My superintendent and both principals (I'm in a small school) keep discipline and back the teachers. They are not afraid of parents or students. They have been in our district for a number of years, with the superintendent going into year 20, which is highly unusual.
Our kids are pretty well behaved with maybe a handful of "knuckleheads." It's not because our town is anything special or great. It's because we expect our kids to do what they are supposed to do, or else. Maybe others don't have this situation and maybe their admin. cowers in fear over lawyers or parents. We just don't put up with it and it makes the teaching environment more productive and enjoyable. Our attrition is more due to retirements than to teachers quitting.
I have been an assistant director in a large school and I have been a head director with a staff. I am now in a 2A school as the lone director and enjoy it. It's a lot of work with teaching band and some elementary music classes, but for me it's worth it to not have to deal with drama. I don't have to worry about hurt feelings, undermining as a head director or being pushed around as an assistant. I was asked by the superintendent if I would like an assistant since we moved up to 2A and I said thanks but no thanks. So, he decided to give me a raise, instead.
I frequently read these types of posts on the Yellowboard and I hear these stories from directors in person. It confirms my decision to continue to teach alone and avoid all the hassles.
Our program does fine and we still make sweepstakes even though we moved up in classification. I have a very active band boosters and they fill in the gaps for the band when we need grunt work done at football games or contest. No, I'll just keep going at it alone because it works in my situation. If we ever move up to 3A or 4A and I can no longer do it alone, I'll just change schools or retire.
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