Job Discussion Forums

[Sweetsee]

The new teacher at our school told one of my students, when they first met, that she doesn't like teaching English. For a while she was teaching Korean in her classes. Now, all she does is show films in Japanese, with some questions in English after. Evidently, next year she plans to teach Hebrew. She speaks perfect Japanese and conducts the lessons in Japanese. She never says boo to me, surfs the net continuously and I am wondering if I should open my big mouth about it to someone? Not that I ever would, of course.

[mondrian]

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

You should certainly complain to the administration that she never says 'boo' to you ...

The sheer nerve of it ... incenses me ...

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Off-topic, but Sweetsee is your quote at the bottom from a Nico song? I think I know it.

Anyway, this teacher will get her comeuppance soon enough. I would just sit idly by and watch...

[slaqdog]

So you want to get this person fired? Why not try something radical and mind your own business? Is this YOUR class or are you just itching to get involved in someone else's business? My advice leave alone 'cos you are the one who will get the bad busybody rep.

[Gordon]

It is your supervisor or principal's responsibility to monitor the teacher's activities, not yours. Just forget about it and ignore what she does unless students are in peril.

[moot point]

I think your action depends on where you work. Can you provide some more details?

[denise]

I agree that it is the administrators�responsibility.

Another thing to think about--how did you find out about this teacher�s classroom activities? From a student, you said. Well, human nature being what it is, people (students and otherwise) do tend to gossip, so some other teachers/ staff members might already know.

d

[Justin Trullinger]

It depends a lot on where you are, and what your position is. I agree, it isn't generally a teachers job to opine on the performance of others without invitation. But, if the administration doesn't know about this, I can see where they would like to.

If a teacher came to me with a drastic problem about another teacher's performance, I suppose I would investigate it. Discreetly. And I would keep my own counsel about where I got the information in the first place. Is there someone in administration who you trust to keep anything you tell them in confidence? If not, the busybody rep will be yours to keep.

Two other questions- are you SURE that the information you have is correct? If not, and you get the DOS to investigate it, you're not going to look very professional. Two: Are you sure the director cares? Some "schools" are simply money machines in which abominable levels of teaching are routinely tolerated. If this is the case, you're stressing yourself for nothing.

In theory, I think it's great for teachers to concern themselves not only with their own jobs, but with the overall level of teaching in their schools. But in practice, you want to go carefully. It's fine to raise concerns about another teacher. But you need to do it in such a way that you are fair to other teachers, not merely carrying rumours or gossip. And you need to make sure not to leave yourself vulnerable. If words gets round that you have made comments on other teachers' classrooms, know that any complaints or worries that anybody has about YOU will be sure to come out. This is no problem, if your house is in order. But remember that people in glass classrooms...or however that went.

Good luck,
Justin

[khmerhit]

THE FIRST RULE OF LIFE IN ASIA IS DO NOT INTERFERE LEST YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES (AND YOU WILL)

THE SECOND RULE IS THERE IS --ALWAYS-- BLOWBACK

THE THIRD RULE IS .... HMM WHATS THE 3RD RULE.... HANG ON, I'LL ASK MY COUSIN IN KOREA....

OH YET I GOT IT ALL WRONG--THERE ARE

THREEE RULES IN ASIA

1. FACE
2. FACE
3. FACE

ALL THE REST ARE COROLLARY RULES, SUCH AS THE ABOVE
AND 7 (b) --NEVER TRUST A GUY WITH A BEARDED FACE

[ls650]

[Gordon]

I think she is in a private Japanese high school, no DOS but a principal.

[Sweetsee]

mondrian: thanks for the reply. "Cotton-on", I just love that, unreal! IEvery time I read it I have this flash of Festus in Gunsmoke.


Sheikh Inal Ovar: Thanks, we are on the same page. "...incenses me...", that is so how I feel. You said it all.


jpvanderwerf2001:off-topic is on target with me, always. And you are the second person to mention my signature and the first to say where I got it, right on! The other was Guest of Japan, said he liked it. Blew my mind because he is the one poster I would most like to be like, so far, maybe.
"comeuppance", what a beautiful choice of words; never used it, never really read it but so descript. I could read over the second line in your post till the cows come home and not stop admiring your gift, truly beautiful. Man I wish I could write. Thank you and thank you.

slaqdog: well, your user name says it all.


Gordon: good advice. The key word here is peril. I am not sure if I completely agree with you, but thank you for your reply.

moot point: "money machine" is the term Glenski used. Thanks for the reply, side-out!

denise: you are right. Thanks for the reply. Goes around comes around, yeah?

Justin Trullinger: thanks man, very insightful and spot on, mate. You know the score, where are you teaching now? And you know what, I can't get your name out of my head. I think it has to do with another JT...yeah that one!


khmerhit: "COROLLARY", does that have something to do with cars, or maybe heart disease or is it a form of arthritis? How about if I just do an about-FACE and start caring less, you know B.S. myself, sort of droid-up, go with the flow...uh..be a Roman?
Thanks for the reply, though I have to ask: were you being emphatic or were your caps locked and you didn't realize it?

ls650: YOU are a teacher. In fact, we share a class and were issued the same text, which the students paid for and she never used. Not only that but she teaches all the first year students and I the second, and third. So, I may very well inherit those students, though we never know for sure who will teach what until the day they announce such.
I admire you for your professionalism and integrity. Thanks for the reply. And what I said about the teacher stating she didn't like teaching English is a fact. Thanks again.

Gordon: funny thing about that is guess who found this "teacher"?


Thanks you all, I posted that before leaving work and came in this morning and have thoroughly enjoyed going over your replies--very, very much.


Enjoy yourselves,
s

[guest of Japan]

Wow Sweetee. I can't possibly live up to that. Thanks. If we do meet, I hope you won't take the disappointment too hard.

As for the initial conundrum, let it be unless it has a direct result on your teaching or remuneration. Administrations have a knack for finding things they consider a problem. If they see no problems with your co-worker then they won't after you make a case. You only have a legitimate case if you are a victim in the situation, or the boss.

Good luck.

[dmb]

Can someone just clarify the title of this thread. Sucking=crap? when I was at school if you were accussed of sucking up to teacher it meant you were the kid bringing the apple to class, trying to be teacher's pet.