Thursday, June 2, 2011

What About Last Night?

How did the Arlington hearing go? We heard about the plan to segregate Arlington into a boys and girls school at different start times.

68 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    The proposal presented was the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Did anyone notice not one person in the audience clapped when Dr. White presented the proposal?

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  2. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    did he really say that, different start times?
    Different bus schedules? Two different class schedules? Two different passing periods? How about lunch schedules?

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  3. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    It is not about teaching behavior, it is about controlling behavior, internal rather than external forces moderating behavior. The problems at Arlington don't start there, they start in the grade schools and middle schools where there is a distinct lack of ability to teach children to control their own behavior.

    ASCD says, "One of the prime responsibilities of a teaching is to equip students with the tools they will need to lead to build productive lives on their own. In large part this means nurturing students’ innate desire to manage themselves. Of all the skills students learn in school this may be the most challenging. Fostering student responsibility for self management might ultimately be the place we want to go with classroom management. It is one thing for the teacher and the school to develop strategies that are conducive to student learning but what we want is for students to do is manage themselves even when someone is not there to manage them. There are some who believe that without doing this we miss critical opportunities that schools have to provide students with a true life skill something that not only works in a k 12 classroom but it will work at almost any environment in their life."

    Compare this to Barnes who said, "we're not there to teach them to bring a pencil or be responsible for themselves, there have always be 75 year old pimp daddies and we can't change that."

    And remember that the students who leave Arlington without these skills are the same kids who now live in the community where we all live.
    The entire culture of Arlington needs to change...Thanks Greenwood...this mess is your legacy.

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  4. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    @Compare this to Barnes -- who is Barnes?

    Agree with you about Greenwood's legacy.

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  5. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    Phyllis Barnes (an administrator) in a discussion of classroom management at John Marshall Middle School. I was so shocked I wrote it down and if I went back and checked my notes I could tell you the exact date and time this gem came out of her mouth.

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  6. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    OK, thanks for telling me which Barnes. Yes, I know Phyllis Barnes from Marshall, also. What a loud-mouthed profane woman! That comment sounds exactly like something that would come from her mouth.

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  7. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    Jackie Greenwood was the worst thing that ever happened to Arlington. Eugene once referred to as "a fine educator." Guess that explains a lot.

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  8. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    Is the "Barnes Beast" still at Marshall?

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  9. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    I was sitting around with a bunch of my nerdy friends talking about NCLB, and we decided that with out a doubt the worst un-intended consequence of this law was that the focus of education shifted from what is in the best interest of each kid, to what is in the best interest of the institution. They are not the same thing. Arlington always functioned in the best interest of the public face of the school, not what was in the best interest of the individual students.

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  10. AnonymousJune 02, 2011

    Last I heard, Phyllis Barnes had been made the Principal at Northwest. She's basically like a spare tire. Dr. White keeps her around just in case he needs to replace a building administrator quickly.

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  11. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    ONce again you have missed the point. Elementary schools can not do what the parents don't do. We are suppose to teach them how to behave????? Impossible when you have administration that gives these students chance after chance...and refuses to send disruptive students to alternative schools. Yep. you heard me right...refuses to send them to alternative school.

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  12. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    So how many showed up for the meeting? What did the parents have to say? I heard Amos Brown talking about some of the principals not showing up, was he talking about Arlington's principal. I saw Broad Ripple's principal at the meeting.

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  13. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    State takeover?? Let them have it. The only thing they'll do is cut wages and claim THAT's the big improvement. You can't change a culture unless ALL are accountable. The state knows that. Bennett has said he can't change a culture but he can change teachers. Talk to any state employee since Mitch's reign. Worst morale ever. Competent people let go and idiots in their place.The only thing they accomplished there was cutting wages.

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  14. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    ONce again you have missed the point. Elementary schools can not do what the parents don't do. We are suppose to teach them how to behave????? Impossible when you have administration that gives these students chance after chance...and refuses to send disruptive students to alternative schools. Yep. you heard me right...refuses to send them to alternative school.

    So if there parents haven't taught them to behave you are just going to throw your hands in the air...if you can't teach them to behave then you really can't teach them to read or compute either, and it is time for you to retire. We need to take kids, see where they are, and bring them to where they need to be. I'd highly suggest your read some old classics, Schools With Out Failure by Glasser, Between Teacher and Child by Haim Ginott, or if you can't manage that try watching Super Nanny.

