Principal tells teacher to teach extra classes or look for another job, teacher follows his advice sparking a mass resignation: 'Teach this course next year or look for another job'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jun 26, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

Teachers are underappreciated… by administrative staff, parents, and even the students they teach. To many, this comes as no surprise and is a well-known fact. When coupled with the fact that teaching also requires a lot of additional after-hours work to create lesson plans and grade assignments, it becomes exhausting work. And that's before we even address the shocking political kerfuffles that often plague schools and entire school districts.

Still, there are those silent heroes, those fantastic teachers who inspire their students to go on and learn more about subjects and pursue careers in fields they might not have ever imagined before. These teachers invest way more time and energy than they have any right to, at their own cost, ensuring that year after year they're delivering a top-notch learning experience to their students. 

Years after grade school, I could name a handful of teachers of this caliber who I was lucky enough to have, and to this day, I am thankful for and think about the effect they had on me. Still, I promise you that I never expressed—and they'll never have any idea—how much they inspired me. Although a couple of them might be disappointed at finding me inscribing ridiculous text into the annals of the Blog of Fail for a living.

This teacher, seemingly, is one of those teachers, making it their solemn duty to deliver courses to students that will uplift them and their lives ahead. Unfortunately, the principal of the school where they taught had his own goals in mind, and uplifting wasn't on the list. The principal made an ultimatum to the teacher, probably thinking that he wouldn't be called on his bluff, but after some careful thought, they decided it was time to look for greener pastures. Pity that the students have to pay for the principal's arrogance…

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10366306048
    via Kenny Eliason
  • 02
    Principal told me to instruct courses I was not trained to teach or look for another job...so I did! I've been teaching for 6 years, at my last school for 2 years. I have a BA in History & MA in Education. My principal and administrative staff pulled me out of one of my classes during an intense lecture I was giving and ambushed me in the hallway to ask/tell me I was going to teach IB classes next year.
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 03
    For those unaware, International Baccalaureate courses are intense classes for high school students that last from 1-2 years. These classes are intense, requiring what some teachers have said to be the time equivalent of a part time job for them to plan and prepare...without additional pay and not part of my contract!
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 04
    For context, within the first two weeks of working at this school, I noticed the other side of the pendulum, the students with learning challenges, were being pushed aside in order to achieve the principal's goals of becoming an 'elite IB school.' I began advocating for these students and offered to teach co-taught class with a Special Education teacher in order to help these students achieve. It was a great success, seeing many of the former 'troubled' students actively being engaged in class,
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 05
    After the first semester, I heavily petitioned the staff to allow me to teach more of these specialized classes across my department. Here's the deal: there was no change in the curriculum, just in how I presented it to the shared class. Anyhow, the principal shot down my idea, but allowed me to continue with my lone class for the next year. Back to the present: After the ambush, I went home and talked it over with my wife. She is my rock, and understood that I was troubled with the additional t
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 06
    The next week I scheduled a meeting with the principal. I told him I was unprepared to teach the IB course THIS YEAR, but if he would give me this year to prepare the additional materials and create a curriculum, I would be good to go for the next. I also asked if there were any other additional classes he would like for me to put together to teach next year.
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 07
    He said, "No, teach this course next year or look for another job." I asked about additional co-taught courses for the shared students who were overlooked, he said they were not important. I reminded him, yet again, I was currently working toward my PhD in History, in order to teach college- level courses in high school, so students could get dual credit and a jump on college and tech schools.
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 08
    He laughed at me and said, I quote, "None of the additional education you have taken since you started working here benefits the school at all. No one cares." This took the wind out of me. I love teaching. All of the additional work, time & effort spent away from my family has been in order to be a better teacher, a better example for my students. I told him I would need to think about this, and quietly left the room.
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 09
    I took the next day off, spending time with my family and speaking with my therapist. I am very lucky to have a wonderful support system. I went back to work after that, and there were a number of staff that spoke to me privately. They agreed what he said was shameful. They shared that I was not the only teacher he spoke to this way; from changing failing grades to passing, to having teachers sponsor multiple extracurricular clubs, without pay. I went to my union rep and added my statement to hi
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 10
    Yep, I decided I was done. I wrote the principal an outstanding resignation letter, full of positivity and thanking him for the wonderful opportunity to work at his school and to have learned from his 'outstanding' example of leadership. Did I also mention I forwarded the email to the entire staff? There was no way he could publicly respond negatively to my resignation, and he was furious!
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 11
    The majority of the staff knew what was going on. There were many smiles. and fist bumps. I was told by the office staff later there were 5 other teachers that resigned, making this the biggest turnover in staff in a decade. The principal now has to go before the School Board next month to explain what is happening at his school. I wonder if I am going to get a call?
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 12
    Casual_Observer999 9 hr. ago "Nobody cares." The words of a TRUE leader who inspires his people! /sarc
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 13
    lostalldoubt86 9 hr. ago Can you work in a low-income district? They are always looking for highly qualified teachers and my school specifically makes room for making sure struggling students have every opportunity.
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 14
    • grauenwolf 9 hr. ago If you haven't already done so, make sure you contact the school board. In person and one on one if possible. And ask the other ex teachers to do the same. People, in general, hate having their time "wasted" by dealing with drama. And they will look to punish someone for making them feel uncomfortable. Since you're already gone, they will be more likely to use the ammo you give them against the person who remains.
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 15
    Newbosterone . 9 hr. ago You won't get a call if the principal has any input. If you have something to say, call a board member or board Secretary and ask to be on the agenda.
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 16
    CoderJoe1 9 hr. ago Unfortunately, he will probably resist the education you're giving him. Being good at his job must seem unimportant.
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 17
    ITeech YoKids Art . 9 hr. ago My first year of teaching I was one of eight new teachers at a school with thirty people on staff. People said it was just the way things worked in public education with people moving around to different schools. Turns out that was and it was just bad school system. The principal was a petty tyrant that would yell at teachers in front of students and openly made fun of kids and parents during staff meetings. I moved to another school system and it made all the diffe
    via u/ReveresRide
  • 18
    BlueLanternKitty · 8 hr. ago They learned more than history from you. You didn't write them off and were maybe the first in years who hadn't. In 10 years, maybe they won't remember a thing about Paul Revere (love your username BTW) but they will always remember you. They won't forget that you cared about them. I hope you find a position at a school who appreciates you. You are worth 10 of that cocktoboggan of a principal.
    via u/ReveresRide

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