Job Discussion Forums

Sunpower · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 256 Location: Taipei, TAIWAN

Saw this in the Japan Times today.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20030301b8.htm

johnslat · Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2003 3:28 pm Post subject: Extend - don't scrap

Dear Sunpower,
" The complainants are calling for the clause to be scrapped, arguing it is racial discrimination because it only applies to foreigners. "
If that's indeed true then it is discrimination. But rather than having the clause " scrapped ", I'd like to see it extended to all teachers. Conflicts of interest are always going to raise ethical problems.
Regards,
John

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Let me get this straight....Gary writes,"
There is nothing in any rule book that says you can't date students except perhaps the place you work at."

well first, this is untrue. Many countries have such laws. Already talked about it. But which rule is important, if the rule book of your work place isn't? Sometimes it is hard to remain polite here.

Slant eyed john sayed it well,"
But for some of us, the idea of a " rule book " is irrelevant anyway. It's not an " external rule book " that matters, in my opinion, as much as an " internal " one.

The rule book only exists because of the "teachers" who have no such internal rules, thus will always seek to justify their unprofessional behaviour. Schools don't always punish such rule-breakers because it would bring to much embarrassment and loss of revenue to their school, (like the Catholic) church; not because they approve of what you do.

They just figure people like this will be at a different school next year, and they become convinced that all people who will work at their school must also be scum with no internal rules, so why should they have rules when dealing with teachers.

Teachers decide what ethical behaviour is among teachers. Only scum date their students. If the student is that important to you, you can wait 3 months, and maintain friendship and go out in groups. The reason scum don't want to wait three months is because the student is not important to them, the school's rules are not important to them, only their own scummy desires for immediate gratification is important.

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

No,SP,I do not intend to "go back to Canada and boast about my ESL degree". Mainly because I am from the US, not Canada.

And I'll betcha you don't have much qualification(if any) to teach English...or are you one of those guys who thinks your charisma,charms,blah, blah are adequate to "teach"? I'll bet you are. Backpack commando?? Laughing

As for teaching in the US with my degree, it is possible because I have done it. Canada?I really don't know and don't care,because I don't intend to try to teach there anyway.

All of your rationalizations are pretty weak.Do YOU have any qualifications? I know guys like you,"Doors" and "Chowman" always have an "answer"...but when it comes down to the old nitty-gritty, like qualifications,you make some weak excuse.How convenient!! Laughing

Sunpower · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 256 Location: Taipei, TAIWAN

bnix - stop trying to be so pompous and actually contribute something.

Are you going through a phase or something.

I hope it passes.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Hey, guys. Do us a favor and exchange private messages if all you want to do is sling mud at each other. Nobody is even remotely close to the original topic anymore. If I want juvenile messages, I'll go to www.bigdaikon or www.tefl.net. I don't need them here, too.

itslatedoors · Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 97

Bnix,if you'd bothered to read some of my previous posts ,you'd have noticed that I said I'd lectured at university.You can't do this armed only with a backpack,(I also held a senior position in its ELT dept.),...duh?Any part of a discussion involves listening,or in this case reading.Maybe you need to brush up on your own communication skills before poisoning the web with your childish ranting!!

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

When they don't have any qualifications to teach...they will try to change the subject really quickly..... Laughing

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I'm guilty. I most definitely have contributed to the sleaze factor and await my punishment. I began in this industry about two and a half years ago and within only three months I had broken the cardinal law. I don't know how or why it happened. Maybe I was lonely as I felt abandoned in a new culture and language. Maybe I just wasn't interested in dating a barfly. Maybe I was just attracted to the beautiful smart girl who wanted to hang out with me and was kind enough to do so using her second language.

But my sinning didn't end there. I continued dating her. I forced her to take classes with different teachers. Even my manager and coworkers cooperated and treated her like a friend rather than a student. She was denied the sacred puritanism of the teacher student-relationship and had to settle for a mediocre boyfriend.

Would I do it again? Probably not, but I did do it, and I can't take it back. Am I proud I did it? No, but I am proud to still be dating that same wonderful girl, who just happens to be older than me. I am no longer with that job, but ironically she is still attending that school. In hindsight I'd have to call it the worst best choice I ever made.

I've been reading this thread for a few weeks with interest. Some comments I've appreciated more than others. I can only say that for me it was not a black and white choice. None the less, it was a choice. I made it fully understanding the possible repercussions and dangers. It worked for me. I'm sure it has worked for others too. I'm even more sure that it has been a dismal failure for even more.

This thread has lingered on the idea of professionalism for quite a while. For me it wasn't a professional choice. It was a personal choice and I'm glad I made it.