donthaveanickname wrote:
I have gotten in trouble at work in my high school teaching job for swearing a couple of times in the past, and it has generally been, to my mind, something impulsive I said, rather than an intentional use. In any case, I knew I had done it as soon as I said it each time, and faced the consequences. I should say I have been in the position for 13 years, and this is something that has only come up periodically, and have only been formally addressed with it a couple of times in annual evaluations. What is concerning me now is that I have recently been accused of swearing at a staff member, and while I do not recall specifics, know that I did not direct anything at her specifically regardless, even though she took it that way and informed my boss, who is now conducting an investigation. I have been denying it because I did not recall doing it, and could not accept that I would swear AT a staff member, much less the mini-diatribe I had quoted back to me from the staff members report. But now I am not so sure (about the swearing, not about directing it at this person, as I did not); I know I have been under a lot of stress over not feeling very supported at work, and accommodations not being used appropriately in my view, and this person being one of the most frequent visitors, and I do recall I was irritated with this staff member entering my room and my saying... something... as they left/were leaving. Yes, I know. I probably DID say those awful things. Also other students have confirmed it with my boss. But they were not directed at her specifically, just the frustration of being interrupted and not respected (visits to my classroom by other staff for errand running are supposed to be limited to unavoidable circumstances, not just to drop something off to a student. At any rate, I would appreciate your thoughts, particularly if you have ever experienced anything like this before or have any advice. I may get another reprimand.. or worse. Anything?
I have a huge potty mouth, but you 1) work at a school with kids 2) women usually don't swear or use a lot of rough language at work.
My school let an aide go for using "damn" and "hell" with in ear shot of the kids. Do I think damn and hell is as bad as, "Would you leave me the f**k alone, and quit nagging me with your worthless BS.", nope, but my school see it all as the same.
You work with the public. You work with kids. There is nothing that will release the Krakken faster, than a parent who thinks there is a teacher swearing around kids. It doesn't matter if the parent or the kid has a toilet mouth. You need to learn to tone it down.
The other thing is swearing is considered creating a hostile work environment.
So you potentially have two things they can come gunning at you with -the swearing and the hostile work environment.
Do you have tenure?
Have a union rep?
This can get really ugly.
25 Oct 2014, 6:13 am
