Page 87 - She's One Crazy Lady!

so pleasant and friendly, and a further Parent Governor, whose son was in my class, faced me and the two Union Reps. I was calm and relaxed. The Head openly said the matter was serious enough for me to be suspended! Not content with a simple warning – he wanted me suspended with immediate effect. On what grounds? This was getting to be even more farcical. He read out the derogatory notes other teachers (friends?) had submitted to him, together with the notes he had personally kept about me; notes, that I later read, that were damming and so critical of my teaching skills, my time management, and my relationship with the staff, to name but a few and the majority of these accusations were all new to me! This had to be a complete set up. Still, I had no opportunity to state my case, despite objections from the Union who fought for me, and saved me from being suspended. However, I was issued with a verbal warning that would stay on my record (my unblemished record) for at least a year. I was told the Head and I would need to plan regular meetings whereby we could work more closely together – ‘Moving Forward’ meetings they said.
Well, the only ‘Moving Forward’ meeting I felt willing to attend was an Appeal, as I was adamant that I was not the incompetent, ineffective Deputy Head or Teacher he was suggesting. He was wrong and I had to fight my own corner to ensure that this warning was quickly wiped off my otherwise exemplary record.
An Appeal was granted. In the interim period I bit my teeth and reluctantly attended several of his ‘Moving Forward’ meetings, knowing that whatever was suggested could never work as there was no trust whatsoever – on either side. It was sheer determination, to prove my innocence, that kept me going and I was so relieved when the Appeal date was set.
We met at the Education Authority’s headquarters in Northampton. By now, I was represented by a more senior representative from the Teacher’s Union, and we had the Chief Personnel Officer presiding over the meeting. The Head was to be accompanied by the Chair of Governors. They were late. When they did arrive, the Head, with eyes blazing, walked straight over to me, clenched his fist and put it under my chin, not touching it, his face close to mine coming out with words that will haunt me for ever:
“You take this further Hooper, and I’ll pound you into the ground.”
With that, he and the Chair of Governors left. They left! Why would they leave? Was he scared? The so-called Appeal never happened! I felt bewildered but remarkably calm. To break the silence, I turned to the Personnel Officer and asked:
“What do we do now?”
“We’ll give you two term’s salary, and you can quit teaching – resign”. Did I hear right? I almost swore, but politely told him – “No, oh no!” “You tell ME to quit teaching? ME? Me, when you witnessed that
man almost physically, and verbally, abuse me? ME? No. It’s him who should go.”
“We’ll give you two term’s salary, and you can quit teaching – resign”.
Did I hear right? I almost swore, but politely told him – “No, oh no!”
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