I am in the mist of serious drama and I am beyond mad right now. For my master's thesis I am trying to prove that students will write more and be more creative when technology is involved. Back in December I asked the language arts teacher if I can get work samples from her. We share the same students so I was planning on comparing the work they do in her class vs the work they do in my class. She was cooperating fine with me a few weeks ago. She gave me some of their journals. Two weeks ago I asked for more. She said no problem. Yesterday, I sent her a friendly reminder about it. She wrote back to me that the vice principal will be in to discuss this with me. WTF?
So, the VP came into my room later on and I explained my thesis to her and what I need from my colleague. She seemed confused like she had never completed a thesis before. (I work in a Catholic school so maybe she never did.) She suggested that I do pen and paper writing with the students in my class. UM hello, I am a computer teacher...why would I do that? I told her that it is too late for that. That I am in the data anaysis section of my paper and I need the samples now. She said she may be able to give me a few but she would have to talk to the other teacher and get back to me.
At the end of the day as I was leaving the VP approached me and told me that this particular colleague told her that I have been talking bad about her behind her back (what are we in high school?!). This is completly false and I told my VP that. She said she won't give me the sample work because he is hurt by what I said and that I need to talk to this colleague tomorrow.
So today I went into her room and we talked. She was a complete bitch to me. She said the a student told her back in October that I said I hated her. This is a lie. I never said that and I told her this. She didn't believe me. She also said that a teacher told her last night that I was talking bad about her and this is why she won't give me samples of the student work. I explained to her that this is the only way that I will finish my master's degree and that I can't believe she is coming in the way of me writing my thesis. She said, "oh well." I told her that the only negative thing that I said was that I was surprised that I did not get an interview for her position because I have three years experience teaching middle school language arts, and that yes, I am jealous and bitter that she got the position. I told her I was sorry, but in no way did I ever say that I hated her or anything else negative about her as a person. (which is true!)
I went down to the principal, I explained everything to her. I was teary eyed while I was talking. I explained that I really need these work samples in order to write my thesis. I also explained that I never said anything bad about this person and that I do not want it to affect my job. I told her I love it here at this school and I want to return next year. I do not want this to affect me in a negative way. My principal said she will try to get me some samples and we will talk more later.
I'm sorry this is so long. I just really needed to vent. I hope you can give me some advice because I am so upset and can't believe this bullshit is happening to me.