I desperately need some opinions and a bit of advice on some issues i'm having with my probation school.

 I was searching through what I though was my emails for messages from my mentor. Unknown to me, my subject principal teacher was logged in to the computer in my classroom, and it was his email account i was searching.

I had come across quite a lengthy ping-pong of emails between my mentor, regent and principal teacher.

I have had a few days off school, and it would be understandable that these people in the school would be concerned. However, the messages about me were very derogatory, not ones of concern.

I never read the email further once I realised it was not meant for me, but some of the comments included:

'we better watch he doesn't play the 'disability card' as it would make it very difficult for us to extend his probation'

'All he is interested in is ticking the boxes rather than improving as a teacher'

'I haven't told him how many days off he is allowed off before probation needs to be extended as he will use it as a target rather than something to be avoided'

All the comments above were within messages of a very derogatory tone towards myself.

In particular, I am disgusted with the comment about playing the 'disability card'. This to me is a revolting thing to say and implies that the mentor would rather hinder me than help me.

 My main issue is I am in a dilema whether to let someone know about the message. But this could potentially make the situation worse, where i need to work in a school with ill feeling or perhaps even me getting disciplined for reading someone elses email, albeit inadvertantly.

In contrast to this, i feel i need to let someone know as I do not feel I can work with these people any longer and the support network I should have in the school as a probationer cannot be trusted. It is obvious to me now that so called support and advice I have been given seems false as it was contradicted by the 'dodgy' email. Idealy, i feel the only way I can continue is to get a change of school as i feel i deserve proper support and not have the burdon of knowing what my supporters are saying behind my back.

Sorry about the length of this, and I thank you if you got this far!

Thanks for your reply.

I do like your idea of 'spelling it out' to them, making it know that i am committed.

I didn't print the email because when I realised it wasn't for me i logged out, trying to do the right thing. A part in me wishes I did though, because then I would have tangible evidence!

 Again, many thanks May2011

Thanks for your reply,

Sure it's what I want to hear, diversity is welcome. No sense in me posting this concern if I didn't want feedback from many different viewpoints.

Regards

 As above. I would tackle this situation with two techniques:

1. Proactively seek out a helpful role other than just your teaching duties - even little things like bringing in a tin of biscuits to the department can help begin to dismantle what they seem to think of you.

2. Make sure their expectations of you are clear. The local authority is subsidising the school to have you, so they get a free teacher if they extend your probationary period. Are your meetings frequent - are you given advice before and after observed lessons?

You need to begin improving your own PR rather than revealing you have knowledge of their backstabbing. Best form of defence is attack... with biscuits.