The case for Mrs. Tingle

There is a vast difference between teachers (and for that matter bosses) that are tough in the challenging but wanting you to succeed ways, and those that are ruthless, cruel, and hurtful to their pupils and colleagues. Mrs. Tingle is one such example of the latter. Yes, she deserved what she got ultimately. Though I would not have actually done anything close to what the students did by physically assaulting and torturing her, I would complain to the administration for sure and possibly make a case with the school board. Mrs. Tingle and real life examples of her have probably had numerous complaints about them over the years, and probably even been documented at least once. I know they think they can win by getting people on their side and even trying to make a case in court if need be. But if the number of run-ins with other keeps growing, something has to be done. It usually starts with re-assignment, and when that fails it leads to suspension pending termination. If the teacher is tenured, they may be able to be relegated into another position and be "waited out" until retirement. Not always the case, but I've seen it happen.

I have had a few bosses that are difficult, and some that have not liked me simply because I am different and think outside the box. I have had good and halfway decent bosses on the flip side. As far as teachers, I have had many good and great ones, a few mediocre ones, some bad ones, and one really horrible mean one. In fact, she reminds me of Mrs. Tingle though knocked down a few pegs about it and always found someone to scapegoat that she did not like for whaever reason. She ended up moving into a non-teaching position in the school district a few later, followed by being promoted more than once and then retiring only to teach at a university for a few years before finally retiring for good. In my opinion, she retired a long time ago. A perfect example of how those who can do, and those who can't teach.

In order to stay relevant here, I also make the case of a few bosses my mother had in the big business industry, including one really horrible (dare I say sociopathic) one. He did not like women for one thing, and he resented the fact that she worked hard and was in such a high position. He was determined he was going to do whatever it took to make her life miserable and looked for reasons to get rid of her. I thought one year with a really horrible teacher or a year or two with a bad boss was awful. She had this guy for a boss for eight years! Yes, eight of her seventeen years with the company! She was miserable, and ended up retiring early because she could not take it anymore. He moved into a management position in another area of the company, and then eventually retired and went to teach at a university full-time and several colleges part-time.

My point is that sooner or later, what goes around comes around!

Life.is indeed unfair. That is not an excuse for following its example.