    Teaching children to regulate their own behavior is really one of the crucial jobs for teachers.
    A student who cannot get along in the world will not succeed no matter what their test scores or IQ numbers are.

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  15. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    A student who can't follow the rules of society can't succeed either. I thought alternative schools had smaller classrooms and worked with behavior students to get them on the right track. Crucial job for a teacher is to teach not necessarily teach behavior.

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  16. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    What universe are you from that teachers aren't responsible for teaching behavior? I mean, I know it's fun to perpetuate the IPS stereotype, so lets forget about IPS. Pick any school, public or private, in the country where teachers don't teach proper classroom behavior. Even kids taught perfect behavior at home sometimes push limits at school. These are children, after all.

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  17. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    That is why I recommended Super Nanny, this is simply common sense, you have to teach behavior before you teach anything else.

    Sometimes a parent will tell you "they never do this at home." Well how ofter do you have 30 second graders at home? And if the teacher is timid with the parents and the kid knows it, you just double your problem...learn to discipline the kid and talk to the parents...

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  18. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    Kids only do what works for them, make it stop working...you better be smarter then them and use your problem solving skills to get this done...

    If you are not interested in doing this you don't belong in an inner city school...your probably in the teachers lounge whining "these kids aren't like they used to be."

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  19. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    I completely agree with both of the posts directly above this one!!

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  20. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    I agree also. Children are to be loved at all cost. Sometimes they need many many chances to learn. A teacher needs to adjust to all types of behavior and let children know that just because a child hasn't learned proper behavior they need to be patient with those who constantly disrupt the classroom.

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  21. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    than, not then

    you're, not your

    Sincerely,

    The Spelling Cop

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  22. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    I always find it funny when people act like kids haven't always gotten in trouble. You ought to hear the stories my grandpa tells about crazy things he did and pranks they used to pull. My father went to a Catholic school and misbehaved plenty. Kids sometimes act like fools. We all wish they didn't, but they do. Even kids who are raised right and know better.

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  23. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    People people behavior should be taught long before they come to school. Reinforced at school yes. Do you have any idea how bold high school students are now. We aren't talking about pranks and such we are talking about (more than 1) students per class who flat out tell teachers to stick it, refuse to lift their heads, talk constantly and walk out whenever they feel like it. If you think differently then you have NO idea what is going on in high schools not just in Indy, but in many many schools. Parents are afraid of their own kids

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  24. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    I agree with the post above, then students call you a M-f, bit@#, and bring drugs to school to sell. Guns and shooting craps are common in school, as is gangs walking down the hallway pushing teachers aside.

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  25. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    That is why it needs to start in the grade school, engage them in school, make school the center of their communities.

    Even in high school there are lots of kids who just want to hang out after school and socialize, get some activities going there for them. It is heart breaking that they start announcing get out or get arrested. During the day give them some high interest classes that give the kids a sense of accomplishment.

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  26. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    Linda Davis WAS at the Broad Ripple meeting, and she was NOT drunk! See, even she can do the dog and pony show when she has to do it. Did you hear that she sent an e-mail out to the faculty threatening to strangle whoever it was who had told the truth to the DOE? What a wonderful leader. The Broad Ripple students are lucky that she never comes out of her office and they don't know who she is. Thank you God. Our children deserve so much better!

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  27. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    Leave Linda Davis alone. She is a great principal. And no she didn't sent an email threatening to strangle whoever.... you need to see someone about your hateful attitude.

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  28. AnonymousJune 03, 2011

    Instruction and discipline are intertwined. While punishment is associated to discipline, discipline does not have to be negative. If you do not discipline, then you do not teach. I looked at the etymology of the word and found: early 13c., "penitential chastisement; punishment," from O.Fr. descepline (11c.) "discipline, physical punishment; teaching; suffering; martyrdom," and directly from L. disciplina "instruction given, teaching, learning, knowledge," also "object of instruction, knowledge, science, military discipline," from discipulus (see disciple). Sense of "treatment that corrects or punishes" is from notion of "order necessary for instruction." The Latin word is glossed in O.E. by þeodscipe. Meaning "branch of instruction or education" is first recorded late 14c. Meaning "military training" is from late 15c.; that of "orderly conduct as a result of training" is from c.1500.

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  29. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    Kids cursed and sold drugs at school 50 years ago too. And while everyone has their stories, most kids do not curse at teachers, not even in the roughest IPS schools. I've been an IPS secondary ed teacher for a long time and never had a student call me a name. (Although I've heard some colorful insults hurled at other students). It's not fair to the thousands of great kids in IPS to paint them all with one broad brush.

