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How Should the Principal React?

The principal of Sagemont Junior High School was very concerned about a teacher on his staff. In the midst of major changes in the student population throughout the last few years, this rebellious educator was not willing to meet the new challenges the school encountered. Many new housing projects had been built in the neighborhoods surrounding the school. As a result, culturally different students were enrolling in Sagemont Junior High. Many of the students did not speak English. Furthermore, most of the new families moving in were living together with relatives in the housing projects. In the newcomer's culture, it was acceptable for many family members to live together in a small dwelling in order to succeed in their new environment. However, the veteran teacher was determined to force the new ESL (English as a Second Language) students to change and conform to the way of life already established in the community. This particular teacher informed the principal that she was not going to alter her lesson plans for the students who seemed to be taking over and changing Sagemont Junior High School.

Questions:
1. How should the principal react to the experienced teacher's point of view concerning the changes in the school's population?
2. Does the rebellious teacher have a valid complaint?
3. Should the Junior High School staff accommodate these students who are bringing diversity to the local area?

Posted on: 12/30/12 | Views: 1749
Solution #1
Top Solution
The principal should try to calmly rationalize with this teacher, explaining these new and ever changing circumstances to her. He should remind her of her role as an educator, and that she needs to meet each and every student's needs, despite her own personal views. I personally do not think this teacher has a valid complaint. Yes, it may be difficult to understand and adapt to, but as an educator the student's needs comes first and your own views comes dead last. Yes, the school should accommodate these students. The diversity they bring isn't a negative, but a positive, and the staff and students should views this change as a new learning experience.

I would exactly do this

I like this idea.

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Solution #2
1. The principal should tell the teacher that this is a building for learning, and that all students should have an equal opportunity to learn. The teacher may need to alter her lesson plans to accommodate the students. 2. The teacher's point has little validity, because as a teacher she is discriminating against students based off their culture. In any given classroom there are going to be higher level learners and lower level learners, but that is a teachers job to meet the needs for everything. This situation being no different. 3. Yes, the Junior High School staff should provide education for all these students regardless on their race and language. Due to the large increase in numbers, the school could hirer extra ESOL help to provide those skills.

I would exactly do this

8 0
Solution #3
1. The principal should not be happy with the teacher giving him so much trouble. Change will happen everyday in life, this teacher should understand that being a veteran teacher. Teacher's should keep their prejudices at home. I think that the principal needs to sit down with this teacher and discuss her attitude towards the students and how she needs to re-adjust or leave. Diversity is a beautiful thing and adds a lot of life to classrooms. 2. I don't think that the rebellious teacher has a valid complaint. I grew up in a middle class white suburban neighborhood in Atlanta. When I moved on from elementary school, most of the kids in my school were living in the new apartment complexes. Even as a child I understood that people can not help their circumstances. Just because all of the students don't speak English does not mean they shouldn't be educated. 3. Absolutely! These new ESOL students should have every accommodation that they need to succeed. As teachers, it will be our responsibility to embrace the diversity of our students, not suppress it.

I would exactly do this

5 0
Solution #4
1. He should first point out that he understands what she is saying and that he hears her but they are changing times and you must keep up. He must be very stern with a teacher like this who is refusing to cater to all of her students needs, new or old. The experienced teacher is discriminating against the new culture and that is unacceptable. 2. I do not believe that the rebellious teacher has a valid complaint. The point of her job is to teach and educate students that are in her classroom, no matter what race, culture or learning ability. If she is not able to cater to those children in the way that they should, then Ms. Rebellious should find another place to teach. 3. Yes, Sagemont should accommodate these students who are new to the area. Why shouldn't they? These children deserve the same quality of instruction as the English speaking students. The fact that they are not fluent in English should not hinder them from being successful. They should not be pushed to the back burner because they are different or that it would cause more "work" for the faculty. These teacher should be excited with the new change and diversity that is being brought to their classrooms.

I would exactly do this

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Solution #5
The teacher should not be putting with this teacher's complaint. A teacher should be willing to alter their lessons due to changes whether within the classroom or with new teaching strategies. There are many different set ups now for a teachers classroom now that teachers need to be able to conform to due to diversity, and this teachers complaint is just unacceptable. As a teacher you must be accepting of other cultures and classes, not prejudice against them. This junior high school should accommodate these students who are bringing in diversity. These are the students who need help the most and it up to us as teachers to help them in the best way they can.

