Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

What's the deal with so-called administrators? What is their purpose in schools? Since September of 2004, I have asked my directors/vice-principal/principal for help with certain unsavory students only to receive NOTHING from them. They have never visited my classroom and have never evaluated my performance (to my face, that is). From time to time, I have seen someone lurking outside my classroom for all of 15 seconds - - perhaps that is their observation/evaluation methods.

A couple of days ago, I received my pay and noticed I'd been fined 100rmb (first time in over a year and a half, by the way - - we have a new director and vice-principal this semester, by the way), but I didn't know the meaning of the penalty. Without going into too much detail, I met with my vice-principal and, through translation, he told me the reason for this penalty. When I refuted his reason and proved him wrong, he then found another reason - - something that allegedly happened back on March 18th - - almost a month prior! Without agreeing with him, I told him that IF this incident truly happened, then why wasn't I informed of the school's displeasure on, say, MARCH 18th!!! (or 19th)? Why wait a whole month before I find out about it (and I find out about it only because I inquired)? Supposedly I had driven 3 students out of class and they were caught out on the playground (instead of in the office). My mistake is, when I show DVDs, I don't always take roll, so my guess is they never came to class in the first place.

Regardless, we went 'round and 'round for about an hour. I asked him why he (or anybody else) never, EVER comes into my classroom? I asked him why, after a meeting with Chinese teachers, nobody EVER comes to me with a translation on what the meeting was about? I asked him how he can give me an honest penalty on my pay and not even discuss it with me? (I was told by him that they can fine a teacher and are not required to tell them why unless the teacher asks!) I asked him, since he and so many others freely acknowledge that we have many troubled teens here, why they would take the word of students so handily and not bother with finding out the teacher's side of the story: Did you drive them out? Why did you drive them out? Did they even come to your class that day?

So, luckily, there are stupid people here, and their math was wrong on my pay slip. It showed a 100rmb deducted in one column but they didn't deduct it from my final, net pay We get charged a certain amount for overusage of our monthly electric allotment. My electricity fee was deducted, but not the penalty. But it's the principle of the whole thing. There is so little professional, courteous communication here (which all the FTs have been begging for all year). Our "leaders" are constantly in meetings, so getting any kind of help from them at the time it is needed is next to impossible.

So, my battle plan is this: I will be taking roll in every class, every day (I always take roll in the classes I actually teach and just do "spot" checks in my video classes). Missing students will be reported to their head teachers right away. The head teachers will have to tell me in writing why their student(s) was missing, sign and dated. Then I will directly take this roll sheet to the Director and/or Vice-Principal at the end of the day and have them sign, date, and stamp it. I will make copies of these roles and hand-deliver them to the Director and/or Vice-Principal and have them sign upon delivery. I will do this extra work and, hopefully, drive them crazy with my "efficiency". I have a whistle that I am going to use in class. Kids chattering? Blow the whistle (loudly). Kids sleeping? Blow the whistle (loudly). Kids texting on their mobile phone? Whistle (and then take away the phone). For my "troubled" classes, I can make their life a living hell. I have chosen not to do that because that is really not my style. I'm really hoping they will go to see their Director and complain about it. I've gotta make these administrators actually work for their money (instead of keeping mine). Two more months . . .

[Voldermort]

Hang in there Kev. I'm sure you're already crossing off the days on your calander. Whats your plan after you finish with this school?

[tofuman]

"Administrators" is better translated as "racketeers,"depending on the context. I'm marking the days off my calendar as well.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised at such a bold money grab on their part. Perhaps someday they will learn something about employee retention.

I commend you for "hanging in."

[Spiderman Too]

Kev

Notwithstanding the many critiques of your school that you have posted on this forum, I hope that you when you leave you will have time to knock up an overall assessment and post it on Dave's Job Information Journal, Nate's School Reviews, ESL Teacher's Board, et al.

[kev7161]

Spidey Too: I will certainly do that. You're right, I have critiqued them in the past for this and that and I've certainly praised them for positive things as well (sadly, the negatives outweigh the positives). I'll be sure and list both in my reviews.

What happens after this? I will head to Guangdong this summer, sweat my a$$ off (hopefully!) while working a summer camp. But I'm looking forward to a different locale. I'm looking into a job that was advertised here at Dave's that offers 3 month contracts. I've already determined that I REALLY want to head back to the US, but a 3-month contract will let me line my pockets a little more AND be back in time for the holidays. Will I return to China or some other Asian country? Who knows? Let's see how things work out back home first.

[kev7161]

By the by, I did a certain review of a certain summer camp I worked last summer and posted it in Dave's job review section and it never showed! As a matter of fact, new job reviews haven't been posted there in a long time! Has Dave's stopped doing this?

[kev7161]

Just a brief update: I visited with the school principal today. I was told that if we had a dispute with a vice-principal's or director's decision about something that a meeting could be called with the principal. It should have been me, a translator, the principal and the VP or Director of my department. Well, naturally, neither the VP or Director could be bothered to come, although it was with them I had the dispute!

So, we "chatted" for a half-hour or so (when she wasn't stopping to answer her mobile and/or office phone) and my main contention was, if they had a beef with me, if I wasn't doing something correct, then they should come to me shortly after the alleged misstep and talk to me about it at that time - - not wait for a whole month afterwards (or never come to me at all!).

Do you know she couldn't even bring herself to agree with this request? (surprise.) So, after all was said and done, I stated that I was only here for six more weeks after our upcoming holiday and I'd try my best to educate their students (my voice dripping with sarcasm - - she didn't pick up on that I don't think). *sigh!* It's hopeless.