For those of you without a college degree, who work with at least one person who does, do you ever have issues with such people "lording" it over you because they have a degree(s), and you don't?

It’s your field. In the Education field, there is unusual emphasis on education.

No, my field is now Computer Science (chosen field of study), but I know what you mean, It is still inexcusable. The funny thing is, this lady came from a temp agency, so she apparently doesn’t hold a steady, regular teaching job.

@yankeetooter What exactly did she say? I wouldn’t assume she can’t hold a full time job because she temps, that’s pretty condescending, unless you actually know she can’t hold down a job. Just saying tit for tat? I temp sometimes, because I don’t want a full time job.

A bit, in my last job.

It shut them up pretty quickly when I reminded them that, not only do we work in the same position in the same company for the same pay, but I had to proofread everything they sent out to the field, so they wouldn’t look like an uneducated idiot.

I know it was mean-spirited of me…and I’m not proud of making the comment, even on here. I am just seeing red because of her treatment today. I work with kids with behavioral and emotional issues, and she came in yesterday with both barrels blazing…talking down to the kids, and yelling at them constantly. Although we do consequent behaviors, and utilize holds when appropriate, our school believes in a therapeutic approach. That doesn’t mean we let the kids walk all over us, but we are supposed to be non-confrontational, both with our tone of voice and our body language. She is not following that approach at all. When I tried to talk about this issue with her today (at the behest of my supervisor), she said that was her method. And when I questioned her methods as opposed to our philosophy, she said she knew what she was doing, then asked me in a nasty tone, “And how many degrees do you have?”

Frankly, it is none of her business, and it was inappropriate of her to say so.

@Seek_Kolinahr…that’s a bitter point for me. I do all the work of a teacher lots of times, but get a whole lot less pay.

@yankeetooter I’m not defending her, she sounds pretty bitchy, but did she even know you don’t have a degree when she said it?

I have no idea…I’m sure she may have figured it out, since I’m “only” an assistant teacher. I was so mad, I walked out of the room without responding. She then followed me, and was commenting on how I was running away from the situation (in a very loud voice).

@yankeetooter She sounds like a bit of a bully, but I offer to you that many people I know who don’t have degrees feel insecure about it, or regret it, and feel everyone is judging them when they are not. This woman might judge it, but so what, we judge her for having a not so nice personality. There is a good chance she had no idea whether you had a degree, she just feels like she has the education to back up her point of you. If you had come back with, “I have a masters in special ed,” it would have shut her up, but it doesn’t matter anyway. She’s an idiot. Don’t ever let your lack of education make you feel inferior, especially when you have a lot of experience. What I think about most regarding my college years is not what I learned in class, but all the fun I had, the social part, and that I am glad I went to another region of the US for the experience.

Not at all. Focus on how she treats the kids. She may be a psycho & that is WAY more important in that job.

She’s something; that’s for sure! I felt like she followed me out of the room because she was trying to incite me into getting into a screaming match with her…and I’m not going to do that. She kept making a bit issue out of it every time I went back into the room, taunting me about running away.

Yeah, well, people like that get really frustrated when others are very silent or walk away. They are aggressive, and the silent treatment or walking away feels very passive aggressive from her persective, it is probably the same as someone screaming at you from your perspective. I tend to be more like the type who wants to talk things through, and I am pretty annoyed if someone walks away when I feel a discussion is not over. But, she sounds like she has too much of a temper, she has a control issue maybe.

She is just a temp right? So, will she be gone soon?

I don’t know…the plan (over which I have no control) was to take her on and see how she did. If they like her, they will keep her. If not, they will keep her until they find someone…

I have already talked to my supervisor (hers too) about some of the above issues. She told me to hang in there…I am hoping that means they are still looking, but that she can’t come out and say that. She (the supervisor) is off the next two days, though, so no support there.

