I got an email from the Subordinate Professor today, and I had to delete it after one reading: it was too painful. Not so much for me but there was hurt evident in the message. I got the impression she had read some of the postings chronicling this situation, and was unhappy at her portrayal.
Perhaps I could been more positive and offered suggestions for the future, rather than just venting spleen, but I don’t know, even now, if anything I suggest would be taken in the intended spirit.
To her, then, I offer this advice: Speak the truth, even though your voice shakes. Sitting idly by when you sense an injustice is wrong, no matter the reason, be it apathy, fear, whatever. Apologizing to others that “you have to go along with it” undermines you even further by acknowledging the wrong and admitting your cowardice.
I wanted the whole thing to end sooner — much sooner, like June — and if it became unbearably painful as a result of being extended many months past that, I can only hope there’s a lesson there.
Someong with a thicker skin or who wasn’t seeing the stress showing up in their kids’ behavior might have stuck it out longer. I have the former, but couldn’t tolerate the latter.
What’s next? I don’t quite know.