Teacher feels more competent than the principal

Q: This will come off as arrogant, probably, but hey, this is anonymous and I’m at the end of my rope. I’m a teacher, and I’m so frustrated about having to answer to a principal who doesn’t know much about teaching, but constantly tells us how to do our job anyway. He taught for less than three years more than 20 years ago, and the field has changed a lot since then, plus COVID-19 and virtual schooling have made his experience even less relevant. He hasn’t kept pace with the times and is locked into antiquated, punitive, authoritarian ideas about instruction. I’m worried I won’t be able to bite my tongue the next time he scolds or lectures me for being “soft” on kids. I’ve kept quiet for longer than I would have thought was humanly possible, but now my patience has evaporated. It’s hard enough teaching virtually, and his frequent suggestions and attempts at pep talks are driving me mad.

If I piled on the work the way he’s suggesting, parents would be livid and students would totally check out. Right now, it’s critical that they feel successful. That’s something I feel in my bones. For obvious reasons, they’re not in the best frame of mind, so this isn’t the time for over-the-top rigor or “letting them fail.” I want them to enjoy learning, not crumble under the pressure. My principal subscribes to the school of hard knocks, but to me, this is a time for warmth and connection and focusing on engagement. To him, it’s just as unforgivable now as it was before the quarantine for a kid to hand in an assignment a day late or to goof off during class. How can I tell him he has no idea how to do my job, without losing my job? If he doesn’t back off and leave me alone (and as an aside, this isn’t limited to me, many of us are at our wit’s end), I may lose it. OK, rant over. What do you think? Is this at all fixable?

A: Yes and no. Rule No. 1: You can’t change him or anyone else, but you can change how you interact with him, which might change his directives and his behavior toward you. First, recognize that you’re not at your peak. You’ve been working to reach students through new means for months at this point, and your tolerance for frustration likely is diminished. Take care of your own emotional needs before approaching your principal, whether that means getting extra sleep or talking to a supportive friend. That will decrease the odds that you’ll say something inflammatory, and you’re going to be far more likely to be able to teach your way if you don’t antagonize him.