BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Hi everyone,

I teach 5th grade in NC, but since I injured my back, I've been out on disability.

My principal asked me if I would come in to help my new perm. sub get set in my room. The only reason he asked me to do this is because I won a "21st Century Classroom" contest and have $15,000 worth of equipment in my room that she needed to know how to use. Ok, fine. So I went in there this afternoon.

I was only there for 2 weeks at the beginning of the year, but I worked DAMNED hard to get my room looking perfect. I walked in, and NOTHING was as I had left it.

She had taken down all of my bulletin boards, completely REARRANGED my classroom library, moved my bookcases, my desk, the children's desks and computer tables. Get this: She even REMOVED the name tags that I had made for my kids and replaced them with ones that SHE had made.

I LOST IT. I actually went outside the room, looked at the nametag, came back in and said "Funny, my name is on the door, but this is definitely not the classroom that I left".

My DH spent SIX HOURS during one of my workdays setting up all the technology so that it all ran through my computer. There was even a spot for my laptop so that every day, I had a big clump of wires that I just had to hook into all the ports. ALL of them were disconnected. I looked at her and said "Well, I came here to help you learn how to use this stuff, but my husband spent 6 hours setting it all up, and now it's disconnected. Sorry, there isn't much I can do with it now".

I am LIVID. I would NOT care if I were going to be out for the rest of the year, but this is still MY classroom, and one that I have to work in again come February. And we KNOW that she's not going to put things back the way she found them.

Would you be as angry as I am right now???

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Hmm...

I don't know. I would probably be mad too.

But I guess I'd also think that someone else is essentially teaching for MOREthan half of the school year and they should feel comfortable too. What might have been accessible and sensical to you might not have worked for her/him. You know?

Don't let it stress you too much. COncentrate on getting healthy and strong!!!

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

I would be beyond angry!! She has some nerve!
sorry she did this to YOUR classroom.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

No, sorry, that is not cool of her!!!

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Oh yes, I would be extremely angry. What was her response to your reaction?

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

I would be upset too. I can understand the excitement of being in the same classroom for 4 months but changing name tags that you already made is a bit ridiculous. Changing the students' desks is ok because it's an easy fix when you get back but all that work that your husband did! Try not to think about it. I'm also curious to know how she reacted.

Message edited 10/9/2008 8:40:15 PM.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Posted by SupaBonBon

Hmm...

I don't know. I would probably be mad too.

But I guess I'd also think that someone else is essentially teaching for MOREthan half of the school year and they should feel comfortable too. What might have been accessible and sensical to you might not have worked for her/him. You know?

Don't let it stress you too much. COncentrate on getting healthy and strong!!!

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Wow---thats all I can say...I could see that she would change some things if she were there the whole year, but being that you are going to be back...

So now what is happening with all that technology that you got? Is it not being used? And whats going to happen when you go back? You have to hook it all back up?

And changing the name tags---Im sorry, but that is REALLY ballsy.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

OMG I am disgusted FOR you. That sub has ALOT of nerve. Ugh I'm so sorry all your work went to waste like that.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

i have to be honest. i wouldn't be angry. a little irritated definitely, but not angry.

you won't be back for several months. this is now her classroom while you are away. it's hard being a leave replacement. if she's smart, she will put your things back the way they were when you come back for you. when are you coming back to work?

she has to feel comfortable where she works. it needs to work for her. i don't think losing it on her was the most professional thing KWIM?

i was a leave replacement 3 times. each time i changed the teacher's room around. and each time i changed it back when she came back except for one because i had the position until the end of the year and then someone new was taking over. i couldn't work in their rooms the way it was. i just couldn't.

i understand your frustration, but think about it that she's doing the best she can for your class in the only way she knows how.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Posted by browneyedgirl

i have to be honest. i wouldn't be angry. a little irritated definitely, but not angry.

you won't be back for several months. this is now her classroom while you are away. it's hard being a leave replacement. if she's smart, she will put your things back the way they were when you come back for you. when are you coming back to work?

she has to feel comfortable where she works. it needs to work for her. i don't think losing it on her was the most professional thing KWIM?

i was a leave replacement 3 times. each time i changed the teacher's room around. and each time i changed it back when she came back except for one because i had the position until the end of the year and then someone new was taking over. i couldn't work in their rooms the way it was. i just couldn't.

i understand your frustration, but think about it that she's doing the best she can for your class in the only way she knows how.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Posted by browneyedgirl

i have to be honest. i wouldn't be angry. a little irritated definitely, but not angry.

