Monday, March 13, 2006

Is this 1956 or 2006?

So I had quite the interesting meeting with my boss today over my evaluation. I basically told him he totally caught be off guard with a portion of my evaluation and that I'd like to know where it came from. Had I done something or said something that made him grade me that way? He said it was all based off of an isolated 2-3 weeks a couple weeks back. He said my emotions were getting involved in my job and he was concerned that my personal life was affecting my job.

It's true, my personal life is affecting my job, I won't lie, but what shocked me was that he was basing my entire school year off of a 2-3 week time period! I said to him, "Let's be frank...I was on hormone therapy. Of course I was emotional, that's a side effect of the drug." I also told him that I was offended that he would evaluate me in that way. I then further addressed the issue by reminding him of another teacher who had had a bad year last year...and coincidentally had the same kids I did. I told him I didn't think it was fair to grade me so lowly when it was such an isolated period of time.

He said he was willing to change the grade. But then....this is where I get realllllly riled up and pump my feminist fist in the air.....he said something to me that almost made me quit my job on the spot. As I was sitting there he said, "Maybe you need to consider substitute teaching next year. Nowadays we put so much stress on women in the workplace and ask them to be so productive that I think it prevents women from getting pregnant. I've told my own daughter the same thing. Maybe you need to take a year off if you really want to be a mom. Or maybe in August you need to decide that you're going to stop trying and make being a teacher your focus. Now I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your life. I think you're a good teacher and I don't have an hesitations about rehiring you, but this is something you should think about."

My mouth almost dropped. That's practically sexual discrimination! Telling me to either quit my job or quit trying to have a baby. I almost quit then and there. But I held my tongue. I think I'm just going to plan on taking a VERY long maternity leave next year if I have a baby.

3 comments:

Mamma Sarah said...

WOW. I can't believe the gaul of that man! Sorry he got you so riled up.

Sarah said...

WOW. I am almost speechless, I can't believe that he said that to you! Almost as unbelievable is the fact that a woman put up with him long enough to produce a daughter. Wow. I'm proud that you held your tongue though.

I'm glad that you went to him and disputed your ratings, and it's completely unfair of him to base his evaluation on such an isolated period of time. What a jackass.

Karen said...

Wow. That's all i can say