Job Discussion Forums

Fred Smith · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 77

I am in the 2nd semester of a pretty crappy college. It's on the low end of the spectrum.

I got a call from the fao about the rules of the school. It's March, I got here in September. never received anything stating rules at all. And of course there are no stated rules in my contract.

A friend slept over a few weeks ago and the assistant to the fao told me in the future have my guest show their id card or passport to the building manager. No big deal.

Now, she says that whenever I have a guest come over I have to have the guest go show their id to the building manager.

I bucked that and she said it's the rules of the school. 7 months into the year suddenly there's rules?

Right now my happiness level is pretty low with this school and they are making it hard for me to live in peace and enjoy myself. I asked several other teachers and they didn't get this speech.

SO, freedom means alot to me and bringing friends over to my apartment has never been an issue before in China so I don't know what the deal is now.

And another foreign teacher has his Chinese girlfriend living with him, and that seems to be ok with the school.

How should I handle this situation? My feeling is my friends don't have to show id to come to my room - and they are not students in this school by the way.

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

The one thing I don't like about the many, many "rules" and policy changes and holiday shenanigans, etc. is that nobody will bother to explain WHY to you. Just, this is the way it is, now deal with it kind of attitude.

Basically they're doing it for your protection and because they are supposed to. Let's say you pick up a little someone from your local drinking establishment. You or anybody else probably knows very little about this little cutie. Suppose she (or he) steals from you, beats you up, or (heaven forbid) even kills you! The school and the authorities would have their ID written down, making it easier to apprehend the person.

Granted, half of the rule is also to have more control over you and (esp. if you are living on the school site) they don't want you bringing over different cuties every other night. Not a good influence to be showing the student population. I'm certainly not one to have "guests" night after night. (good lord, those days are long behind me!) But if I want an occasional visitor, I'm glad I live off-campus.

Eyrick3 · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 161 Location: Beijing, China

Schools should not interfere in the private lives of their teachers as long as that private life does not affect school and/or the teacher's performance in the classroom.

It seems the issue here is that you're living on campus, and therefore the school can claim it is their business who you take upstairs. The school would be in a world of hurt if you brought home a cute girl who ended up drugging you and taking your kidneys.

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

I don't see any problem with it. It is only natural that they want to know who is walking in and out of the school. Just have him/her show id and get it over with.

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

While the school has legitimate concerns for your safety, having your "friend" (hee hee) show ID could be a problem.

It could cause a lot of problems for your "friend" (hee hee).

Some schools can be recalcitrant in this matter. I met an old guy who lost his job at a university over this very issue.

The fao could have three wives and a couple of mistresses. Has no bearing on what you do.

Your contract probably says that you will repsect the morals and customs of China. And that is interpreted to mean as understood by the school which employs you.

It's a losing battle.

Fred Smith · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 77

By the way my "friends" are usually coming over for dinner, watch a dvd, or just in general to hang out. Romps in the bedroom are not the only reason they come over.

The issue stared when the spy in the lobby must have informed the fao that several girls come over and maybe the fao is concerned I am shagging my schools students.

So I will meet with the fao and inform then that my pals are not students in this fine craphole of a school.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

The ultimate point is that it is "the rule"

If you can't follow or accept the rules then you're free to leave

Ask them to show you the rule/policy in written form in some manual somewhere

Yea, it's crap - but hey...

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

There is absolutely no reason why they should care if you are banging girls in your room. It does get a little tricky when you room just so happens to be on campus, however. But if it is a college then I don't see why not.
Just do whatever you want to do. We are here to hear you complain...It's ridiculous and you should find a way to sneak her/them in and boom boom long time.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

If your laoban says you have to register your 'friends' with him or the PSB when they come to sleep over I guess you had better oblige.

Imagine your block burns down during the night and all objects animate within it get carbonised.

It would be his sorry duty to help the PSB identify everybody's remains.

Apart from that, you simply owe him a minimum of courtesy, dontcha think so?

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

Peter Wales · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 63

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

Buck Lin · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 405 Location: nanchang china

The problem I have encountered and seen in China is robberies. Every place I have worked they have had this problem. They are protecting themselves by having you sign in and out your friends. Best bet is have your own digs and then if they find out your English is terrible and they must let you go as in my case, you still have a place to live.

YankeeDoodleDandy · Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject: Lessons Learned

As others have pointed out, our schools want us to be safe and secure. That's good. I also think that they are trying to control us. Living off campus is one alternative, if your school will agree to this.I worked with a teacher who taught at Anhui University in the early 1990's and guests had to sign in and out and they had to leave by 11 PM> If you wanted to leave Hefei to go to Huang Shan or Chaohu, you had to receive permission. I also think that it is a matter on CONTROL. This is one of the things that I don't like.

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Robberies at school? Really? I tried to tell the security department at my school that people were coming over the back wall as they felt the need. I suggested that the security team start patrolling the perimeter of the school at night to prevent students from sneaking in and out, as well as prevent criminals from coming and going.

A week or two later I was told that the security chief wanted to see me. I went to see him, thinking that perhaps he wanted to hear about what I had observed going on at night around the school.

He wanted me to teach at his friend's English school.