Teacher's daring response when principal asks to teach extra classes inspires mass resignation

Teaching is one of the most stressful professions, with educators constantly juggling unruly students and administrative pressures. This particular teacher, who shared his story on Reddit, refused to be overwhelmed. With a major in History and Education and six years of teaching experience, his challenges began at his current school of the past two years. He shared, "The principal told me to instruct courses I was not trained to teach or look for another job, so I did!"

In the middle of an intense lecture, the teacher was "ambushed" by the principal and administrative staff to ask him to teach IB classes the following year. "These classes are intense, requiring what some teachers have said to be the time equivalent of a part-time job for them to plan and prepare," the teacher explained. There weren't any additional pay benefits for him and it was also not a part of his contract. The teacher then gave a brief context about the school's practices of striving to earn the "elite IB school" status while ignoring the children who needed special attention. The teacher tried to bring a change by using alternate teaching methods to help the low-performing students, but the principal "shot down" his idea.

Unsure about the added 15 hours per week this new responsibility entailed, the teacher discussed it with his wife. "The next week, I scheduled a meeting with the principal. I told him I was unprepared to teach the IB course this year, but if he would give me this year to prepare the additional materials and create a curriculum, I would be good to go for the next," said the teacher. But the principal replied, "No, teach this course next year or look for another job." The teacher also tried to convince the principal that he was doing his Ph.D in History, which might help him teach college classes for students who wish to jump credit.

The principal dismissed all his attempts to reason. As the principal said, "None of the additional education you have taken since you started working here benefits the school at all. No one cares." The teacher wrote, "I love teaching. All the additional work, time and effort spent away from my family has been to be a better teacher. A better example for my students." To relieve stress, the teacher took a day off and spent time with his family. Also, he realized that other teachers were against the school management's unfair practices. "I decided I was done. I wrote the principal an outstanding resignation letter, full of positivity and thanked him for the wonderful opportunity to work at his school and to have learned from his 'outstanding' example of leadership," he mentioned.

In a hilarious twist, the teacher learned that after he quit, five other teachers resigned. Now, the principal had to appear before the School Board to explain this mass resignation. People rallied around the teacher's decision. "Keep your head up, man. You sound like the type of person who should be a teacher, and your principal sounds horrible," reassured u/Manawah. "You seem like an excellent educator and person," lauded u/MotherOfCats9258. "Thank you for being awesome and legendary. I don't know how these types of people keep getting into leadership. It is not their position or power that leads people. It is their actions and attitude. People don't quit jobs but leaders," added u/LinuxMar.

This article originally appeared 3 months ago.