A big update!
I think it is time for a big update! Because... well, the last few weeks were incredibly eventful and it is now time to write them down and share them with you. Bring you up to date with my life!
But where do I start? Maybe back in April, when my parents came to visit. This is about the time when things started to get "funny" and my life started to change.
Since February I knew about job openings at the International School of Modena. I liked the school, and had been working very closely together with the principal, Jane, on a network of Italian PYP (primary years programme) schools. We had met in March for the last time (or early April... not sure now) and arranged a date for the first official network meeting to take place. At that point I knew that Jane would have loved me to fill one of the open positions at her school. But I wasn't so ready for it yet. At the same time, things started to get messy at my school, too. My boss was having a go at all staff, not me, but the other teachers. She literally treated them like shit, and it just got worse all the time.
As my parents visited over the Easter break, my pay did not come in. It was not in before the break, and it did not arrive during the break. Usually our wages are in our accounts by the 7th of the month. But it was the 13th of April when they finally arrived. It had made me very angry, as I had to rely on my parents to pay for a lot of stuff for me while they were around. What a bad thing to happen! Not only that, I was also considering the bad behaviour my boss (who is the director/owner and head of the school) and how this might eventually hit me. I started to consider Modena more seriously. After all, it is an amazing school, an IB world school at that. I got emails from Jane saying "I would hire you in a heartbeat" and "I will make you an awesome workshop leader". I was torn!
Fast forward a few weeks and I had a meeting with Donna, the PYP coordinator at IS Bologna. We had a fun Saturday, worked on the school's programme of inquiry (our academic programme framework) and really got on well. Just, she had bad things to say about the International Baccalaureate in Europe, and Jane, and the network meeting. It was a week later that my boss informed me that we would not be participating in the network meeting! I was unhappy, angry and sad, I felt as though I was not valued and that a kindergarten game was being played. This is the time I decided to go for the job in Modena. At the same time, again, things got worse at school... the director, her name is Wendy (Wendy Ann Fish that is, and the school in question is Westminster International School) was being nasty to one member of staff in particular, and I was feeling her paranoia (I could be leaving! Ha!) and anger as well.
Towards the end of the school year things got worse. As the PYP coordinator, I got to hear things like "How come all other coordinators I know work day and night, and are at school until 9 pm every day, and you are not?" when we had NOTHING left to do. I had even prepared all the documents for the upcoming school year! Then she had called the hospital about an appointment I had OUTSIDE of school hours. She started to call my landlady, she crossed every possible line! At this point it was decided that I would start at IS Modena.
I had decided not to tell Wendy though. I knew that if I did, she would treat me very badly, and withhold my pay. I was aware of that scheme from previous teachers. All other teachers, we were 5 classroom teachers, were also leaving.
We finally made it to the end, and the last day of school was spent at a pizzeria in the mountains. It was enjoyable, but also sad, because I knew it was the last day with my kids from my class. Usually we were to spend 2 weeks in school after this, but I was doubtful. We left the mountains to go back to school, I got off in Lucca (the first stop) and the other teachers in Pisa. When they left, they asked Wendy about the following weeks. Her reply was "School is closed, and you will receive a letter." We didn't know what to make of it, so later on that day I skyped her and she said "I will call you this weekend.". Then, as she had not replied by Sunday night, I texted her again and her reply was "School is closed, there is a letter in the mail and we need to have a meeting next week".
This is where I should cut the long story short. She fired us all prematurely. Contracts to terminate by July 9th (contracts run until July 31st and a bonus pay for August). She called me the following Monday to tell me she wants me to stay (sign an Italian contract) and at the same time accusing me of being a liar. I remained indifferent, wanted to meet her. Tuesday morning she showed up at my house, without warning, to speak to me. I did not open the door, I think coming to my house is crossing the line BIG time. Then she called me to set up a meeting for Wednesday. That was then canceled. By then she canceled my access to school email and other work-related log-ins.
All of us teachers have since started a campaign to inform parents about this unfair dismissal. Which is, by the way, unlawful, as school is closed and teachers cannot be fired during school closure.
We have also been in touch with lawyers and will take legal action.
What happened to me since then. The first week was hell. Then I decided to leave Italy by Wednesday (23rd). Things got better. I packed up, left boxes with friends. I arranged an appointment with the real estate agent of the IS Modena for Wednesday. Left Pisa on Tuesday, went to Modena, went to see the school, explored the city of Formigine (the school is in Montale, about 20 min from Modena, 10 min from Formigine) and on Wendesday saw some apartments (9 alltogether) in Modena and Formigine. I signed a contract for one of them!
Now, back in Germany, I feel so much more relaxed. I have a battle still to fight, but there are 5 of us, and we can do it!
Just now it is nice to be here, away from the stress, and knowing I will be in a better school, with extremely nice staff in September!
