Greetings.

I have a meeting with my supervisor tomorrow after school (1530 hours) about my programme (detailed outline of teaching & learning activities in every subject I teach).

Last Friday he wouldn’t say when I asked him if there were any glaring issues with it, he said he’d leave discussion until Monday (tomorrow).

Please pray that I will remember, whatever the outcome, that I am a servant of Christ - that I should seek the approval of God over and above that of human leaders.

Please thank God that through Jesus I am accepted by Him, that I do have God’s approval because of the blood of Christ shed for us.

Please pray that I will humble myself before God and before my human supervisor, and be able to grow spiritually and professionally, whatever the outcome of the 1530 meeting.

I’ll let you know how it went when I get a spare moment.

Also, please keep the staff in prayer.  Most of my colleagues have suffered extremely unsettling changes to their classes, and are not happy with the sizes of their classes (we are now all stretched to the limit, e.g. I had 27 kids but now have 30), nor are they happy about the students they have had to give away to other classes or gain from other classes...Most have indicated that they feel undersupported and overstressed.

Thanks for your prayers for us.

TZ.

I feel for you Tia - meetings with supervisors where they foreshadow there’s going to be issues they want to raise are absolutely horrible, especially the stress leading up to the meeting anticipating what they might say.  I shall be praying for you, that you might be truly able to rely on the fact God is in control no matter what the immediate circumstances of our life might be.

Thanks Kathryn!

Supervisor was reasonably diplomatic, suggesting modifications and additions to the programme without being too harsh.  There is a lot for me to do before Easter in terms of improving the document, especially when I’m giving details of my literacy (English) programme.  But all in all, I’m thankful that the meeting was overly constructive and affirming, & I know if I do as supervisor suggested I’ll be a better-documented & more impressive teacher as a result.  Which in light of where I might want to go with teaching would be an advantage.

Regards,
Tia.

Thanks to anyone else who prayed!

Update.

It’s D-Day on Monday - have to resubmit programme to supervisor with all modifications he requested.

Complications:
# 1.  Sunday School not yet prepared.
# 2.  Congregational prayer not yet prepared.
# 3.  Usual pile of must-do marking unmarked (homework; must be returned to students this Monday during school hours).
# 4.  Photocopying for Monday’s classroom learning time not yet prepared, including guided reading groups work.
# 5.  SO MUCH TO DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Won’t get much of a break this weekend or before Easter.

Prayer appreciated.

HI Tia - it looks like last week’s meeting went as well as could be expected, so we thank God for that.  We can also ask now also that you’ll have a clear mind to be able to focus on amendments to your lesson plans to take into acount the changes you supervisor wanted, and that you will find sufficient quiet times to be able to focus on completing the balance of your work, especially marking.  (I used to lecture at sydney uni, and marking was worse than doing exams, I reckon.) Set your mind on the things above not on earthly things, and let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, and let the word dwell in you richly, and whatever you do do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Update.

[quote author="Kathryn Roach"]HI Tia - it looks like last week’s meeting went as well as could be expected

Actually, I was putting off saying anything because it was worse...He wanted my program to be completely revamped, he felt I had made no changes at all, even though I had tried.....he made it clear he expected me to spend most of my holiday working on improvements.  It was much, much worse, much more stressful than even I expected.

We can also ask now also that you’ll have a clear mind to be able to focus on amendments to your lesson plans to take into acount the changes you supervisor wanted

I need more than a clear mind now...I need mercy.  None of which supervisor is giving, judging by his response to the work for this coming term that I sent him just last week.  I sent what I considered very detailed activities for writing for at least 5 weeks.
Plus, I explained that I had been unwell for a week (which I had, and am STILL recovering) & that therefore the amount of work I managed was less than what I had hoped, and all he asked in reply, effectively, was, “So where’s the rest?” and “Can I see you after the meeting on Monday?”

Set your mind on the things above not on earthly things, and let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, and let the word dwell in you richly, and whatever you do do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17-25.

I know.....it’s a pity supervisor can’t be more like the Lord Christ to serve - but as he’s a non-Christian workaholic with impossibly high standards, what else could one expect?

Sigh.

I am extremely stressed already about this term.  Feels like that “is that all??” attitude of his towards the work I sent him was the final straw.  And yet I can’t get my teaching certificate unless I satisfy his standards of excellence.

God give me strength - or else some miracle!!

TZ, (with tears).

Hello Tia. I have been thinking of you. It can be hard to see your way clear when there are so many pressures placed upon you at the one time.

Is there a trusted person in your church (i.e. another teacher) you feel comfortable to ask to give you feedback on what you have written?

They would then be able to give you professional feedback (as someone in the same profession as yourself). But as a fellow Christian they can encourage you in a loving way - rather than the demanding tone you are feeling from your supervisor.

If there’s no-one in your church, then think about approaching a fellow teacher in your school that you respect. Share with them the difficulties you are experiencing. It is good to establish a connection with someone in your workplace and have them “on your side” (meaning that they want to encourage and support you in your efforts to become the best teacher you can).

