mavhc Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 Do your teachers mostly have their own classrooms? I prepare my lesson, loading up all the required documents etc, in the staff work room, then carry laptop to classroom.
Gaz Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 Glen, put your foot down! You need to be the alpha male so to speak, not in a bad way, but because you do know whats best in this instance. You're still relatively new to the post so they may still be getting to know you. A shortcut (depending how its made) is the best way to achieve what you've done, so good job! 2
korifugi Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 Glen, put your foot down! You need to be the alpha male so to speak, not in a bad way, but because you do know whats best in this instance. You're still relatively new to the post so they may still be getting to know you. A shortcut (depending how its made) is the best way to achieve what you've done, so good job! This I once took over a small school where everyone was using the Administrator account "as it was easier". I put a stop to that and ensured everyone had accounts and knew the details for them (and made sure said accounts worked correctly). I then put a copy of the password in a sealed envelope in the safe, explained the security behind it being secret to SLT and left it at that. In short order I found the envelope had been opened - so I changed the Admin password again, explaining my actions to SLT. After a couple more tries staff finally got the idea that I wasn't going to budge on this and everyone just got on with using their own accounts. (it was probably opened as soon as I left though). Sometimes, to make the network run reliably and securely - you need to effectively be a bit of a git. You're not going to get thanks for giving everyone what they want - and you'll only cause issues for later. Give people what they need and explain to SLT why they have what they have. 2
GRitchie Posted April 13, 2016 Author Posted April 13, 2016 How is it that simple though, if the headteacher sides with the staff? If he asks me to do something, I can't say no - regardless of if it's the right thing to do, can I? But I do agree with all of your comments entirely!
mavhc Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 Well, you can say no if it's breaking a law, contract etc. Offline files works fine for me btw. I removed Admin rights from everyone at work, no one even noticed, only change was they didn't have toolbar malware appearing every week. Then I removed the ability to execute files I didn't specify, still no one noticed.
smurfomatic Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 Glen - all you can do is make your case to the Head and indicate why it's not a good idea. Then remember to copy the Head into any emails from this particular member of staff if the expected problems arise... 1
GRitchie Posted April 13, 2016 Author Posted April 13, 2016 Coming into a managerial role now, which is admittedly fairly new to me, in a new school doesn't seem to have helped me feel like I'm progressing on a personal level at all. Everything I seem to do/put in place is shot down by members of staff and turned against me. Does any other school have these problems with ICT where the staff seem to have more control over the network than the NM? *sigh* all in all a terrible day today...!
Gaz Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 They employed you as their Network Manager, such a role (imo) means that you should lay down the law of how the network is managed. You are the expert in this instance and thus are qualified to do the job. They wouldn't be happy if you go into their classroom and scrutinise their teaching. Have a word with the headteacher and make them aware of the pitfalls of not following your lead, don't sugar coat it, lay it on thick.
GRitchie Posted April 13, 2016 Author Posted April 13, 2016 I'll give that a shot, just feeling constantly undermined at the moment; to the point where I've been question my position here...!
korifugi Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 Well, you can say no if it's breaking a law, contract etc. Exactly - plus, explain about the stability of the system. It's still relatively easy to knacker something up with a few 'click - oops' moments on the C:\ drive which'll take that machine out of service until you get a chance to fix it (even longer if no-one tells you straight away). They don't need access there - they want it. You may feel that you're repeating yourself about security and stability - but do so and ask why they want access (as stated a few posts up). They need to give a much better reason than "I want it". 1
mavhc Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 Well, I'm assuming they don't have admin rights, they're just super into never learning a new way to get to the folder they got to last week. Upgrade the teacher's laptop to Windows 10, that'll teach 'em. Also mention you'll be taking Wednesdays off in future for job interviews.