I would exactly do this

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Solution #6
The principal should inform the teacher that each and every student should have an equal opportunity to learn. Altering her lessons would be a major key for these ESL students and she should want to help all students learn. I don't feel like the rebellious teacher should be complaining! She is obviously just used to the way things have been for so long and teaching students with no diversity backgrounds. YES! The Jr. High School should accommodate these students that have come into the local area. What are they to do go to another school? No way they should not. As teachers we should always be ready for diversity and to accommodate in my opinion

I would exactly do this

3 0
Solution #7
The principal would have to address the issue with the teacher. The principal would have to try and explain to the teacher that change is inevitable. It is going to happen no matter what. We might not always be prepared for change, but we just have to roll with it. It's not about us anymore. it's about those students that walk into your classroom everyday. The rebellious teacher's complaint is not valid to me. It seems like she is set in her ways and not willing to do what's best for the students. I think we should accommodate to these students because they need to learn how to become productive citizens of society. It doesn't matter where a student comes from. We should always treat every student with respect. We should set high expectations for all students.

I would exactly do this

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Solution #8
The principal should not look the other way. This situation is unacceptable. The principal should address this problem during a general review time. The teacher's strengths should be commended and their weaknesses (including insensitivity towards other cultures) should be discussed. Specific ways that the teacher can correct the diversity insensitivity should be given in writing and a date for changes to have been implemented should be set. Workshops in the area on cultural diversity should be made an option for the teacher. If the teacher is unwilling to grow professionally to be more understanding of other cultures, she should be let go. The staff at the Junior High School should make it their goal to educate all students, not just students who are culturally homogeneous. Cultural diversity is an asset, not a problem.

I would exactly do this

1 0
Solution #9
The principal should remind the teacher that as an educator she will come into contact with many students that are culturally diverse and it shouldn't be seen as a hindrance to her teaching. As a teacher, she is still there and expected to teach her students know matter what background they come from. No, the teacher does not have a valid point. A student's background should know effect on her teaching in a negative way. She should still be willing and able to teach them regardless. Yes they should accommodate them because they are required as educators to supply the best possible education for all their students, if it means changing some aspects about the school, then so be it. As long as students are succeeding there should no problems.

good idea

1 0
Solution #10
The teacher's job is to ensure that the students learn. If the teacher refuses to accomplish this, the principal must intervene and require for the teacher to do so. This means that the teacher will have to alter her lessons for the changing demographics. Instead of the teacher doing this alone, the teachers of the grade level could work together to brainstorm ideas. Teachers that have not had to experience these changes should have support in working with them. From the teacher's perspective, this is a valid complaint because for years she has seen success in teaching her lessons. However, she should acknowledge that the education system has changed over time and all students deserve a differentiated education.

good idea

0 0
Solution #11
1. How should the principal react to the experienced teacher's point of view concerning the changes in the school's population? As the principal, I would sit down with the teacher and explain that she could not change the fact that the school was changing, and that if she didnt try to accommodate these new students, what chance will they have in their coming grades in school? If she is still unwilling, I would seriously consider a more understanding teacher with more openess to diversity. 2. Does the rebellious teacher have a valid complaint? I dont believe these types of teachers, that are unwilling to conform to whatever the needs of the students may be, should be allowed to continue our next generation of children, whatever their race may be. 3. Should the Junior High School staff accommodate these students who are bringing diversity to the local area? Of course, students are children, regardless of race!

good idea

0 0
Solution #12
The principle should have a meeting with the teacher and the students other teachers to share feelings amongst the population growth. The teacher does not have a valid or specific complaint, other than the veteran teacher is having much difficulty with her lesson plan in diverse schools. Yes they should be able to accommodate based on diversity in schools.
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Solution #13
It is a teacher's profession to accommodate lessons for the students. You cannot be a good teacher if your students are not learning because you are not willing to put effort into. A teacher's job is to educate! Therefore, the rebellious teacher does not have a valid complaint. The principal should give the rebellious teacher one more chance before firing him.

I would exactly do this

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