Yesterday's meeting

I didn't go in the end. I was so tired I had to go to bed instead. However, it seems that the meeting went well. The head is having a hard time getting to grips with the idea that she intimidates people, but she may (and I only say 'may') be getting the hint!

Apparently, when the lower school teachers got to the statement in the grievance about the intimidation, the head warned everyone in no uncertain terms that they had better reconsider the word 'intimidate'. She thought that it was rather strong. Then she asked for examples of intimidation. The teachers were all so intimidated by her statement, that for a few moments no one spoke. Then someone had the courage to point out the the staff felt so intimidated that no one had wanted to act as spokesperson. That was why everyone had come instead of just a few. Furthermore, at that very moment they were all feeling intimidated and for that reason no one had spoken initially. That opened the floodgates.

There's another meeting next Tuesday after she has had time to consider the matter. Frankly, I don't trust her and I don't think that the lower school should let down their guard.

Now tomorrow there is another meeting. When the management committee realized how bad the results of the staff survey were last year, they suggested (in an intimidating manner probably) that we set up committees to discuss three of the most serious areas - work and life balance/appreciation by those above of what we do/pay and benefits. This was reduced to first two since admin decided that really only they could deal with pay and benefits. So we met (after school of course - which really helped with our work/life balance!!) and decided to only have one committee. We surveyed the staff, had lots of discussions and finally came up with a list of suggestions to deal with work/life balance and appreciation issues. At a now infamous meeting, all of our suggestions were deemed impossible. So this Thursday, we get to discuss the situation all over again. Nothing has changed. All the things that need to change are still unchanged. However, no one in admin can see that they need to compromise for us all to move forward. It could be funny. Someone has suggested a sit-com but no one would believe it.