innuendo by designated staff messengers./Create wall of fear to silence teacher.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is as if it were her biography (except for the praise part).

Anonymous said...

dude it's all about spin

Anonymous said...

" Avoid hiring older experienced teachers who are thinkers./Keep a staff of young revolving door teachers so roots and opinions won't establish."

Hire young, enthusiastic teachers willing to grow and learn with the school and community..

spin dude spin

Anonymous said...

2. Praise conformity./Staff of Stepford teachers who won't question anything.

Praise consistent team approach to keep kids focused in every classroom.

spin dude spin

Anonymous said...

. Give perks to a small group of teachers that form first line of defense against other teachers./Create a barrier clique between administration and teachers by rewarding a few good soldiers who will serve as positive voice pieces for the administration.

Provide financial rewards (like mini-grants) or other incentives to small teams of teachers willing to work together for the betterment of some aspect of the school environment..

spin dude spin

Anonymous said...

. Overload with work./Create inability to complain about issues - keep too busy.

The nature of the beast...Most productive workplaces tend to get the most out of the best..schools in particular..

spin dude spin

Anonymous said...

6. Limit support with difficult parents and create barrier between teachers and parents./Attack self-esteem so won't feel empowered and won't trust their own thinking while eliminating parent allies from forming.

Empower teachers to focus on in-class activities designed to increase student achievement by handling difficult parents. Eliminate extraneous outside distractions that may interupt instruction...

spin man spin

Anonymous said...

8. Write up false reports./Flex muscles so teacher will know they are being controlled and will become confused.

Team members conform to school and Principal's goals or appropriate disciplinary action is consistentlty meeted out..

spin dude spin

Anonymous said...

Create files with false and negative reports; create separate file in case contract requires teacher is to be informed, and keep documents out of teacher's view./Build a case against teacher

Keep accurate personnel records to weed out those who refuse to conform to school vision...(false data? - I doubt that very much)

Anonymous said...

Here is part of another person's quote that was under "Control. What Control?"

anonymous said...

Since you asked--here's a partial list:

1. Abrupt and demeaning demeanor that closes off any meaningful communication with parents or faculty;

2. Forcing all faculty to communicate with parents through her--now mind you, this includes to some degree discussion of their children ABOUT their children;

3. Documenting in permanent faculty records as "insubordination" any honest effort by some faculty members to provide advice (based on their experience) which has led to a "hunkered down" mentality by these faculty;

4. Publically ridiculing the Art Instructor by ignoring her and letting it be known, through others, that she would be fired

The Quizzinator said...

It really goes to motivation. IF the teacher turnover was to bring in new and innovative ideas, then perhaps it is a good thing. Probably more humane ways to do it then Jacono did, but defensible. It would also have helped if it looked like it was planned, instead of a bunch of teachers just quitting.

I could go through each of your examples, and each one comes down to motivation. I don't subscribe to the theory that she is doing this simply to be mean and nasty; she obviously wants the school to do well, and thinks that these methodologies will work. I think she believes the only way is to control every aspect of every thing that goes on, which may fit certain work areas (a prison license plate factory, for instance), but not a school.

This will be an interesting year for her...and for all of us.

Anonymous said...

There's nothing wrong with having new ideas or looking to improve things, but when you use the term "insubordinate" or a similar word to describe multiple teachers and staff, it just begins to seem odd.

Anonymous said...

I hate to see our school's good name dragged through the mud like this. Our family is relatively new and we are very pleased with Holy Cross. We enrolled our children so that they would grow and learn in a Christian environment. We have done so at great expense and sacrifice hoping that they would be in a caring and moral environment. I am embarassed by what I've read online from other parents. I understand that people have some grievances but is this forum really a solution? How does this help anyone other than the few who are "venting"? I fully support our right to free speech, but shouldn't we parents be responsible in our speech? Shouldn't we Christians behave in a way that reflects grace, forgiveness and kindness? Perhaps if you were to approach Mrs. Jacono with some degree of respect and kidness you would get some in return. I hope and pray for a successful school year for our school.

Anonymous said...

If you think people have not TRIED to approach J. with "some degree of respect and kidness" you are living on fantasy island. God help you the day you go to her with an issue. You will be right here venting with the rest of us! These bloggers are not the root of any bad rap that HC receives. That can be traced directly back to J. If you don't have the stomach for free speech than maybe you should not visit this site any more.

Anonymous said...

I actually have gone to her with issues and had no problems. And, honey, I have plenty of stomach for free speech. I do however, have little tolerance for hypocrisy. You accuse her of being intransigent, and here you are telling me to go away because I dare disagree. Whatever.

Anonymous said...

I certainly hope that continues to work for you.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone else feel that she gives the "right" answer, but it doesn't ring true? If you take the answer at face value, it makes sense - until you really think about what she's said.

Anonymous said...

If you think people have not TRIED to approach J. with "some degree of respect and kidness" you are living on fantasy island. God help you the day you go to her with an issue. You will be right here venting with the rest of us! These bloggers are not the root of any bad rap that HC receives. That can be traced directly back to J. If you don't have the stomach for free speech than maybe you should not visit this site any more.

Nice Post...thought it needed to be reposted!!

Anonymous said...

We have a principal who threatens the lives of special Ed children and their families. Why can't these "bad principals" just be fired?

The Quizzinator said...

I have no idea what you are talking about...you in the right blog?