Job Discussion Forums

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[Super Frank]

I feel a little bit sickened by this. Of course you should give them back Jeff, your point has been well made. The kid that hasn't asked for it back obviously respects you and the rules, and deserves to get some respect back, which will hopefully re-inforce the lesson he's learnt. The other kid sounds more like a pain in the arris but perhaps you could meet him in the headmasters office and return it to him there. It all sounds a bit spiteful to me, I'd have given them back at the end of lesson. If it happened again, then I would keep it for a period of time but give it back eventually. They're only kids, it's not their fault their spoilt.
If we did this in your own countries we'd probably get stabbed in the car park

[Pelican_Wrath]

I just take them and give them back after the lesson if they're gameboys or whatever.

But kids books and suchlike, they're keepses. I can save them for my son to read when he's older.

[jeffinflorida]

Yesterday while I gave this class an assignment one student was playing games on his Nokia phone...

I took it away and gave it to his head teacher who did not give it back to the student. The head teacher said he would give it to the ast headmaster or something like that.

I asked the class if they were stupid or something as I just took away 2 handheld games and this kid was playing on his phone. i would have liked to keep the phone, it was a new Nokia...

[Jordean]

If the school rules don't state that prohibited items will or may be confiscated, then you may open yourself up to trouble down the road. If parents get involved and are well-placed, who knows where that could lead.

A theft charge is not beyond the realm of possibility, although it's probably unlikely if some time has passed. Is there a statute of limitations on these matters? If the toys don't go back to the little knuckleheads, this matter could resurface when you least expect it.

I hope no one is really keeping any stuff they seize from students. You're an agent of the school and have no individual right to possess it (and certainly less right than the little twerps had when they brought it to class).

[jeffinflorida]

[jeffinflorida]

By the way I kept them...

Gave the NDS to my 20 year old gf...

Took the PSP traveling with me and have been downloading PSP games from torrent sites...

[Lobster]

I suppose, no I know, that it's too late to offer advice for Jeff's situation, but here comes mine anyway.

Toward the end of the term, or before, I ask the students to present both an oral and written self-criticism of and apology for their actions in English. If I am satisfied with the quality and content, the items are returned. If not, I offer advice on points that were lacking and have them go to round two. These must be presented in class. I feel this accomplishes several things: enforcement of authority, development of English skills, a lesson to others and a humane approach to an irritating problem.

Escapism at any opportunity is often the self-defence mechanism employed by those pushed to the brink of breakdown caused by the pressure and boredom of the school system.

Rich kids or not, school rules or not, I don't feel it's right to keep them. I was a crap, naughty high schooler myself once, as were many who later became teachers. Ironic, isn't it?

Thoughts or comments?

RED

[jeffinflorida]

[Mei Sheng]

Keep it up Jeff.

Some of us love you.

Pablo

[jeffinflorida]

[North China Laowei]

Jeff,

Was all of this pre-Wuxi or post-Wuxi?

NCL

[jeffinflorida]

[Leon Purvis]

You have to give them back to the student or give them to the headmaster before you leave. It's irritating, I know, but there's a principle behind the return: you can't keep what does not belong to you.

I know how you feel though about the little jerks who just don't care, though.

[Jordean]