you won't be back for several months. this is now her classroom while you are away. it's hard being a leave replacement. if she's smart, she will put your things back the way they were when you come back for you. when are you coming back to work?

she has to feel comfortable where she works. it needs to work for her. i don't think losing it on her was the most professional thing KWIM?

i was a leave replacement 3 times. each time i changed the teacher's room around. and each time i changed it back when she came back except for one because i had the position until the end of the year and then someone new was taking over. i couldn't work in their rooms the way it was. i just couldn't.

i understand your frustration, but think about it that she's doing the best she can for your class in the only way she knows how.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

I think the leave has the right to change things...I don't see it as the teacher's personal room...it's a room for the teacher to use to best foster student learning.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Yes, I would be very annoyed, which may be in contrast to previous posters. It may not be your place to be annoyed, but I would be ******.

You have to go back in February, not May or June, so you still have a lot of time left in the school year. The name tag removal is ridiculous, and so are the bulletin boards. I know how us teachers can be very possessive about the organization of our classrooms. Also, you and DH did so much with the setting up of the computers--how could she just decide to unplug computer equipment without knowledge of its purpose?

However, the moving of the furniture is probably to suit her needs to best teach the class. Do you think maybe she is looking for a job in your school and wants to show how well she can handle the job?

When you go back, I can guarantee you, though, that you won't care in the slightest about the superficial stuff, because of your baby.

Slightly OT--I find it amazing that your HUSBAND was the one setting up the computers. Typical school BS.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Having had my own classroom, as well as being a long term leave replacement, I can see both sides here.

I'd def be mad about the complete changing around of the furniture (hopefully she'll put it back), and the messing with the technological equipment. But changing the nametags, bulletin boards isn't really that big of a deal- you had to figure they'd be changed by the time you returned in February!

Try not to stress to much!! Your Lil Girl inside you needs you to remain calm and not stress!! On top of that you have all your back issues to deal with- this is the last thing you need to worry about! Enjoy these next few months and try not to stress over the small shitt!!

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

I would def be angry...I would expect that she might change some small things, but not the whole classroom....I wouldn't expect a sub to do that....could she at least asked you or gotten permission from your principal.

I don't think I would rearrange someone else's classroom without asking...its just rude.

sorry Beth

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

She ABSOLUTELY does NOT have the right to move things around the room.

She is just teaching- not rearranging.
I would demand that she put things back before you go back in Feb....esp since you are out on disability and mostlikely wont be back at 100% when you go back to be moving things around.


Sounds like she is just getting her jollies out of being in a classroom and she's treating it like hers.


For those who said she should be able to move things to her liking- to an extent yes. Moving kids desks for behavior etc. but not removing good nametags just to put her own. that's ridiculous!

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

The nametag thing is weird- seems like a waste of time. The technology stuff would frustrate me beyond belief, but I would imagine she didn't know what she was doing.

Rearranging the room- eh, I don't think I'd care. I'd hope she put it back- and probably would have asked her to do so before I came back.

I know it's hard not to be territorial in your classroom, but in the interest of the kids, I would just let it go. You want her to be comfortable and teach to the best of her ability, as *you* will be judged on the performance of these kids come EOG time....so whatever she needs to do, I'd try my best to help.

Also, while it's not always easy to get a job in a strong district in NC, it is definitely *easier* than NY....as a result, we don't have as many highly qualified subs/leave replacements floating around as there are up North, so you have to also think about that. Honestly, I don't ever expect that much from a sub down here...that's why I HATE to be out!

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

I want to thank everyone for your responses.

I understand that the sub needs to do what she needs to do in terms of room arrangement. But to do it without asking first is just ballsy to me. I got in touch with her the very DAY she was hired to let her know I'd be coming in to help her understand all the new technology.

I will definitely be asking her to move things back before she leaves. The way I see it, there's no reason not to expect that, ESPECIALLY since I will be recovering from surgery. It's going to take her forever. She even took my guided reading 6-packs, which were alphabetized by author, off of those shelves and I don't know what the hell she did with them. I didn't see them. But she's going to have her work cut out for her because I feel it's her responsibility to leave things the way she found them.

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

Re: BEYOND angry--how would you react to this?

A friend of mine is in a similar situation and was very upset that everything was moved around. However, for her I think she was more personally hurt because it indicated that the classroom really wasn't hers anymore - that is until she returns.

I see both sides of the coin. I hope she returns the room as you left it, but I wouldn't waste anymore time thinking about it. You have much more important things on the horizon!