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  30. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    You absolutely are NOT an IPS teacher if you claim that you have never heard a student curse at or call a teacher a profane name. The students probably called you profane names and you were too stupid to know what the names meant. The IPS schools are out of control because Eugene White will not permit his building administrators to enforce White´s discipline policy.

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  31. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    I said they don't call ME names. Students may very well call you names, but they're not doing it where I can hear it. What students say about me behind my back isn't really my business, is it?

    Some IPS classrooms in some IPS schools are out of control for a variety of reasons. My classes are not out of control. I rarely use any of the official IPS 6-step policy. I apply my own techniques to prevent and stop poor behavior, and if/when I still have a problem, skip straight to #2 to come up with solutions. I agree with whoever suggested Supernanny. You can also open up any child psychology book ever written. You have to figure out what the child is gaining from misbehaving and remove the reward (negative reinforcement) or make it more rewarding to behave (positive reinforcement). You also have to make sure the child knows how to communicate problems and concerns properly. Sometimes what we hear as disrespect isn't intended to be so, and overreacting to it does no one any good. Punishment is actually the least effective way of modifying behavior long term and the only form of discipline most of our students are familiar with. Using better techniques at school is not only likely to be more effective, but it will also make them better parents because they will have seen how positive discipline works.

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  32. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    To "Leave Linda Davis alone"
    Check your e-mail again. The comment about strangling is in the e-mail after the DOE's visit to the school. She definitely said it.

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  33. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    If Linda Davis is such a wonderful leader why was she told by Personnel that she needed counseling (serious counseling) during a Level Two Hearing? Her remarks, drinking to she is stone cold drunk, overeating, and use of the internet for making rude remarks. Sounds like a winner to me? Keep on suppporting her as DOE takes over and your salary goes to 35,000 per year?

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  34. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    How about when she got so plastered at Broad Ripple Tavern that she put her coat on upside down and had to be driven home. At least three double vodka and grapefruit juices in less than an hour, will do that to you. She is so sad. And what is even more sad is that she has been allowed to run a school. Schools are social service agencies for kids not adults.

    For her own sake I hope she gets help, for the kids and schools sake I hope she retires.

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  35. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    The comments from above must have come from downtown. How would anyone know what personnel said to someone? You need to be fired.

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  36. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    A concoction of vodka and grapefruit juice is called a Salty Dog. They taste good; they sneak upon you really fast because you can't taste the liquor.

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  37. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    So they "sneak upon you" and that makes it okay to get plastered in public. hmmm....

    I prefer to act like an adult.

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  38. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    "The comments from above must have come from downtown. How would anyone know what personnel said to someone? You need to be fired."

    OHHH a wikileaker in personnel.

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  39. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    Yes, I work downtown and I can place your name on the RIF list, with the snap of my fingers. You will be working at the worst school in IPS, don't mess with me!

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  40. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    You can't put someone's name on the RIF list with a snap of your fingers. RIF in all unionized schools is based on seniority: Last-in, first out. You might have heard the entire country bitching about it.

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  41. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    But not here, not this year. Did you not hear about the big stink with the RIF's?? Which by the way are NOT rift's. And no one gets riffted.

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  42. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    Do you mean the 1-2 year pool and 3-5 year pools? Yes, I know. That still doesn't mean people can arbitrarily put someone on an RIF list, which is what the above post said.

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  43. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    Hate to tell everyone but the whole rif thing isn't going to matter much as far as first in first out. Fort Wayne started it last year and the rest of the state will follow especially if there is no contract signed by July 1.
    You can get rif'ed as number 1 to be called back and if the principal likes number 37 he can pick that person and there isn't anything anyone is going to be able to do. Believe me. When I contacted the state union leader I was basically told they weren't going to get involved with it especially in schools that are failing. Fort Wayne also brought in outside hires while their rif'ed teachers are STILL laid off. This is what the govenor and Bennett want.

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  44. AnonymousJune 04, 2011

    @This is what the govenor and Bennett want.

    You can go on believing that Daniels and Bennett are the ones who want this; however, the building principals are ecstatic because they'll get to pick the teachers based upon performance rather than when a teacher was hired.