Heather.

School week 8

Hi Tia, I have been praying for you, and concur with Heather’s suggestions, and am praying that you will find another Christian teacher with whom you feel comfortable to go over your stuff. 

Keep on keeping on.

Regards
Gill.

Re: School week 8

Hi Heather and Gillian,

Thanks for your thoughts & prayers.

[quote author="Heather Smith"]Is there a trusted person in your church (i.e. another teacher) you feel comfortable to ask to give you feedback on what you have written?

Have asked my Sunday School superintendent (20-years’-experienced teacher but currently casual) - I know she’ll give as much feedback as she is able, but she works at the cathedral, and I know how busy she is…

If there’s no-one in your church, then think about approaching a fellow teacher in your school that you respect. Share with them the difficulties you are experiencing. It is good to establish a connection with someone in your workplace and have them “on your side” (meaning that they want to encourage and support you in your efforts to become the best teacher you can).

Quite a few of the staff have sensed distress noises from me and those I have confided to all seem to be doing their best to be helpful.  But being under supervisor in the hierarchy - as all my supportive colleagues are - they’d be putting their lives/careers on the line to cross him too obviously!

[quote author="Gillian Evans"]praying that you will find another Christian teacher with whom you feel comfortable to go over your stuff.

Sadly I won’t find one at school at present...sigh.

Anyhow, I sent off what I had today (it was due today), having stayed up all night to finish it, so I hope he’ll be happy, as I’m completely worn out and the thought of doing yet more frustrating corrections seems too much to bear!!

So much seems to rest on this.  And as a Christian I don’t want work to keep consuming me so much.....it’s been interfering with every other more important aspect of my life recently!

STOP THE WORLD!
I WANT TO GET OFF!!

TZ.

P.S.  I could pray “Come Lord Jesus”, but if He did come tomorrow so many of my neglected children - ranging from Y3 to Y12 age groups now - would perish.

So I don’t - because I want them to be saved!

Hi Tia

I feel for you - but I also feel there is nothing I can say to provide any real sense of peace or comfort for you.  I had a bad 12 month period at work in similar circumstaces a few years ago (I ended up losing the job for that and some other unrelated health reasons) and it just feels endless and unfixable and utterly hopeless in a situation like that.  The things of this world will one day pass away, and albeit it is highly unlikley to occur this millenium, it will one day and the work your supervisor is pushing for will be nothing, yet the salvation of your students which you are seeking will be everything. Fear not for he is Lord.

Hi Tia

Nice to have you back

Is work still going horrifically?  Or has your supervisor miraculously taken a more sensitive stance?  Let us know so we can keep you in our prayers at this difficult time for you

[quote author="Kathryn Roach"]Nice to have you back

Is work still going horrifically?  Or has your supervisor miraculously taken a more sensitive stance?  Let us know so we can keep you in our prayers at this difficult time for you

Thanks Kathryn!

After my 36 hours sleep deprivation over that literacy program (late April), I am glad to report that supervisor was actually satisfied (finally!) with the level of documentation I produced.

Have been very busy trying to prep. students for mathematics assessments, and it is so depressing because over half my class are nowhere near the level of numeracy they ought to have for their age & stage.  Spent last weekend just preparing mathematics catch-up lessons.  Along with general frustrations over the bad manners and in some cases total disrespect displayed by a minority among my 31 charges.

My Term 2 program for weeks 1-5 of this term will be reviewed again by supervisor this coming week.....still have quite a bit to do before Monday.

Rumour has it that supervisor has managed to score a principalship overseas.  But it sounds too good to be true, so I’ll be cynical until I hear it from the horse’s mouth…

Had a goodish day on Friday.....and I’m ashamed to say that I think it’s because the kid that I find it hardest to be patient with and kind to, wasn’t there!!

[quote author="Tia Zheng"]Had a goodish day on Friday.....and I’m ashamed to say that I think it’s because the kid that I find it hardest to be patient with and kind to, wasn’t there!!

Hi Tia,

I know quite a few teachers and I don’t know any who wouldn’t say something similar!

(Not sure if they’d say it on a public forum, though! ;) )

Cheers,
Andrew

Update.

[quote author="Tia Zheng"]Rumour has it that supervisor has managed to score a principalship overseas.  But it sounds too good to be true, so I’ll be cynical until I hear it from the horse’s mouth…

More rumours are circulating, saying supervisor’s been offered the job, or is in final rounds of interviews for it.  Over half my colleagues are itching to dance victory jigs, and the leftovers are, like me, being cautiously diplomatic…

...and still cynical!

TZ.

The supeervisor is dead!  Long live the supervisor!

Supervisor has his job, but it’s not over ‘til it’s over.

Plus there are a few complications, but can’t discourse on them right now.  Very busy, sorry can’t stop to chat, reports due & interviews for music teaching jobs upcoming.  God willing, I’ll be around to chat on the long weekend…

TZ.