Dr. Rothman
From Stmargarets
Dr. David Rothman stood in as Principal of the Upper School for a surprisingly short 3 months in the 2004-2005 school year. Following an entire year of a Principal selection committee, they decided on Dr. Rothman, who mystified all with his ability to single-handedly alienate the entire student body as well as every parent and teacher within one week of school.
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Humble beginnings
Dr. Rothman began his teaching career on the East coast at a small boarding school where the entire student body skiied. Rothman skied himself, and apparently was quite the allstar as principle for his school. His ability to connect closely with the very small student body served him well through the years and convinced the committee of Rothman's ability to lead a small private school.
During the interview process, Rothman seemed highly educated, perhaps too much so. He shared many poems with a group of students, reading from his published book of poems. While his enthusiasm for the literary arts alienated some students, the largely ASB group immediately liked to him and gave the committee their recomendation.
I'm editing this right now!
The long trek
During his long trek to the school, apparently Rothman's U-Haul broke down. Twice.
This inconvenienced many of the students trying to suck up to him by helping him move into his new house. Finally, he made it, and was succesfully moved into his house.
Allegedly, he spent his time preparing for his incredible 35 minute speech he would deliver on the very first day, in the very first convocation, in the very first 40 minutes he would meet the student body.
The beginning of the end
On the first day of school, Rothman began with an opening speech about where he came from, his interests, and how he wanted to know everyone in the school, and that hopefully they would get to know him. He then said with the remaining 35 minutes he would give a speech about his favorite two Russian poets.
The student body laughed, expecting this was a joke.
Rothman then began. And talked, and talked and talked. He talked until the faculty started to sit down. He talked for 35 minutes at a very low volume. Reportedly, many student sitting in the front row couldn't even hear him. He concluded to a small amount of claps. Even Bob Ause, the renown philosopher, intellectual, and chemist was bored.
His teaching style
Apparently, no one told Rothman that the normal English class could not take on a Shakespeare play a week. He scoffed at this notion, even after 15 of the 18 students transferred out of the class. Initially, the first students easily changed, citing they wanted to join other classes. However, as the class size dwindled to a dozen students, they were no longer permitted to leave.
SMES parents stepped in and used their leverage to transfer out all but 3 of the students.
His downfall
The honor ceremony marked the end for Rothman.
He made the unfortunate decision to invite parents to the honor ceremony and made the following changes. 1. Students would no longer be acknowledged individually for honors, but instead just stand up at once 2. The extra time saved would be used for something else 3. That something else was a speech 4. A speech about English
Following his 40 minutes speech, parents rushed the stage. Parents screamed that they had never been so bored in their lives and that he was the worst speaker they had ever heard. Parents followed him for almost an hour after the ceremony for the sole purpose of furtherly chastising him. Administrators took a step back and let the carnage continue for fear of their own reputations.
To only add to his problems, the faculty strongly disliked his frequent and unnecessary all faculty meetings. Parents feared they would be cornered by him and one of his epic 20 minute conversations about philosophers. It was all over for Rothman
Fired
Rothman allegedly resigned from his position, citing differences in leadership styles.
David Boyle took his place, bringing with him Ms. O to appease the student body.
