A Legal Alien

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31 January 2007

Lots has been going at Chez Legal Alien. The biggest news? I quit my job today. I sent in my letter of resignation to HR and emailed my principal. I've tried not to write about work all the much but here's the thing. My principal is an ass. He's arrogant, pompous and one of the most narrow minded people I've ever met. It makes me cringe that he's in charge of a school with 1200 students and 55 staff members. There is no room for a difference of opinion. There is no room for creativity. There is no room for anything he deems unacceptable. I've often thought if he wasn't a part of the school, I'd be very happy to stay there. My kids are great. My colleagues are nice and helpful. But he is a tyrant. I'm not one to compare people to notorious despots but he like Hitler in so many ways. Everyone has to be alike. He will destroy anyone who disagrees with him. He wants our classrooms to be identical. He wants our lessons to be identical. We are to be robots. Third Reich anyone? So I've had enough.
Yesterday, I had a meeting with him regarding my last observation, scheduled for next week. He basically told me that I had "a lot riding on this next observation." Like if I blow it, he'll fire me. No need to worry now, mate, because I'm out of here! He made me feel like a petulant child, like I was always in trouble, even when I'd done nothing wrong and simply was saying hello or asking something. He didn't want me to leave our last faculty meeting 15 minutes early for a dentist appointment. 15 bloody minutes! Who cares?! There's no winning with him.
I have an interview in Napa in March and someone from another district here is interested in talking to me. I've also scheduled an appointment to meet with my principal at my old school. If nothing else, I'm out there looking and I've mentally preparing for resigning for some time. It's just been a matter of when and how. If my boss wasn't such a nut, I'd stay another year. But now.. now, I'm putting myself out there again. Again.

We've had 3 family friends die in the last week so it's been sort of a strange few days. I've had appointments after school nearly every day and I haven't had time to sit and think of much else except work stuff. But, I leave for England in 9 days and I cannot wait!

For Paul Barrett

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