like high school, but middle school, but the staff

It strikes me as amusing that often people speak of behaviors such as talking behind someones back, gossiping, or acting cliquey as being akin to high school. In my experience, these behaviors certainly are an aspect of older adolescents, but it begins much earlier. In my experience, the apex of these behaviors is around 7th or 8th grade, while it appears begins earlier, in the elementary grade.

What I'm trying to get at is that this social heirarchy and seemingly childish behaviors extend far beyond graduation from high school and can be found rearing their ugly heads in the school workplace. I am taken aback at times when I observe the way teachers treat one another and react to one another. It really is the exact cliches that so often are associated with high school. The rolling eyes, the silence falling as individuals enter the teachers lounge, the laughter, and so on. Certain teachers are "cool" and "popular" while others are rejects who people avoid at all costs and refuse to interact with unless it is absolutely necessary.

Immaturity has no boundaries. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but as someone who got into the field of education becauss of negative experiences in secondary school, these behaviors bother me. I remember how it felt to be left out and laughed at, and I can't even fathom having to deal with it as a professional from my colleagues.

I guess some people just never change - and that's one of the biggest problems. Whether you believe that statement to be true, or if the statement is, in fact true, there is a serious problem. Acceptance of that old cliche certainly limits your belief in your own successes, the successes your colleagues, of your students and their parents, while denial of the cliche may be stepping outside of the box of realism into a world of fantasy.