Changing principals was a very difficult transition for me during my 29 years teaching elementary school. One of my most loved principals died of cancer, followed by a principal who had just finished her Masters in Administration. It appeared to me that she was hired to clean house by the Central Office. She came in with an attitude, and after her first year most of our older teachers resigned. I finally crawled into my classroom hole and hibernated until she finally left for a year of study, and was replaced. The next principal was a really great administrator who supported us and was fair and balanced with everyone.
Snow Queen brings winter
Hibernate ‘till summer comes
Snow melts in sunshine
************
Relationships strain
An attitude adjustment
helped me through the heat
************
Today Merril, at d’Verse, asked us to write a Haibun sharing a transition we have experienced. Looking back, I am amazed I survived those years.
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Photo of cake from my retirement party: Dwight L. Roth
you were resilient and steadfast in your role. teachers are so valuable to society and community, they don’t get enough credit. i always wondered principals were so hard and mean
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Thank you Gina. I had to survive and support a family. Quitting was not an option for me. Principals always seem to be taught to keep their distance from their teachers.
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a lot like managers then, but I have worked with some who can balance things better than others. yes we come from that generation, work though it was hard, we went and made the best of life and what it offered us.
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Many of the younger generation tend to move on quickly when things get difficult, rather than hanging in and learning from the experience.
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that is true, things come to easy to them too that there is no character building.
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That is the best one can do when bosses change – hide out and hope for the best.
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The sun always comes out after winter passes!
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I wish I could hibernate through some stuff. True if our attitude is right, it changes everything.
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Hibernation does not work for everyone. Look at the birds… they migrate instead!
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That is food for thought!
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I like the rewrite!
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Thank you Mary… More authentic haiku!
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This makes me think of Mr. Holland’s Opus. Olympia Dukasis retired and William H. Macy takes her spot, set on cutting the arts. You should watch it if you haven’t.
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One of my very favorite movies! Thanks Amaya!
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My pragmatist dad rolled his eyes at the end, “That’s not a symphony, it’s barely an overture!”
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I think he missed the point!!
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Right! lol
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I have seen my shares of terrible bosses and managers and just rode with the tide until they got replaced or transferred. I thought hibernating was a good strategy Dwight. Love also the photo of your retirement cake.
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Thanks Grace. It is a stressful time. Makes one take a look at him/herself as well. The cake was delicious! :>)
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I may have to change my haiku!! You gave me an idea!
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I rewrote the haiku …
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I like the imagery of your first haiku, and how it continues your theme of hibernation and waiting for spring (or till things are better.) My husband retired from teaching high school math after 37 years. He saw his share of bad administrators–not necessarily the principal. Our younger daughter teaches 8th grade English, and she has a totally ineffectual principal. This year there are changes–she has a new supervisor and a new superintendent.
The cake looks yummy! 🙂
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Oh yes —- I recognize and identify with this one. The changing of a boss can result in so much turmoil. For some it is a transition (I’ve been there); for some, it’s a waiting game as you describe here (been there too); and for some, it’s simply a time to get the hell out of there. Excuse my language. I’ve been there too.
Great take on the prompt!
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Thanks Lillian! Wisdom and experience help in making these choices!
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Administration makes or breaks their team. Here in Ontario, they rotate admin every 3-5 years. Can relate to your story.
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You are right. Their attitude changes how we feel about going to work every day!
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Nice line: “Snow melts in sunshine”
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Thanks Frank! It was like a breath of fresh air!
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Those two haikus wrapped up this haibun so well. Snow queen is epic metaphor.
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Thank you so much! She definitely was that for me!
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Amazing!
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Oh, we’ve all had them at one time or another Dwight. And yes, I think we learn from those difficult experiences/people. One of mine that stands out for me was a VP of Human Resources- talk about ironic. It got a bit better when I was promoted to a VP, but still….
I love the snow queen reference too.
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Thanks Linda. She really thought she was….
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Oh, glad that you made it through the reign of the snow queen. Hibernation/keeping a low profile is perhaps the best thing one can do in such a scenario. Well penned!
-HA
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Thank you very much for reading!
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There are times when you just have to hold on and wait… sooner or later they will either mellow or move.
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Yes, hopefully sooner than later!
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Some people just need to demonstrate their control over other, which is so hard to understand, but you’ve told it well, Dwight.
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Thanks Ken!
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Ah yes, those attitude adjustments are a great thing. When we encounter what we can’t change, we CAN change the way we react to it. Your story certainly bears that out. Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, but not always easy to do!
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Thank You!
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