Oh, I mean the supervisor is our mutual supervisor…

As someone with several degrees, this woman sounds awful. I had a professor in college who “only” had a BA (this is a field where nearly everyone has a PhD). He had distinguished himself and managed to get a really good job on the basis of his work. Technically, I now have more formal education than he does. But I guarantee you he’s still a lot better at the job than I am. Formal education can be very helpful, but it’s just absurd to assume it’s the only or the best measure of how skilled somebody is. I hope this person shapes up or ships out real soon.

Me too… @SavoirFaire.

There is such a thing as being educated beyond a persons capacity to retain. Sometimes I wonder about “educated” people as a lot seem to have the horse sense of a cat that gets stuck in a bottle. Personally, people filled with such nonsense don’t bother me at all. They get paid just as much as I do. I had a job like that a while back, usually when they find out I’m smarter than them they don’t bring up their degree. Anyway, I’ve got to get a cat out of this bottle. Thanks for the analogy you dumb beast. :)

I try not to lord my high school diploma over people who quit in grade 7, but I can’t help it whenever I meet an new person I ask what degree they have. It’s just a hangover from university. So I guess I would do it.

I have a degree from college but I would never lord it over anyone. I got into a great place and I loved it. It was a really good experience. I was lucky, I’d rather help someone trying to further their education.

Well, I guess my husband is glad that I don’t!

It’s unfortunate that type of thinking exists in your place of work, it was mentioned in one of the responses I believe, that it does come down to the type of occupation chosen, whether or not an individual holds a doctorate, certificate, diploma etc.
I feel it should come down to life experience, I’ve met several individuals in my lifetime who carry themselves like a “doctor” or “lawyer” in their place of work and all they possess is a high school diploma, it shouldn’t matter, what does however is what you can offer knowledge and self improvement wise to the kids you are assisting, I feel you are an knowledgeable person and can help those who need the help a great deal. The lady who feels “superior” than you is nothing more than an individual who seeks acknowledgment/approval because possibly in her own life no one is present to give her what she seeks, thus causing her to come into work and criticize you. Continue to do what you do, and strive for higher, why reach for the sky when there’s already footprints on the moon.

You just have to realize that the problem is with her personal insecurity and has little to nothing to do with you.

And realize that if she refuses to listen to you trying to clue her in about the philosophy and methodology of your particular
school and insists upon being harsh and confrontational with the kids, those in charge WILL DEFINITELY notice and she won’t be there long.

They take things like how people treat the children very seriously and they will not tolerate her being verbally abusive and yelling at the kids.

Obviously she is an angry person with a ton of insecurity. If that were not the case she would have no need to lord it over anybody.

Just keep doing your job well and ignore her outbursts and cutting remarks since they have no foundation. You know what your doing and have years of experience and competency at your job.

Her opinion about the lack of alphabet soup after your name matters little in the long run. You’re working on that as best you can and the opinion of your superiors is what matters, NOT hers. If they didn’t think you were doing a good job they wouldn’t be asking you to clue her in. If she refuses to listen to you, that’s her problem.

Trust me, she’ll be gone shortly. Yelling at you like that, especially in front of the kids, is extremely unprofessional and you have every right to bring it to the attention of your supervisor when the time is right.

When dealing with children with problems, the rapport with and caring for them is FAR MORE important than who has what degree. These are qualities which don’t automatically come with any degree. It’s clear that you have them and she hasn’t a clue.

You’ll be there long after she’s gone. Just ignore her until then. You can’t change her and you certainly don’t need to be yelling back and just upsetting both yourself and he kids. You’re there for them. Just keep your attention on them and let her dig her own grave as far as this job is concerned. She doesn’t belong there and those in charge will recognize that the more she keeps shooting her mouth off.

She sounds like an insecure fool. When it comes to teaching, the best teachers have spot on instincts that no amount of education can instill in a person. It may be that she’s actually jealous because in the short time she’s been there you have proven yourself to be wise, intelligent and insightful, traits that she doesn’t posses.

She won’t be there long. Like your boss said, “Hang in there.”