Comments on: Introducing Helena Harper http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/ A glimpse into the world of author Darcia Helle Thu, 17 May 2012 11:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ivan http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-691 Ivan Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:00:32 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-691 Greatings, Nombre de quietfurybooks.com a GoogleReader! Gracias <a href="http://www.getstufftool.com/" rel="nofollow">Ivan</a> Greatings, Nombre de quietfurybooks.com a GoogleReader!
Gracias

Ivan

]]> By: Dallas Woodburn http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-690 Dallas Woodburn Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:04:36 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-690 Loved your poem about what it takes to be a boss, Helena. It should be mandatory reading for all bosses! Loved your poem about what it takes to be a boss, Helena. It should be mandatory reading for all bosses!

]]> By: Helena Harper http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-687 Helena Harper Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:27:22 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-687 Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to stop by. It saddens me that the situation I experienced in my 20 years as a school teacher should be so widespread and that so many teachers are having to endure really awful working conditions (Elysbeth, your friend has my deepest sympathy, and Karen - what was the name of that book you read about Chicago teachers?) I believe that there has to be another way. Leaders have to be properly trained, of course, but really what matters is that principals treat teachers like they themselves would like to be treated. It's all a question of attitude and that may well require inner change from the individuals involved. Without inner change, there will be no change in how teachers are treated. I've discovered a group on LinkedIn that is promoting a new way of looking at and being a leader, called Leaders Cafe Foundation. If you are a member of LinkedIn and are interested in this topic, then I would thoroughly recommend joining the LCF group. The founder of the group is Kwai Yu, whom I've come to know personally and is a great person. You can follow him on Twitter, if you're interested, @KwaiYu. Thank you again, Darcia, for being such a great host. Helena Karen and Elysbeth - your comm Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to stop by.

It saddens me that the situation I experienced in my 20 years as a school teacher should be so widespread and that so many teachers are having to endure really awful working conditions (Elysbeth, your friend has my deepest sympathy, and Karen – what was the name of that book you read about Chicago teachers?) I believe that there has to be another way. Leaders have to be properly trained, of course, but really what matters is that principals treat teachers like they themselves would like to be treated. It’s all a question of attitude and that may well require inner change from the individuals involved. Without inner change, there will be no change in how teachers are treated. I’ve discovered a group on LinkedIn that is promoting a new way of looking at and being a leader, called Leaders Cafe Foundation. If you are a member of LinkedIn and are interested in this topic, then I would thoroughly recommend joining the LCF group. The founder of the group is Kwai Yu, whom I’ve come to know personally and is a great person. You can follow him on Twitter, if you’re interested, @KwaiYu.

Thank you again, Darcia, for being such a great host.

Helena

Karen and Elysbeth – your comm

]]> By: Liana http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-686 Liana Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:56:32 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-686 Great post! I am always interested in learning about you and your work Helena! Liana Great post! I am always interested in learning about you and your work Helena!
Liana

]]> By: Brigitte Thompson http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-685 Brigitte Thompson Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:25:28 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-685 Interesting topic and great interview. Thanks for sharing. Interesting topic and great interview. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Elysbeth http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-684 Elysbeth Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:32:03 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-684 We call them principals in the public schools and head masters or mistresses in the private schools (here in the US). My believe is that the principals should live up to their name; they shouldn't be dictators nor should they be so inexperienced or carry forth such low self-esteem that they cannot do their job. I have many friends who are teachers and have experienced terrible working conditions because the principals are prejudiced or biased or inexperienced in how to deal with any and all situations. One friend of mine was injured on the job and ended up giving her notice (forced to quit her job) and now she has nowhere to go; the principal was making her life miserable and she can't get another job because she has been blacklisted - resigning under force makes it look like she was at fault and that she isn't revealing something or has something to hide. This is a problem that hits everyone no matter where they live and I agree that something needs to be done about it. Hopefully your article will be far reaching and everyone will move together to get something accomplished to make sure we have more competent "heads" running our schools - lol - E :) We call them principals in the public schools and head masters or mistresses in the private schools (here in the US). My believe is that the principals should live up to their name; they shouldn’t be dictators nor should they be so inexperienced or carry forth such low self-esteem that they cannot do their job.

I have many friends who are teachers and have experienced terrible working conditions because the principals are prejudiced or biased or inexperienced in how to deal with any and all situations. One friend of mine was injured on the job and ended up giving her notice (forced to quit her job) and now she has nowhere to go; the principal was making her life miserable and she can’t get another job because she has been blacklisted – resigning under force makes it look like she was at fault and that she isn’t revealing something or has something to hide.

This is a problem that hits everyone no matter where they live and I agree that something needs to be done about it. Hopefully your article will be far reaching and everyone will move together to get something accomplished to make sure we have more competent “heads” running our schools – lol – E :)

]]> By: Darcia Helle http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-683 Darcia Helle Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:36:29 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-683 Thanks for stopping by, everyone! And, thank you Helena, for being such a great guest! Thanks for stopping by, everyone! And, thank you Helena, for being such a great guest!

]]> By: Dana Donovan http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-682 Dana Donovan Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:22:52 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-682 Good interview. Thanks Helena & Darcia Good interview. Thanks Helena & Darcia

]]> By: Karen Cioffi http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-681 Karen Cioffi Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:25:04 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-681 Helena, your article speaks volumes. I recently read a book by a retired Chicago (U.S.) public school teacher who did a survey of 500 teachers, primarily within the Chicago school system. It was about principal abuse and it's nationwide. According to your article and book, it's worldwide! Great post, Darcia! Helena, your article speaks volumes. I recently read a book by a retired Chicago (U.S.) public school teacher who did a survey of 500 teachers, primarily within the Chicago school system. It was about principal abuse and it’s nationwide. According to your article and book, it’s worldwide!

Great post, Darcia!

]]> By: Helena Harper http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2010/02/introducing-helena-harper/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Helena Harper Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:33:56 +0000 http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/?p=792#comment-680 Thank you so much, Darcia, for doing such a great post and for everyone's comments. Margaret - yes, I am talking about my own experiences in 'private' schools, but the board of governors is responsible for choosing the Head of a school in the UK, whether it be for a private school or state-run school. It's always tough when you have to work for someone who shows no real appreciation to their staff, but yes - it did give me plenty of poetry fodder! Helena Thank you so much, Darcia, for doing such a great post and for everyone’s comments.

Margaret – yes, I am talking about my own experiences in ‘private’ schools, but the board of governors is responsible for choosing the Head of a school in the UK, whether it be for a private school or state-run school. It’s always tough when you have to work for someone who shows no real appreciation to their staff, but yes – it did give me plenty of poetry fodder!

Helena

]]>