Thanks for listening! Now you are more up-to-date!
But where do I start? Maybe back in April, when my parents came to visit. This is about the time when things started to get "funny" and my life started to change.
Since February I knew about job openings at the International School of Modena. I liked the school, and had been working very closely together with the principal, Jane, on a network of Italian PYP (primary years programme) schools. We had met in March for the last time (or early April... not sure now) and arranged a date for the first official network meeting to take place. At that point I knew that Jane would have loved me to fill one of the open positions at her school. But I wasn't so ready for it yet. At the same time, things started to get messy at my school, too. My boss was having a go at all staff, not me, but the other teachers. She literally treated them like shit, and it just got worse all the time.
As my parents visited over the Easter break, my pay did not come in. It was not in before the break, and it did not arrive during the break. Usually our wages are in our accounts by the 7th of the month. But it was the 13th of April when they finally arrived. It had made me very angry, as I had to rely on my parents to pay for a lot of stuff for me while they were around. What a bad thing to happen! Not only that, I was also considering the bad behaviour my boss (who is the director/owner and head of the school) and how this might eventually hit me. I started to consider Modena more seriously. After all, it is an amazing school, an IB world school at that. I got emails from Jane saying "I would hire you in a heartbeat" and "I will make you an awesome workshop leader". I was torn!
Fast forward a few weeks and I had a meeting with Donna, the PYP coordinator at IS Bologna. We had a fun Saturday, worked on the school's programme of inquiry (our academic programme framework) and really got on well. Just, she had bad things to say about the International Baccalaureate in Europe, and Jane, and the network meeting. It was a week later that my boss informed me that we would not be participating in the network meeting! I was unhappy, angry and sad, I felt as though I was not valued and that a kindergarten game was being played. This is the time I decided to go for the job in Modena. At the same time, again, things got worse at school... the director, her name is Wendy (Wendy Ann Fish that is, and the school in question is Westminster International School) was being nasty to one member of staff in particular, and I was feeling her paranoia (I could be leaving! Ha!) and anger as well.
Towards the end of the school year things got worse. As the PYP coordinator, I got to hear things like "How come all other coordinators I know work day and night, and are at school until 9 pm every day, and you are not?" when we had NOTHING left to do. I had even prepared all the documents for the upcoming school year! Then she had called the hospital about an appointment I had OUTSIDE of school hours. She started to call my landlady, she crossed every possible line! At this point it was decided that I would start at IS Modena.
I had decided not to tell Wendy though. I knew that if I did, she would treat me very badly, and withhold my pay. I was aware of that scheme from previous teachers. All other teachers, we were 5 classroom teachers, were also leaving.
We finally made it to the end, and the last day of school was spent at a pizzeria in the mountains. It was enjoyable, but also sad, because I knew it was the last day with my kids from my class. Usually we were to spend 2 weeks in school after this, but I was doubtful. We left the mountains to go back to school, I got off in Lucca (the first stop) and the other teachers in Pisa. When they left, they asked Wendy about the following weeks. Her reply was "School is closed, and you will receive a letter." We didn't know what to make of it, so later on that day I skyped her and she said "I will call you this weekend.". Then, as she had not replied by Sunday night, I texted her again and her reply was "School is closed, there is a letter in the mail and we need to have a meeting next week".
This is where I should cut the long story short. She fired us all prematurely. Contracts to terminate by July 9th (contracts run until July 31st and a bonus pay for August). She called me the following Monday to tell me she wants me to stay (sign an Italian contract) and at the same time accusing me of being a liar. I remained indifferent, wanted to meet her. Tuesday morning she showed up at my house, without warning, to speak to me. I did not open the door, I think coming to my house is crossing the line BIG time. Then she called me to set up a meeting for Wednesday. That was then canceled. By then she canceled my access to school email and other work-related log-ins.
All of us teachers have since started a campaign to inform parents about this unfair dismissal. Which is, by the way, unlawful, as school is closed and teachers cannot be fired during school closure.
We have also been in touch with lawyers and will take legal action.
What happened to me since then. The first week was hell. Then I decided to leave Italy by Wednesday (23rd). Things got better. I packed up, left boxes with friends. I arranged an appointment with the real estate agent of the IS Modena for Wednesday. Left Pisa on Tuesday, went to Modena, went to see the school, explored the city of Formigine (the school is in Montale, about 20 min from Modena, 10 min from Formigine) and on Wendesday saw some apartments (9 alltogether) in Modena and Formigine. I signed a contract for one of them!
Now, back in Germany, I feel so much more relaxed. I have a battle still to fight, but there are 5 of us, and we can do it!
Just now it is nice to be here, away from the stress, and knowing I will be in a better school, with extremely nice staff in September!
Thanks for listening! Now you are more up-to-date!