Job Discussion Forums

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Yes, bribery is as much a part of Chinese culture as smoking is. Just a few months ago I read in an English language newspaper printed in China that even university and college student union leaders get bribes in the forms of gifts and free meals from freshmen who are desperate to join the students unions in order to make their resumes look good. The most recent and best story I've heard of a student trying to bribe the FT came from my male Filipino colleague who was teaching in a teachers university in Shanxi. One of his best students, a female, offered to "do anything" at his apartment if he could give her the highest grades among her peers. The result? She lost 5% off her final grade as a punishment for her little attempt.

My personal policy is not to accept any gifts or invitations to dinners once I have announced the final exam dates. Of course, this policy doesn't apply in the case of in-class Christmas gift exchanges. I did break that rule in Huhehaote when one of my better students gave me a scarf for Christmas. However, she never did get more than a 75% (or less) for the class. Last year, a group of boys wanted to take me out to dinner, but I turned them down politely, stating that I was busy. Another group of boys were dismayed and angered when the 70 RMB box of chocolates a few of them had chipped in to buy for me for Christmas was opened and shared with the class.

Personally, I despise bribery of any kind and it disgusts me even more knowing any teacher accepts any form of bribery while knowing full well the purpose behind the gift/dinner/etc.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Shan

jeffinflorida · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:16 am Post subject:

jeffinflorida · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:19 am Post subject:

Side note. After a chat with the best student in the 3 classes of her grade she told me that students win money awards every semester for being in the top 10 of each class.

She said she is always the top ( she wrote toppest by the way...) in her class and the school gives the top student 1200 rmb every semester for this honor. Other students get rewarded 900,600,300 rmb.

She is the monitor in her class. And is indeed a good student.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

At almost every school, I mean every school, they have these scholarships.

What is sad? or perhaps an okay tradition, the scholarship winner is expected to take a number of clasmates and dorm-mates to a nice dinner, and blow away most of their scholarship, even if they are as poor as dirt and need the money.

1,200 RMB ain't bad though, for such a scholarship

jeffinflorida · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:01 am Post subject:

Final exams are underway and annoucements about my attendance policy and how many will fail...

The bribes are being offered left and right...

Dinners, money, KTV, drinks, etc...

Nothing accepted as yet...

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Don't you do it Jeff - - don't succumb to temptation!

Hey, here's an idea. Why not tell your classes that YOU'LL treat the top 5% of your class to a nice dinner (you know, the ones who've attended most every class, participated, got consistently high marks, etc.).

As for bribes - - take what you will as "gifts" and still fail their sorry behinds! Now there's a life lesson for ya!

jeffinflorida · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:05 am Post subject:

Ok Kev then you need to help me!

i will come to Suzhou and you need to treat me to some .......

Nemesis · Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 122

Well, exams are done and marked now -- today I hand in my grades at 5pm, and then my 7 week vacation begins.

* * *

No more bribes to report on my side.

I did have one odd moment during my (1-1) oral exams: a student hired a stooge to take his place!

I looked at the guy as he sat down and said "hey, you're not Priest!"

He says yes, yes he is Priest. He spells out the name P-r-i-e-s-t to confirm said fact. Okaaay...

I officially began the exam and asked him some questions. He answered. I marked something down in my book. Asked him another question. He answered.

Then I stopped the test. I placed my book on the table and asked him to write down his phone number.

I spoke very quietly: "This is a very serious situation. You are not Priest. Someone will call you to have a meeting with the principal, and I must also give your phone number to the campus police. This is very serious."

Dude cracked instantly, admitted he was a hired gun, and begged for forgiveness. I kept him stressed for a while, and then the real Priest rocked up -- a big, fat, dumb country boy -- panting and sweating, to save the day!

Good times in the wilds of China... Confused

Whatever. Spring break's here! Now enough time to plan a runner!

jeffinflorida · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:31 am Post subject:

I got a little tough during exams also.

School rule all students must have a school issued student ID. I tell them no ID no exam.

And there were some who showed up without ID. I said go get it. One student who i had no clue who he was was lucky - his homeroom teacher was in the room and I asked her to validate him.

In one class a girl just went to the bathroom - unnoticed by me - and then came back in and started to work on her exam again!

I said HELLO... where did you go? She said toilet. I sadi ok, sorry exam over. She started cursing at me in Chinese!!!

Still got an A though... what a nice behind she has...

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

DistantRelative · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Shaanxi/Xian

jeffinflorida - a graduate of "The Johnny Smoggins University of Chinese Culture" Twisted Evil

. I'd venture to say most of us do it. We just don't spend our time here shar'in the experiences!

Zhuhao,

Shawn

tatterdemalion · Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Yangzhou, China

I accept dinners, favors, etc, and take them as displays of interest in my teaching. If interest is displayed, I pay more attention to a student. That means I call on them for answers more. They're not going to have an easy ride. They'll probably get a better grade since they're going to be more involved and thus learn more.

Oh and when students sleep, I drop things on their heads, thereby entertaining the whole class. It's gotten so no one's really willing to have a deep snooze; they keep one eye open so that if I come up they can sit up suddenly and I can't pick up their ballpoint pen and drop it in their hair...

jeffinflorida · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject:

Here is my class intro:

"Hello, I am Jeff your teacher."

"I am a good teacher...

But a bad man..."

As I leer at the young girls in the front row...

I ask their names... "Hello Girls" after they tell me their names... With a sincere smile on my face...

Then I ask a boy his name... As he starts to speak I interupt him and tell him to shut up as I really don't want to know any of the boys or their names...

China, a great place to work... And no "Dateline, To Catch a Preditor " hidden cameras to worry about...

By the way my students give the school good reviews about me...

To further answer your question... out of the four students caught cheating on the final 2 of them - the girls - were given breaks on failing the whole course...

No not because of their nice hienies... But because they asked, whereas the boys just left without a word or follow up...

kingmalka · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject: