Student Asking for Advice From Adults

Parent Cafe
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<p>Hello there. Thanks for clicking on this thread. I am really desperate for any advice I can find on this topic, and I didn’t know where else to turn to.</p>

<p>My favorite teacher is not having her contract renewed. I’m sick to my stomach and have cried pretty much since she dropped the news to our class yesterday. I have had her as a band teacher since the 3rd grade, and to think that she will not be teaching the class my senior year (next year) makes me extremely sad. I knew I would cry when I graduated and left her, but now it’s so much sooner and I’m not prepared emotionally.</p>

<p>I can’t see any teaching issues as to why she would be getting fired. My school is now notorious for firing a teacher every year and making a big deal about it. It also has nothing to do with the teaching style or student complaints. The administration usually just finds some problem to blame on a teacher. I’m sick of seeing every one of my favorite teachers leave. I kind of saw this coming because it has been happening for a few years, but I hoped and prayed it wouldn’t be this teacher. Lo and behold, it is.</p>

<p>Our school administration is the kind that dislikes when teachers give criticism on the school, and that’s what I’m thinking happened. I just happen to like all of the teachers that are genuine and truthful. I’m just so upset I tear up even when I think about it, particularly because she was not only a wonderful teacher and person, but also a friend and adviser for me when no one else was. She is the one reason why I’m still at my high stress school.</p>

<p>Now, here is where I need some adult advice and opinions. I’m done seeing this happen over and over again, and I am not going to let them win this one without a fight. After I heard, I gathered the underclassmen in band and told them I was going to do something and that I needed their support. All were in and I’ve got some seniors in as well. Pretty much the whole band.</p>

<p>I want to do this respectfully, so that there is nothing they can punish us for. I have a group of seniors and me who have decided we will speak to the head of school, the head of the arts department, and the head of the high school about this decision, and I have typed up a petition I will get everyone to sign on Monday. I’m going to get the middle school band sign it as well.</p>

<p>I’m afraid it won’t work and they’ll shut us down like they have done in years past to other students, but this time I think we are organized. I’ve never done this for a teacher, and I can’t sit back and watch them do this. I have recent graduates who are livid about this and going to send emails, and I’m going to email the head of the PTA. Our parents are upset about this too, and will talk to the administration as well.</p>

<p>In case it doesn’t work, several parents have suggested a silent protest every time they bring in a new band teacher for trial this year. As in, when he/she asks us to play, we all simultaneously put our instruments down and refuse to play, silently. Hopefully this wouldn’t cause any of us to get in trouble because all of us would do it and my parents and other parents are behind us on this.</p>

<p>I need your help because I want to know if you think these are good ideas and whether you have anything else to add that could work. I’m desperate. I’m sick of standing on the sidelines: my school taught us to stand up for what we think is wrong, and so I want to now and show them what a terrible mistake they are making.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for reading this. I just didn’t know where else to turn to for this topic.</p>

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<p>I don’t like this approach. I think the person who suffers the most in this instance is the job applicant, whom you have no quarrel with. To a lesser extent, the current band teacher would suffer because it’s embarrassing to have your students disobey you.</p>

<p>The petition seems like a much better approach, especially if you can also get letters of support from graduates and parents. </p>

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<p>Personnel issues are always tricky. There may be things you don’t know about - and that the school cannot legally divulge due to privacy laws. Or it could be a boneheaded administration. I’m all for expressing support of the teacher, but I do agree with @marian that protesting new job applicants is punishing the wrong person. What point does it make to be disrespectful to someone who had nothing to do with the teacher losing their job? These job applicants have no idea under what circumstances the job became available - they’re just doing their best to earn a living by applying for an open position. One of them is going t end up hired, and do you want them to remember that the first time they met you your reaction was a silent act of defiance? That’s not a way to build a relationship with the new teacher.</p>

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<p>InigoMontoya has brought up some excellent points. The petitions and letters from parents/graduates are positive steps you can take. The protest is meaningless and is no way to start off a relationship with a new teacher. </p>

<p>You also must accept the fact that the school simply cannot tell you why they are not renewing her contract and your teacher is, rightly so, not telling you all why. So even with the petitions and so on, it may not be appropriate for this teacher to be rehired for next year. It can be frustrating not knowing key bits of information but such is life.</p>

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<p>Does your school district have an elected school board which has monthly meetings to discuss issues of public interest? If so, after you go through proper channels of talking with administrators, I would head with a group of students and parents to the next school board meeting and ask to be heard on this matter. You will undoubtedly be told that they cannot discuss personnel matters in an open forum, but if you speak up about this, the school board may be hearing about this for the first time, and some members may begin to ask questions to administrators about what is going on. Good luck! I agree with the above posters that it would really be rude to give the “silent treatment” to potential applicants. They don’t know the history and are just trying to get a job.</p>

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<p>Important things to consider:

  1. Strength in numbers
  2. Need to go “above” the people in the school’s administration such as the board</p>

<p>Unfortunately, there are many reasons that people are let go that actually don’t relate to their work product.</p>

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<p>I agree with the others. Do not protest any new teachers coming in. That will only humiliate an innocent person and will not help your case at all. Do gather signatures on a petition. Do speak to the school board. Write letters to your local paper on her behalf. A deluge of letters from multiple concerned students might generate a news story, which could help your case, assuming the teacher has done nothing wrong. Stage a “play in” where you all play your instruments in the cafeteria at lunch or break. Find other teachers who are on your side and see if they’re willing to get involved (not likely, but worth a try.) In short, do all your protesting before the teacher leaves, but when and if this happens, deal with it graciously by being kind and welcoming to her replacement.</p>

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<p>First of all, not having a contract renewed is not the same as being fired. I don’t know whether this is a public or a private school, or whether your teacher is part-time or full time, but please don’t confuse the two things, although to you, they may seem the same. </p>

<p>It’s possible that your teacher wants to leave the position because she doesn’t want to work for the pay or conditions that are being offered. That’s not the same as being fired. If she is at all professional, she can’t and won’t discuss the circumstances of her non-renewal with you or any other student. There are things you don’t know about the situation. I know it is painful to see a good teacher leave, but you will not be helping her by assuming that she is being pushed out and needs to be defended. There may be many complexities and grey areas of which you are unaware. If what you say about the school is true, maybe she’s just tired of working there. It happens.</p>

<p>Whatever you do, do not “protest” by not cooperating with your teacher’s replacement. That will help no one, least of all, you. If your teacher cares about you, she will want you and her other former students to learn and thrive with all those who come after her.</p>

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<p>If it is true that this teacher is the primary reason why you have remained at this particular high school, you might want to consider looking for something else to do for next year. Can you graduate early and take a Gap Year? Can you take your senior year as an exchange student through an organization such as <a href=“http://www.afs.org”>www.afs.org</a> or <a href=“http://www.yfu.org”>www.yfu.org</a> ?</p>

<p>If you do decide to stay at this school for your last year, and you do continue to be in band, please do your best to find something to like about the new band teacher. It will be extremely difficult for that person to take over a band where most of the students have worked with the same instructor for many years and who were very attached to that instructor. Try to give the new person a chance. It is not his/her fault that your old teacher will have left.</p>

<p>Lastly, if you are attending a public school in a very small district, and the student population has been dropping over the years, it is almost certain that the school board is struggling to keep the school functional with a budget that shrinks more and more each year. Teachers with more experience (like your band teacher) cost more than new teachers with less experience. Not renewing contracts for expensive teachers (and cutting their programs entirely when it is possible), is one way for school districts to balance their budgets. Not a pretty scenario by any means, but a real life situation in many parts of this country.</p>

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<p>My kids’ hs started doing what the students though was firing. I was a little closer to the facts and knew it wasn’t firing. Or even as simple as not renewing contracts. It was after long talks with faculty about options and offers. A need to pare down and a willingness to sweeten as best they could. In our case, most of the teachers made their decisions a year or so in advance. Obviously, non-union and yes, private. Some teachers found other positions (some of these were the right moves, better for them, professionally.) Some actually retired early. </p>

<p>My point is, students thought they were being fired or not renewed. You may not have any idea at all what transpired. </p>

<p>We did have a teacher actually fired, based on things the kids couldn’t possibly know. I know this is hard, but there are many circumstances under which you could have lost a favorite teacher- he could have moved or become ill or retired or gotten a better job. Show him your personal support, group support, gratitude.</p>

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<p>It’s awesome that this teacher means so much to so many students. You’ve gotten good advice above. Show her personal support…nice cards, balloons, etc. Tell the school board/principal how you feel. Don’t protest the new person. Best to you.</p>

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<p>Make sure to read your schools student conduct and social media/school technology policies ASAP as you plan a response. </p>

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<p>Is this a private or public school?</p>

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<p>You need to learn how to deal with disappointments. Since you have mentioned the loss of other favored teachers it seems as though you dwell on not having them around instead of feeling good to have had the opportunity to be taught at least once by them. Learn to focus on things within your control. It is sad your long time band teacher is leaving but- that’s life. As others stated, it is none of your business as to why the teacher is leaving unless s/he chooses to tell you. It actually may be good for you to have a different viewpoint instead of just the same one for years. You may need to learn to be flexible instead of staying in the same musical rut.</p>

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<p>Thank you for all the responses, I really appreciate the different and varying viewpoints.</p>

<p>After speaking with not only our high school principal but also the school’s Board of Trustees and Alumnae and showing them our petition with 100+ signatures (in a school where the average grade size is roughly 71 due to it being a private school), it is clear that the reason had nothing to do with her teaching style or the way she behaved with the kids, and instead was more based on our head of school’s negative opinion towards her. I took all of your advice into consideration, and recent graduates even emailed the alumnae board and head of school talking about how they feel this particular teacher influenced them and parents have gone in and spoken to the head of school, but it was to no avail. While I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to be taught by this spectacular teacher, it is definitely disappointing that she will not be there next year to see me graduate and conduct in my last performance. I’m going to try my best to enjoy the time she has left at my school.</p>

<p>All in all, thank you for your advice- it was very helpful. </p>