question for educators?

Question

ok i work in a school, but i am a custodian. I have noticed an overwhleming snottyness and rudeness form the teachers, principals and administrators. Why are they so rude when they are no better than me they just have a better job? how do they get so full of themselves. If you are an " educator" Please fill me in !

Answer 1

I am a teacher and I apologize for the treatment you receive--it is unforgivable. While I don't know exactly what it is about some teachers that make them feel so superior, I have some theories. For one, I think teachers do get on their high horse and feel pretty important because of their educations and training. I think mostly it's because they are "kings or queens" in their own classrooms with their students and they allow this feeling of control to spill over into their communication and conduct with other adults. It takes EVERYONE in a school to make it successful and a good learning environment for kids. Everyone from the principal to the custodian to the principal's secretary to the cafeteria workers to campus supervisors contribute to the culture of a school. I am soooooo thankful to the wonderful custodians who care for my classroom. I know it is hard work (I teach high school and I know what kind of messes kids try to make). They don';t have a "better" job--they simply have a DIFFERENT job. I know it would be way more meaningful for you to hear this from the people with whom you work, but thank you for all you do.

Answer 2

In the school where I work all of the teaching staff and administration have good relationships with the custodians. We make sure that we don't do things, like eat in the carpeted classrooms, so the custodians do not have more work. Everyone is on a first name basis and even say hello when we're at the local store. I don't know what's going on with your district, but if you feel you are being slighted, bring it up with your superintendant.

Answer 3

You poor person.

I basically work in a nursing home, and most of the care staff there- barely above minimum wage and doing pretty low-level stuff themselves- feel about the same way.

Custodians are viewed as being basically unskilled, uneducated people who would get a better job if they could.

Having been a custodian, I know this is a typical stereotype- often not true, but true often enough to keep it going.

Pretty much anywhere you work, the relationship between the 'core' staff and the support people- custodians, groundskeepers, etc.- is usually that the core are the stars, the reason for the company's existence, etc. and the rest of us are just here to let them do their job.

In the same vein, white collar workers ALWAYS think they are better than blue collar workers.

Answer 4

I have taught at three different schools, and every school I worked at the administration went out of their way to praise the custodial staff. They were included in many activities, banquets, honors, etc.

In fact, I think at two of my schools the custodial staff got MORE kudos from the administration than the teachers!

I suggest finding a different school to work at...I'm sure you will have a better experience. That school must be filled with some real snooties. I'm sorry you are having that experience, you really shouldn't be!!

Answer 5

i am so sorry that your are being treated this way...and although i agree that teachers are usually very stressed, that's no excuse. I have worked at three different schools, and at each the relationship between classified and certificated staff has been a good one.
at the school where i now teach, the teachers love our custodian so much that the student have picked up on it and now see him as a hero. whenever anything goes wrong in or out of the room, they tell me i should go get "Mr. Andy" because "he can fix anything."

i hope that in the furture you can find a school where you are appreciated for the work you do.

Answer 6

I think it is the culture of your school environment. I am a teacher who is completing my administrative internship, and we treat our custodian with the utmost of respect, because the way I see it - the school is our community... everyone plays an important role in educating the children... your role is just as important and you never know when one of the students will seek you out for advice...

I talk to my custodian everyday... I think it is unfair that you have to suffer rudeness from your staff members...

Answer 7

My wife is an educator. She has to deal with so much BS, that being nice is the last thing on her mind. She comes home in the worst moods alot of the time, just so she can prepare her lessons and grade papers for the next f'd day. I always thought teachers had the easiest jobs for the amout of money they get paid. Now, I think that you could double their salarys and it still wouldn't be worth the job. Please keep in mind that my wife treats everyone with respect including the custodians.

Answer 8

How sad and small minded of them, and what ignorant behavior they are modeling for their students.
I remember one school where I was teaching, getting to know the Custodian, he was literally a genius.
He overheard me answering a kid in the hallway re. an electricity question, and he felt free to pipe in with an awesome & highly educated elaboration of my answer.
After the child left, I asked him re. his background & why he wasn't teaching.
He had a Doctorate but when he tried teaching, he ended up with a nervous breakdown, which caused him the loss of his job and his marraige as well.
The work he was doing was as close as he felt comfortable being near to teaching. He thought about the possibility of returning to it eventually, and with a different age group.
I often wonder what happened with him, he was a brilliant man.
Anyway, to answer your question, those staff that are condescending have insecurities/ignorance that is inexcusable.
The worst teachers are those who have decided to take this position instead of being lifelong learners. These attitdes short change everyone.

Answer 9

I'm a teacher and I LOVE my janitor. At the end of each day I make sure all of the seats are up on the desks so that it's easier for him to clean. I love the little things, such as when he changes the garbage liners of the trash cans. I don't know what's wrong with your teachers, but at a school, we all need each other to keep everything running smoothly.

Answer 10

My guess is that they are ultra stressed about the fact that they have an impossible job to do and most of them hate it after three years. This leads to a hostile and unfriendly work environment.