Thursday January 18, 2001
The last two days have been the most tumultuous since I have been at Sunnyland. I'm just now sitting down to recount the last two days because things have been just so damn weird.

Wednesday morning the department meeting started off strangely. The principal chaired the meeting and stated that he was upset at the department's failure to produce anything on paper for black history month, which is coming up in February. The department head said she had been told that we could not show any videos or have any assemblies because of the upcoming competency testing. It seemed as if she was saying that if we can not do these things, then what is the point of doing anything, including putting something in writing. The principal got real pissed off and started telling her that if her department wasn't going to do anything, then the department as a whole needs to say so, but that he needed something in writing by the end of the day. He said that nothing had been submitted to him in writing, so it was impossible to determine exactly what the department wanted to do.

The department head, sulked in her chair and we all were kind of left wondering just what the fuck that whole thing was about. My take on it was that he was just asking for some documentation so that he could possibly have information in his files in case the district or whoever was above him came to investigate about what his school was doing to celebrate black history month. At this point, some of us approached the department head and asked how we should proceed. The department head continued her mantra: 'They already told us what we can't do, so why should we put it in writing.' I asked the department head if she wasn't going to put anything in writing, if it would be appropriate if someone else did. She said, 'do it for yourself, 'cause I'm not doing nothing!'

So I did. At first, I thought that this may have been a mistake, but in retrospect, I think I did the right thing.

My thoughts were that if this was just about the department head, the principal would have spoken to her personally. However, because he addressed us as a group, I felt that he was making us all accountable for her failure to put something in writing.

I went to my room and banged out a kick ass memo in 10 minutes chronicling the events in both the past and future that our department had proposed for black history month. Among other things, I asserted that black history must be taught across the curriculum, as the district mandates, and that it be taught year long, not just in February. I did not sign the memo, but titled it as 'Social Studies Department Role in Promoting Black History Month.' After consulting with a few other departmental colleagues, I went to the department head.

I brought the memo with me and again asked her if we should write anything. She again asserted that she would not be doing anything. At that point I said that I had developed a memo which she could turn in for us, if she wanted to that would cover all of our asses. She looked at the memo and said, 'I think you are trying to kiss the principal's ass.'

If anything was true, I was trying to kiss the department heads ass and do her a favor and bail her ass out. But when she called me an ass kisser, it kind of pissed me off. I said to her that I was not trying to offend her but help all of us out. She again told me her thoughts. I took the memo back from her and she told me that if I wanted to turn it in for myself, then I should do that.

After conferring again with my grade level colleagues in the department, I decided to turn it in without my signature but as a document supporting at least my grade level's involvement with Black History month. Prior to submitting it, I consulted with the AP of Curriculum who hired me. After evaluating what I had to say, the AP told me that the department head was a total bitch and that I was doing the right thing.

I heard no response that afternoon from anyone.

This morning, one of my colleagues from the department stops me in the hallway and tells me that the principal asks her yesterday about what her impressions were from the meeting. She tells him that she understands the need for documentation and that other department members tried to work with the department head, but she refused to do anything but whine. She then tells him that one member of the department, whom she will not name took it upon himself to document something on behalf of the whole department but that this person's effort was rejected by the department chair. She concludes her conversation by telling him that this document is the one that now, instead, represents her grade level's contribution to this request.

The AP of Curriculum walks up and hears most of this conversation and says, 'I didn't give the principal the memo yesterday because he left early. I will give it to him today. You all are fine and did exactly what he wanted you to.'

Later, I am walking down the hallway, the principal stops me and wants to know what I am doing to my kids in the classroom. I pause and hesistate to hear what he has to say. He says that kids are coming to him all the time and telling him what a great teacher I am and that he is very happy with my work. He then tells me that he needs to reconsider the school's formula for selecting teacher of the year because I am his candidate. I am pretty much shocked and do not know what to say about all of this. Then he tells me that he wont be visiting my room to observe me because he knows I've been doing my job and says that at the end of the year, I should just visit his office and sign the observation form. I thank him and go off to see the AP for Curriculum to quiz her about my encounter. She tells me that she gave him the memo and that he was pretty stoked to get it.

What a strange day.

I know that for sure, I have probably pissed off the department head. However, if she wasn't such a bitch, this whole thing could have been resolved. My wife tells me that she is not sure why I took it upon myself to throw myself in the middle of this thing, and asks me to reconsider some of the thoughts in my journal from the beginning of the year about avoiding conflict. After reflection, I believe that the only answer that I can give is that if my competence is being challenged as a member of the department, and those who are supposed to lead refuse, then I have to cover my own ass.

Friday January 19, 2001
Today the kids had a show and tell day where they brought in items that had historical significance. They were to present their items and then let other kids ask them questions. Most of the presentations were outstanding, but here is one that didn't quite make the grade:

'This is my fitty-cent piece, and it has some President on it'
'Which President?'
'Some dude.'
'Where did you find it?'
'On the bus this morning.'
'What are you going to do with it?'
'Buy me a Snickers'

Then the kid asked me what his grade was…