Administrative chaos

[franceslievens]

Two weeks ago the Head called us (religion and morality teachers + gym teacher) to his office and declared: "You'll get a survey to fill out about recent problems in our school. It's very important you fill out this survey. You are part of this school. You witness the same problems. We value your opinion. Please fill out the survey once you get it. That was all. Thank you."

Yesterday (two weeks later) we received said survey with the polite, but firm addition we had to fill it out by yesterday. So I found myself filling out a survey while my pupils were either watching a film or doing their work. So because of an administrative question of my Head, I was neglecting my teacherly duties of following up on my pupils' work or giving extra info on the film they were watching. And all that because I was only one day at said school this week, having had Wednesday off and teaching at other schools the other days of the week I couldn't even benefit of one day extension to do this bloody thing at home.

Comments

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

I'd hate to have to do that.

So far we have been relatively protected from such chores in French schools and 90% of our job is made of teaching/interacting with students.

Unfortunately I see dark days filled with adminsitrative nonsense ahead.

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

Because of the nature of my subject, I don't have that many administrative stuff to deal with: I need a planning for the year and have to make sure my school diary is filled out + I've got a lesson plan. Those are all directly linked to teaching and interacting with the kids. For the form teachers it's a bit different. They also need to show their follow-up of pupils, how they differentiate between good and weak pupils in their class group etc. Administration-wise their workload is heavier.

This survey wasn't directly linked to what needs to be done. It was idea to solve some problems in this school. What stung me most was that the Head told us about it two weeks ago and then we get it to fill out the day itself. The other teachers got it a day earlier when we weren't at school. My colleague from Catholic religion also comes on Friday, so she was able to do it home. I just had to make sure it was finished by the end of the day. Those are the things I hate: Head and administration not paying attention to others.

This weekend I need to mark some stuff and fill out grades: that's admin I don't like doing, but it's usefull, because it's the way the kids and their parents know how they're doing in class.