tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28080901.post3228699829888816414..comments2024-03-20T08:37:50.011+00:00Comments on Bullying of Academics in Higher Education: The end of my teaching career...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28080901.post-14504119138364462622016-06-23T02:56:56.590+00:002016-06-23T02:56:56.590+00:00Yup, that sounds familiar.
Nearly 15 years ago, I...Yup, that sounds familiar.<br /><br />Nearly 15 years ago, I went through the same sort of thing. Both the department head and assistant DH were determined to get rid of me and were hoping that I would commit some unspeakable act in order to justify my sacking. This went on for years and even the last dean I answered to was in on the plot.<br /><br />When this first started, I took it up with the staff association president at the time. He kept hinting that I was at fault and that I was "in denial", whatever that meant. It wasn't until after his successor took over that I started putting the pieces together. I found material in my personnel file which had been illicitly submitted--illicit because I was left off the circulation list, thereby depriving me of my rightful opportunity to present a rebuttal.<br /><br />My adversaries claimed that I didn't respond to the allegations lodged against me and, thereby, agreed with what was stated. Of course, how could I respond when I didn't know what was written, let alone that anything had been had been said about me at all. In other words, they deliberately went against institutional regulations and, through that, could claim that my apparent silence was indeed consent.<br /><br />The proverbial hit the fan when I found out. Under the guidance of the new staff association president, I wrote a blistering response and sent a copy of it to the appropriate vice-president.<br /><br />I left on academic leave for 2 years to fulfill the residency requirement of my Ph. D. and complete my thesis. After my return, the attacks started again. I suspect that my comments caused some serious damage to the department head's career prospects and he was seeking revenge, while the assistant DH was determined to punish me for getting a doctorate that he himself would never have.<br /><br />Unfortunately, things had changed while I was away. The aforementioned vice-president was succeeded by someone who was simply there because she likely got a nice contract. The staff association president was ousted due to internal politics and her successor was an administration lapdog. The staff association itself had determined that I was a problem that had to be made to go away.<br /><br />At the end of my second year after my return, I bailed out. After looking at my investment portfolio, I decided that I had no reason to stay there. I resigned, which, I'm sure, irked my detractors. I not only chose when to leave, I dictated what the terms were. They would have preferred that I leave in disgrace after having committed some dishonourable act and I didn't grant the their wish.<br /><br />I left almost 14 years ago to the day. I don't miss it.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28080901.post-85515339927845203362016-06-22T18:59:09.501+00:002016-06-22T18:59:09.501+00:00Hello! I am sorry to say that this person's ac...Hello! I am sorry to say that this person's account of her bullying not only rings true, but is, in fact, a standard means of reigning in non-tenured faculty who have the NERVE to want not only social justice, but the ability to make a living (if only marginal) by teaching in the California Community College System. Rehire rights are a current theme that is being explored by the disenfranchised, and will probably keep most activist part timers busy, all the while their ability to earn a living and have some modicum of respect will go the way of the now-extinct DoDo Bird. Because of the laws/rules/regulations/union contracts and other constraining parameters, Part Timers are the "dirty little secret," of Higher Education, and are the ones on whose backs the other stakeholders are able to make for themselves VERY GOOD LIVINGS...very good, indeed...The shoddy treatment of part time faculty in the majority of locally controlled California Community College Districts stands as a rebuke to the Full Time Faculty Controlled Edu-Unions who claim to represent part time faculty fairly. How Much Longer, Part Timers? RBYoshioka, Ph.D.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199518199739830222noreply@blogger.com