Job Discussion Forums

[ppzz70]

I am currently working for a school in Manila. I worked 5 years for a school in Vancouver that was refreshing because they really bent over backwards to meet the needs of the teachers and students. The school in Vancouver is run by people with many years in the teaching field.
Now for the school in Manila...
The native English teachers here modestly paid (5 times less than Canada). We are required to put in 40 hours/week in-class instruction (sometimes 48 hours/week- and that doesn't include prep time). The Filipino English tutors receive less than a dollar an hour. They are also required to undergo an expensive annual physical exam at their own expense. The owners have not paid them their Vacation pay...which is against the law. Yet, they ask for hefty tuition fees from the students.
I asked to borrow a textbook for my class. I was told to pay for it. The teachers also pay for their photocopies.
From time to time, teachers are required to attend special meetings without pay.
Often times there are warnings or negative comments posted throughout the school. In over a year, there has never a single post expressing a thank you to any teachers or students.
Teachers are forbidden to organize extra-curricular activities with the students for fear of the school being liable.
As for the dorms...roaches and mosquitoes in the room and hair in food is common-place.
What keeps me teaching there? My fellow teachers and students. Even though things are the way they are, it's great to be around people who want to learn and those who want to teach.
I'll be going back to Vancouver eventually...with a whole different perspective of teaching.

[leeroy]

Most schools are money-making - you don't have to put up with that rubbish. Leave! There are plenty more nice students and nice teachers elsewhere, and you might even have a decent working environment to boot.

Just my 2c

[marblez]

Can I ask what school you taught at in Vancouver?