Job Discussion Forums

[clark.w.griswald]

Mark I agree that a teacher who makes a commitment to a school can often get the reward that comes from being fully committed to that school. I believe however that this was more true in the past than it is now.

In the past a good teacher who worked well with the school could often get as many hours as he or she wanted over time. So starting out on minimal hours upfont was not too much of a problem.

Nowadays however I believe that schools limit the number of hours given to any one teacher for a few reasons and this can make it difficult for the teacher. Having one teacher with lots of hours is a risk for the school as he or she may get sick, take a vacation, or leave. Spreading the hours over a few teachers makes it easier for the school to handle a teachers absence.

The problem with all of this is that a teacher can be left with minimal hours most of the time, with only a good number of hours during the peak season.

In my opinion if a school wants a teacher to be fully committed to them then they need to offer a reasonable amount each month. If that means paying more per hour to balance the low hours each month, or paying a monthly wage that covers hours when the teacher is not actually teaching then so be it.

For schools to expect a teacher to be earning a low amount each month but to still be on call for the school all the time is unreasonable.

[markholmes]

You are right, it's unreasonable, but that is the situation at Kojen. It was then and according to the op, it is now.

[TaoyuanSteve]

Restricting your hours at a prospective employer takes a gentle negotiating strategy. It involves testing the waters and appearing to give as well as take.

Ask a school how many hours they have available and during what times. If it becomes aparent that you may need to or desire to suppliment with outside work, suggest that you have an outside interest that may require some hours out of a day (Chinese study being the most common and safest excuse). Ask them if they are able to accomodate you with a schedule that suits your needs (eg, evenings/ afternoons only, daytimes only, Monday to Thursday, Tuesday to Saturday...whatever). Be prepared to negotiate and, if there is resistance and you wish to keep the job, be prepared to cave and proclaim that you will be able work the hours they want. IMO, Chinese are unlikely to completely crush you in a negotiation unless there really is no room for negotiation or you haven't approached the request the right way. They may bargain for something that heavily favors their side, but they will often give you something for face sake or to show how generous they are. If you bargain for 5 mornings off a week, you may get 2. This makes it worth trying as you are quite likely to come away from the negotiation with something--maybe not all that you wanted--but something.

You may also try restricting your schedule after you've started at a company (unless you are on salary and must be there regardless). Once you have a free block, you may let it be known that you would prefer not to fill it with a new class. You have started a new course during this time period and any changes to your schedule now would waste your money. Always take an angle that appeals to their sense of decency and gives them a chance to show how decent they are for generously preventing you from losing your tuition money. Phrase it like: "Oh, no. What should I do?"-- thus giving them the chance to come up with the (obvious) amicable sollution-- and never: "I'm not going to take the class." Sounds like creative fibbing, but it is the way things get done here and you can avoid conflict by doing things in this way.

It's very true that teachers often have to double up if they want to make decent money. Everybody here knows it, including the employers. In my own case, it's well known at my day job that I moonlight. It's accepted, but we just never talk about it openly. It's just the way things are here.