HPlum78 Posted April 13, 2016 Posted April 13, 2016 (edited) I am a server admin at a university and have my own laptop, my privledged account lets me manage every aspect of the Windows Server Enviroment and any other systems that I am allowed to manage as part of my role. What I do not get is access to the local C drive on my laptop (or any end user Windows device) this is the same for all 200 approx IT Services staff as we don't need access for one and the end user device team don't need us or the other 4K staff on their help desk because we have that access! Also information security says that it a really bad idea to allow access to the system drive. Don't hide the drive lock it down properly and in doing so you will probably save a whole load of pain. If they cannot access the drive most nasties cannot! And that means you have a more stable network/ more stable laptop and desktop environments and your data stays in tact. Edited April 13, 2016 by HPlum78
ITGURU Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 Forgive me if I'm wrong but surely if you are in charge of the network, anything security related is your decision, as if anything were to happen it would be on your shoulders? 1
GRitchie Posted April 14, 2016 Author Posted April 14, 2016 That's how I thought it was too ITGURU, but apparently this individual gets a say in absolutely every decision I go to make. I have to check everything with her in case it will cause any problems...
ITGURU Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 The only time our head was consulted was when we made the decision to only allow staff logins on staff computers and student logins on student computers, but never really been an issue, as no reason for students to be using staff PCs, and was to stop them logging on to play music etc in the classrooms.
GRitchie Posted April 14, 2016 Author Posted April 14, 2016 I dare not even try and implement that here yet (as much as I feel it should be) purely due to the backlash I'll get from staff... It's incredibly annoying how little control I seem to have over the network. The staff seem to 'rule the roost' as so to speak...
Gaz Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 (edited) The only time our head was consulted was when we made the decision to only allow staff logins on staff computers and student logins on student computers, but never really been an issue, as no reason for students to be using staff PCs, and was to stop them logging on to play music etc in the classrooms. I did that recently and never consulted anyone, however a teacher did ask why a student couldn't logon to the classroom computer when they tried, I told them they have no need to use the computers and its opening them up to abuse, if they need to use the board for a presentation you can log them on under your supervision. That's how I thought it was too ITGURU, but apparently this individual gets a say in absolutely every decision I go to make. I have to check everything with her in case it will cause any problems... Sounds like you are under the thumb. You seriously need to quash this person! Going forward into the future she will make your life miserable and get away with it, it doesn't need to be like that. I applied for that job but didnt even get to the interview stage, sounds like I dodged a bullet, but I certainly wouldn't let her walk over me. Edited April 14, 2016 by Gaz
GRitchie Posted April 14, 2016 Author Posted April 14, 2016 Not under the thumb, but having to consult her based on the HT telling me I need to...
ITGURU Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 I dare not even try and implement that here yet (as much as I feel it should be) purely due to the backlash I'll get from staff... It's incredibly annoying how little control I seem to have over the network. The staff seem to 'rule the roost' as so to speak... never been an issue here, if staff need to use an IT room for training, I just remove the policy. In some rooms for TA's I exclude individual PCs from the policy so staff can log on next to the student to help them which stops some of the complaints. They just get used to it. AS for the C: drive, I have hidden for all students to stop abuse, but is still there for staff, just in case it's required, as sometimes it's useful when sorting issues on staff logins.
RobD Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 You in a private School? I used to work in a School where I had to fight every change yet they'd moan when things went wrong so so much. I really don't miss working there.
stickman Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 Not under the thumb, but having to consult her based on the HT telling me I need to... Who is she? Is she your line manager? Is there any technical capacity to her job role? I think you're going to have to ruffle a few feathers or forever suffer under this person's unneeded interference.
GRitchie Posted April 14, 2016 Author Posted April 14, 2016 She's the ICT/Business Teacher. She is not my line manager, but because she teaches ICT and uses it often she (and the HT) seem to feel like she should have a say in every change. I don't know how to go about telling the HT that she shouldn't be consulted for every change though. Because he's obviously people-pleasing her by giving her a sense of authority that she doesn't technically have...??
stickman Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 She's the ICT/Business Teacher. She is not my line manager, but because she teaches ICT and uses it often she (and the HT) seem to feel like she should have a say in every change. I don't know how to go about telling the HT that she shouldn't be consulted for every change though. Because he's obviously people-pleasing her by giving her a sense of authority that she doesn't technically have...?? Tell the Head straight, you don't appreciate having to pander to someone who has nothing to do with the creation and implementation of security policies as it wastes time and undermines your position, experiences and skills.
GRitchie Posted April 14, 2016 Author Posted April 14, 2016 Tried that... He's still happy to tell me I need to ask her opinion/consult her on changes :/
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now