I'm back and want you thoughts on a dilemma...

July 5, 2004

OK guys I've got a problem... Last Friday the college president where I

work had me come in to " talk about some things " . When I arrived for the

meeting I was ushered into a conference room and in addition to the pres my

dept chair, the dean, and a person from human resources came in. I was

told my job analysis evaluation had come back and I had been found unfit

for the job. I was told I was to go on sick leave beginning in the fall

semester and, when my leave runs out, to take medical retirement. I was

told I should leave " while you still have some of your dignity intact " . I

was told that students had written that I talked in a monotone and that

they would skip class because my voice irritated them. I wasn't told how

many complaints there had been and interestingly enough I had a student ask

if I would be lecturing for one class and when I said yes she said that she

was pleased because my lectures were always so interesting. Mind you, the

speed is considered ok and I am still 100% intelligible but my tonal limits

were considered to be enough to get rid of me. The evaluator spent 20

minutes with me and an hour and a half with the chair. I know the chair

has lied about faculty being up in arms about my continued teaching and I'm

sure she made it sound as if I was totally ineffective. The evaluation

claims I am in denial about my ability to do the job but as I said she

talked to me for 20 min and did not see me teach and did not interview

anyone in the dept who has seen me teach. I have worked with this chair

for 20 years and she has never seen me teach. I called several folks I

trust and asked them to be brutally honest in their assessment of whether I

can be effective or not. All five said I am still able to communicate

adequately with one saying she was worried that I was " doing too much " and

another saying she was concerned for my safety if I fell. Two of these

folks have seen me teach within the past 3 months.

I am so put out that I have a 6 page EEOC complaint typed out. I think I

might be in good stead since I have not been counselled and will argue that

having a monotonal voice that is clear and loud does not keep me from being

able to lecture and to my knowledge able bodied faculty have not been

terminated for talking in a monotone. Anyway I am in a quandry as to

whether or not to fight this as I only planned to stay one more school

year. On the other hand I am loathe to let this high handed approach slide

by or to let a slip shod inaccurate evaluation stand. What do you think

you'd do in the same situation and why? P.S. for those of you who have

heard me speak my speech is just about the same as it was in San

Diego. That is not just my opinion but is also that of the MDA doc who

sees me. Lavon

Recommended Posts