'I walked down to the office later that day with the biggest grin on my face': Teacher complies with school's annoying new rules, administration is caught off guard

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Feb 21, 2023 11:00 AM EST

This principal should have known better than to test the patience of this school teacher! Public school teachers already have so much on their plates, but this teacher's situation sounds especially grim. 

As u/Middle_Pound_822 shared to r/MaliciousCompliance, their school is currently plagued by an "overwhelming sewage smell." It's so bad that lots of the teachers have moved their classrooms into the hallway. That resulted in the ire of the school supervisor, who responded with a petty email (and no solutions for the issue of the sewage stench). The whole scenario is nightmarish, and as many commenters pointed out, it could be a serious health concern for everyone in the building. 

Scroll down to check out this satisfying tale of malicious compliance. Then, check out the way this delivery driver got back at rude restaurant workers who wouldn't let her inside the building. 

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    Cheezburger Image 9736376576
    via National Cancer Institute
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    Font - r/r/MaliciousCompliance Posted by u/Middle_Pound_822 20 hours ago Do not leave your classroom without asking permission. M OC
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - This happened yesterday. I teach at a public school. Occasionally, in the hallway I teach in, there is an overwhelming sewage smell. Normally it's an inconvenience but not so drastic we have to move rooms. Yesterday, it was the worst I've ever experienced since I started teaching at this school.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - Teachers immediately tried to move their classrooms, get out of the hallway, etc etc. One class moved into the principals conference room, and from the gist of it - our principal was livid that her space was invaded.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - We received an email stating that we are not to move our classes without notifying our supervisor, now that seems logical. However, the email went on to say that we are not allowed to leave our room to stroll, visit another classroom, etc etc without speaking to our supervisor or the front office.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - I was absolutely fired up when I read this email. I wanted to make her regret sending it as quickly as possible. I notified everyone in my hallway that they should be calling the office every time they needed to use the bathroom. I encouraged as many teachers as possible to constantly be calling to notify of their movement around campus.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - Within two hours I had called the front office four times, once even just to let them know I was walking down to the front office. Most the teachers in my building called a couple times. Once, when the main receptionist was on lunch and another support staff was covering for her, I called to let them know I was going to the bathroom and the woman on the other end sounded so confused. "Do you need something...?" She awkwardly asked. I explained it was that per the email it was expected for
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - Within three hours we received another staff wide email explaining "okay, some clarification" and that we should NOT call the office if we need to go to the bathroom, have a stroll on campus, or visit another teachers classroom.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - I walked down to the office later that day with the biggest grin on my face and every support staff knew exactly why I was so happy. We all had a good laugh. One of the support staff said to me that the principal said "I didn't mean it LITERALLY!" ...if you are going to put something in writing to a group of professional educators, and be aggressive and rude about it, you better know exactly what you are saying.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Commenters celebrated the OP's courage and commitment to being literal

    Font - gott_in_nizza 20 hr. ago Love it. And No, the principal DID mean it literally. They just neglected to think through what it would actually mean. Nice work
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - Aadst1 18 hr. ago This is likely a safety issue. The overwhelming smell of hydrogen sulfide gas is hazardous to human health. Contact the local Fire Department, or code inspector, or State Fire Marshal next time. Unless you're adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant, the smell is likely improperly vented sewage, and nothing frees up relevant purse strings like the Fire Marshal stating they'll be revoking the building's Certificate of Occupancy unless immediate corrective actions are ta
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - heisdeadjim_au +2.8 hr. ago I once did something similar working as a signaller on a suburban railway. Centre control wanted EVERY late runner. So I gave it to them. Anything over thirty seconds, bazinga. Other signallers stated doing the same. This resulted in hundreds of calls. Senior controller asked us to stop. "No can do Sir, we have a written directive from YOUR boss. He needs to respond." Took 36 hours.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Human body - Eu_Gravida_Vendatur 16 hr. ago . If you are the boss, and you don't mean it literally, don't say it.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - After-Diaspar • 14 hr. ago And this is why, as an administrator, I a) always tried to understand why things were happening and b) always made sure I was calm before writing staff memos and made sure to think carefully through what I was writing. And many times I chucked a memo instead of sending it after letting it set for a while.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Product - farrenkm +3 18 hr. ago "TIFU by treating a bunch of adult educators like children."
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - oiwajafnfwa 12 hr. ago I have to say this is the biggest turn off to teaching. You spend as much money as any other professional to be credentialed and you have zero decisions into your work life. A lawyer can set up her own office but you need a note to wipe your own ass cause if that principle had said that's exactly what I meant you could not do anything about it.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - SanchoVillaWNS. 15 hr. ago Um they need to find out what's causing that smell and get it taken care of. I would not attend class stunk like sewage screw that.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - Sister1967 14 hr. ago The entire school environment sounds toxic physically and emotionally. *the smell *the lack of repairing a problem-sewer *the movement of classrooms *the lack of respect *the lack of communication *lack of trust.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Human body - Dr_Darkroom 3 hr. ago These are the people teaching the children?
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - oberon +2 . 17 hr. ago Bravo! I'm glad the support staff were on your side.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - ThriceFive +1.14 hr. ago Great story with a happy ending return to normalcy at the end of things. I sure hope they get the sewer gas problem fixed for you all soon - how awful.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance
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    Font - . MyPatronusIsALatte 14 hr. ago ...do you have the last principal I taught under before I blaze of gloried my way out?? Admin are the WORST. Vote Reply Share Middle_Pound_822 OP 14 hr. ago Hahaha it's possible! Our AP is absolutely amazing and the saving grace at our school. My direct supervisor is also pretty awesome.
    via r/MaliciousCompliance

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students malicious compliance classroom teachers permission Office supervisor email
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