Children...

I work with children. Nope, not the teenagers I teach. My colleagues. The so-called professionals that take years and years of university courses and countless hours of teacher prep in the summer and evenings to become the best they can be. They are children.

We are supposed to be mature and adult-like, right? I wish some of my colleagues knew that.

First there is the woman that needs to know absolutely everything there is to know about the social life of 16 year olds. Who's dating who? Who is fighting with each other? Where this weekend's big party/bash is being held? There are times that she is so inappropriate and unprofessional that she really should be reported, but no one does. The kids can't stand her, yet they pretend to, because she sucks them right in to her gossip ring. Her gossip does not end at the students - oh no! She must tell everyone about the social happenings of her fellow teachers. And sometimes, she shares these with the students!

And boy does she get upset when you know something that she doesn't! I had my 12s write a paragraph of what they felt the 'bullying' situation was like at our school. They were told it would be completely confidential and I was looking more for the truth than anything else when I was marking it. What I got from them was amazing! Very schocking, yet not completely surprising things. I mentioned to said teacher what I was doing and she asked if she could read them. I said 'no'. (Any other teacher, I probably would've shared a few - but if I told her, I knew that it would get out to the students invovled) Well, she's not used to being told no, and didn't speak to me for 3 days! (and my desk is right beside hers) Unbelievable!

Then there is the arrogant asshole phys-ed teacher (not that I don't like phys-ed teachers at all...) I'll save his hissy fit for another day...