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  45. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    Oh I know you are right. It started with them but administrators are thrilled with the ability to hire and fire, rif and return at will.
    Principals are human and let us hope that they truly pick the better teachers because it sure doesn't always happen. Ya better be a buddy to the principal because I sure didn't see the "best" teachers rehired in the Fort. Teachers who had write ups, absences etc., were brought in over/back good people.
    In order for schools to do what they want they still need a check off list that all teachers are aware of in order to be fair and balances and I don't see that happening

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  46. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    Making decisions based on anything other than the best interest of the students should be grounds for terminating an administrator.

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  47. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    Principals DO NOT want this and I have talked to enough of them to know!

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  48. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    Now people are starting to get it. Governors, State Superintendents, and other boogeymen from the Statehouse are not the problem with IPS. Poor administration (especially at the building level) is responsible for much of it. If a child is out of control, profane, violent, or merely non-compliant, any school administrator worth his/her salt has a duty to act in ways that order is established in the educational environment. If an administrator can't maintain order, they need to be terminated. If Central Office is the reason order can't be maintained, then said administrator should have the courage to resign and go work for a system that believes in real adult authority.

    Instruction cannot happen in an environment where kids don't demonstrate self-control. School administrators should set the right conditions for order and follow up with consistent consequences for those students who don't operate within the appropriate parameters.

    If a State Board of Education takeover means an orderly place where teachers can teach and students can learn, then let the takeovers begin . . .

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  49. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    I heard that Shipp is coming back to Arlington to handle the females and teach them how to use the system to make it to the top? Eight years on a limited license and she is an outstanding principal? I heard Ms Towne took her into her program, good luck.

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  50. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    "If a State Board of Education takeover means an orderly place where teachers can teach and students can learn, then let the takeovers begin . ."

    Except the powers to be only recognize teachers as the problem. Nothing is ever said about disruptive students or uninvolved parents. There were NO reform measures directed to those things. If you think the State is going to expel students they'd rather expel the teacher and bring in someone for half the wages who won't complain or else lose their job as well. That means using disruptive students as an excuse for poor test scores. I know, my friend works in a charter school and that's how they operate.

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  51. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    Linda Davis WAS at the Broad Ripple meeting, and she was NOT drunk! See, even she can do the dog and pony show when she has to do it. Did you hear that she sent an e-mail out to the faculty threatening to strangle whoever it was who had told the truth to the DOE? What a wonderful leader. The Broad Ripple students are lucky that she never comes out of her office and they don't know who she is. Thank you God. Our children deserve so much better!

    Poor Linda, she does need counseling (per downtown) and heavy medication, but watch your drinking on top of the medication Linda. I heard that Linda came out of her office one day to meet the Depart of Education folks, and none of the students knew who she was?

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  52. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    Poor Linda, the chickens are coming home to roost.
    It will only be a matter of time before the police show up to breathalize you at school. Come in looking a little to rough and it is bound to happen, you've stabbed too many people in the back.

    http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/crime/teacher-arrested-for-being-drunk-at-school

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  53. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    One good thing about the reform measure is I won't need to do my masters right away. My pals who were waiting for year 15 for their masters pay to finally kick in were told there would NO more incremental pay without evaluations based on test scores.So if my pay raise were dependent on Lil Wayne and Eminem doing well then why get a masters? Before too long we probably won't need the Gen ed degree. Too bad for those people before year 15.

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  54. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    Were I given only two choices for an IPS principal between Cassie Shipp and Linda Davis, I'd choose Davis.

    Substance abuse is a learned behavior and can be unlearned; however, lack of cognitive abilities is forever.

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  55. AnonymousJune 05, 2011

    That was cold-blooded.

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  56. AnonymousJune 06, 2011

    Substance abuse is a learned behavior and can be unlearned; however, lack of cognitive abilities is forever.

    Better read Carol Dwerk's book Mindset. Shipps problem is that she has a closed mindset. If all you read is the chapter on managers you will shake your head in dismay, because the description is IPS management.

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  57. AnonymousJune 06, 2011

    This is going to get chopped up into smaller chunks as it keeps disappearing after posting. It's a good description of managerial styles, and I certainly recoognize some IPS administrators in the list.
    .....................................
    The Good Boss
    Good bosses treat everyone with fairness regardless of office politics. Communication is key - a good boss keeps an open door policy, supports a constant flow of communication, and encourages others to do the same. Following these ideals builds good relationships with those with more power as well as those with less power. Bottom line, good bosses follow the golden rule of leadership -- they lead the way they like to be led.

    The God Boss
    These guys think they are God. They most often appear in church settings or missionary organizations. They are megalomaniacs to the extreme. You must address the God Boss just as he wants to be addressed, follow his rules and create the illusion you're doing things his way. God Bosses are about power, usually because it hides incompetence.

