Help - advice required!

PinkLipgloss

Dear All,

I would really appreciate some advice on this situation.

BACKGROUND

I'm currently teaching in a new international "school" attached to a very prestigious university. Unfortunately - the job did not at all match my expectations - or indeed the universities own expectations stipulated during the interview process. Basically, it's a joke. I won't bore you with the details.

Suffice to say the other foreign "teacher" is clueless - did not even complete her teacher training and the "director" fell into the role as she was already working at the university (in another role) and they couldn't find anyone else to take it.

I've been there for 6 months, and during that time I have done a lot of unpaid overtime to develop various important aspects of the school such as the curriculum, developmental goals etc - however nobody else is in the least bit interested in getting involved. The "director" said she appreciated my efforts and that we would discuss them at staff meetings (as I was keen to get other staff involved - their opinions, input etc) however this has never materialised.

One of the teachers openly admitted "I'm lazy, I'll go along with whatever."

Subsequently I handed in my notice, stating in a diplomatic fashion, that I could no longer work there due to X, Y, Z.

PROBLEM

The director has emailed me to say that she wishes to have lunch with me on my last day as a thank you me for all my hard work. However, she is probably the main reason I quit - she has no idea what she is doing and has been frustrating to work with.

The last thing I want to do is spend a lunch break in her company. However, my sister says I should do it in terms of maintaining friendliness and getting a reference.

Any advice? I was planning to say I would be too busy (working through my lunches) in order to organise my student records and filing etc for the handover. I find it extremely difficult to be "two faced" and the thought of it makes me feel very uncomfortable.

I should also maybe mention that my previous references are exemplary.

Dogger69

Be professional - go to lunch. This is not the time to be burning bridges.

I take it you have another job to go to?

PinkLipgloss

Thanks Dogger - I know you are right so I will go and be professional - it's not as if I'll have to put up with her much longer!

No, I don't have another job to go to. Fortunately my husband works in management and his salary covers our mortgage and all of our monthly outgoings. All of my salary has been going directly into savings.

I plan on taking some time out and focusing on looking after our son (2 years old) and waiting for the right job to come up.

Before anyone thinks about flaming me - I will not be claiming any benefits and never have done.

coinxoperated

Have the lunch. Don't burn bridges. Smile, nod as say all the right things. Consider it a meeting to confirm you'll be getting a super reference. You'll want to apply for work in the sector again, so having a good reference will push you forward and might be the reason a school / Uni picks you.

It's lunch - a work lunch - just do it. Get them to pay! Haha!

Also - claim all the benefits you can! It's not your fault or problem that the government allows people to claim benefits, so if your entitled, please do it! Don't be too proud to claim! best of luck!