Job Discussion Forums

frognation · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 14 Location: China

Just curious to know if teachers are working or being paid for the May holiday which has, as wel all know, been called off.

At my school we have classes like normal, no extra pay offered and our two days vacation has already come and gone.

Thanks,

froggy

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Extra pay for what extra service?

I got my pay today, with no bonus added for holidays. In the more regular schools they ask you to make up for lessons not done during this one-week hiatus as the one-week holiday season was introduced from on high without first modifying timetables. Thus the regular "curriculum" was shortened, and it was felt necessary to do extra lessons on weekends.
I don't know how they are going to do that this year around with so many students banned from visiting their families!

frognation · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 14 Location: China

maybe I should clarify what I am talking about. I am under the assumption that most schools are keeping the Holiday as actual time off, just keeping the students at school with no classes. My school, however, is requiring us to teach as normal. The students, instead of being given free time, have to go to class.

I am just curious to know if this is the norm at most schools.

Thanks

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

frognation--that's the situation at my school, too. The administration had planned for the students to have time off at the school but then decided that the students wouldn't know how to behave. On campus, with time off? Oh, the mayhem. Oh, the havoc! So it's classes all the way through now.

hubei_canuk · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 240 Location: hubei china

I work at a public middle school, not private school.
We now are off until next tuesday.
Three day holiday as per usual plus the weekend, we just don't do an extra weekend work to put 7 days together as we usually do.
..
Pay .. regualr montly salary., got it yesterday.
Everything is covered in the contract.
I always make sure it is.
..
I guess you guys are private schools.

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

Nope, public high school.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

To frognation,
as I tried to explain, but unsuccessfully so, there should only be regular pay for those who have done their full job; if you have put in a couple of weekends teaching for those May First holidays, then you have completed your job, and any work being done over these holidays would be a repeat or a waste of resources for which they should add a bonus to your pay. BUt if this has not been stipulated in your contract you can forget about remuneration!

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

I think we are still having the holiday here in Hong Kong. In fact, I'm just coming to the end of my forth week of paid leave due to the SARS-related primary school suspensions. It's a tough life...!

yaco · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 473

I agree with Roger's information. Normally you make up these classes on weekends. Most schools/universities will probably finish one week earlier for summer holidays. You should have an extra weeks holiday.

Good luck

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Yes, the colleges I know of in Zhengzhou supposedly will end a week early. Every private school is doing their own thing.

MW · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 115 Location: China

Our public 3rd tier college will end the semester one week early.

If the May holiday was delineated in your contract then any work during the "holiday" is to be paid as overtime, just as with other holiday work.

The government can cancel the holiday but not your contract remuneration provision, not even in China.

However, pressing or even proving your point may win you the battle but eventually lose you the war.

Just go with the flow and let them cheat you as they will. So long as you know that what you did was right then you can sleep well at night. This is China and trying to avenge every perceived wrong, even major ones, is a futile waste of time and energy. Chalk it up to experienced learned at a price.

Remember, revenge is mine sayeth the Lord!

Dragon · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 81

Dear Comrade MW,
I thank you once again for the post. Your wisdom has again shone through. However, I know it is ok for the party to cheat us as it is good for the motherland but your reference to "the Lord" is upsetting. Are you involved in that opiate of the masses, "religion"? I think your are not and are just quoting from literature. Please keep up your postings as I, no we, eagerly await your next vital words related to the ESL Industry and how to thrive, albeit not prosper, at least monetarily, in China.
Long live Comrade MW may he (I think he) prosper for 10,000 years.
DRAGON

noyb · Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 93