    (continued)

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  58. AnonymousJune 06, 2011

    (continued from above)

    The Machiavellian Boss
    "Machiavellian Bosses don't think they're God. They are extremely intelligent and know better," says Hoover. This boss views the world as an enormous pyramid and the one spot at the top belongs to him or her. You may be run over or become a casualty but don't take it personally -- it's not about you and never was. Machiavellian Bosses are highly focused and highly motivated. They are very aware of self-perception and have little regard for anyone else.

    The Masochistic Boss
    This boss believes that punishment is deserved. He or she will suck anyone possible into the world of sick behavior, gathering a swarm of co-dependents. These co-dependents continuously offer their affirmations, but to no avail. Nothing ever gets done in a masochistic department -- with failure comes punishment from upper management, so these people thwart success to avoid the reduction in pain and misery. These people will never feel good about themselves and will make sure you don't either.

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  59. AnonymousJune 06, 2011

    (continued from above)

    The Sadistic Boss
    This is the person with a bottomless suggestion box positioned over a wastebasket or a sign that reads "When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you." The harder you work, the more this boss piles on you. If you goof off, this gives the boss more ammo for beating you. People up the food chain know more than you think, but never talk badly about your sadistic boss. Staying positive will bring you admiration.

    The Paranoid Boss
    This person is suspicious of everyone's motives, including yours. Anything you do may be an attempt to undermine your boss. Most of this exists largely in one's imagination, but it can become a reality. Whether there actually is a conspiracy or one is invented, the result is the same. A project is tanked -- thus feeding the idea that someone is out to get your boss.

    (continued)

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  60. AnonymousJune 06, 2011

    (continued from above)

    The Buddy Boss
    Buddy Bosses want to be your best friend and hang out all the time. She won't want you to get in trouble and not like her, so it might be worth spending some time. With this type of boss, though, you might rather double your workload than pal around with her. Getting along with the Buddy Boss means hanging out and ignoring everything you're paid to do. The downside: you'll be working nights and weekends making up the work you should be doing during business hours.

    The Idiot Boss
    This boss, or an I-Boss, comes in many forms, according to Hoover. He says the I-Boss is the lowest common denominator on the chain of bosses. "They are here to test our faith, secure our sanity and teach survival skills." Idiot bosses are characterized by cluelessness and stupidity. They might as well have just wandered into an office and started running it.

    Careerbuilder.com; 2004

    (end of article)

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  61. AnonymousJune 07, 2011

    Hmmm.....

    The God Boss: Larry Yarrel
    The Machiavellian Boss: Yvonne Rambo
    The Buddy Boss: Linda Davis
    The Idiot Boss: Prudence Bridgewater
    The Good Boss: Haven't seen one for years

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  62. AnonymousJune 07, 2011

    The Good Boss: Phyllis Coe-Martin

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  63. AnonymousJune 07, 2011

    I was attending a CIESC workshop on bullying several years ago. We're about an hour into this lecture and workshop, and they're talking about the characteristics of a bully. The speaker then asks us what happens to bullies when they grow up. No one answered. A long moment goes by, and still no answer. In what I thought was a quiet voice, I ask a teacher from my building next to me, "They become administrators?" The room was quiet enough that everyone heard it, and even the speaker lost it ;-) In retrospect I have to wonder how much truth was in that quip. Do a Google on academic bullying, and it's amazing what you can find.

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  64. AnonymousJune 08, 2011

    The Good Boss: Phyllis Coe-Martin

    Forced out.

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  65. AnonymousJune 08, 2011

    @The Good Boss: Phyllis Coe-Martin

    Forced out.
    _______________________________________________

    Yes, I know. She was bright, articulate, not given to drama, and not a member of the Ed Center clique. In short, she wasn't ghetto.

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  66. AnonymousJune 08, 2011

    The Good Boss: In IPS, that will be a visitor.

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  67. AnonymousJune 09, 2011

    We have/had some great bosses in IPS such as, Minetta Richardson, Beth Gehm, Jennifer Pearson, Julie Bakehorn, Heather Haskett, Beth Guhl (retired), Kelli Marshall (lost o LCA), Ruthanne Adams, Paula Peterson, Rick Euliss, Margi HIggs...just to name a few!

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  68. AnonymousJune 09, 2011

    Heather Haskett? NOT!

    ReplyDelete

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