Job Discussion Forums

[gaijinalways]

Elkythedogsperson posted

[lorrie]

I don't like the idea of teachers and students being 'friends' on Facebook. In my view, this changes the relationship between them in a sense. I think by not being 'friends' on Facebook the relationship remains professional and formal

[gaijinalways]

Yes, I hear this from lot of Japanese teachers, maintaining the distance factor. Some of them are almost morbidly afraid of coming into contact with their students away from the school!

Then again, some have parties at their houses with the students, especially their seminar students. This more likely when they are full time and at a lower tier school as they want to try and keep the students happy (as some of the students are disappointed that they couldn't get into a better school ).

I guess it comes down to what relationship you want with your students. People are people, that's the way I look at it.

[nickpellatt]

[johnslat]

I'd say it's OK to "friend" past students (presuming you want to.) But I think it's probably a good idea not to do so with current students.

Actually, if you're tutoring adults, one-on-one, "friending" current students seems OK, too.

Regards,
John

[Elkythedogsperson]

gaijinalways,

Normally, I would agree with you that it reeks of to much control by the school over personal activities (though I don't think censorship is the word I would use.) The school shouldn't be watching what I do in my own time as long as I'm living legally. However in this case, it doesn't bother me.

[Justin Trullinger]

I'm with Elky on this- We have no such policy, but I would discourage teachers from getting caught up with students socially, whether online or off.

[gaijinalways]

JT posted

[Justin Trullinger]

I think I see where you're coming from Gaijinalways, and I'm going to simply agree to disagree on the grounds of culturally very different circumstances. In Ecuador, it would be a complete can of worms, for the reasons I mention. (I have never been to Japan.)

Here, if not favoritism, accusations of favoritism (from other students unhappy with their own results) and expectations of favoritism (from the very students who you teach privately) would be sure to follow. So would accusations to administration that you were artificially lowering grades in order to boost recruitment for your private teaching.

Rightly or wrongly, it would be a big hassle to create a situation where some students (who pay you for private lessons) expect favors and special consideration, and others (who don't) feel unfairly treated and feel that the others are unfairly advanced.

Even if you are too ethical to DO anything improper, you wouldn't much enjoy an environment where some are pressuring you to, and others are sure that you already are.

Who requested it (you or the student) would be pretty much beside the point- if they suggest it, it will never be clear until it's too late whether they're suggesting it for proper or improper reasons. And if you suggest it (for legitimate reasons) the accusations won't be any different.)

And keeping in mind that the private lessons will be seen as a source of privilege, yes, people would pressure you to take more, regardless of your schedule.

QUite frankly, you'd run into some who would want to use your willingness to teach privately as a channel to give you money for classes they don't intend to attend. (Because they'd really be buying favor, not paying for tuition.)

All these hassles make it quite natural, in my opinion, for an employer to dictate that teachers may not teach students of the employer in their free time. It's legal for them to do so here.

In a lot of places, it would be legal, I think. Even when I worked in the US (no visa necessary), employers often had clauses indicating that I would not, during my term of employment, enter into any activities that would either compete with, or interfere with, their business. Seems fair to me.

It seems like it's different in Japan, but in Ecuador, teaching your employers students privately would potentially be a serious interference.


Best,
Justin

[johnslat]

In the Middle East, to the best of my knowledge, virtually every teaching contract has a clause stating that the teacher employed cannot have any other (outside) employment.
However, I'll add that this clause is often ignored, both by teachers and employers. I actually had my employers ask me to do "outside work", even though they were fully aware that it was prohibited by the contract.
Teachers who violate the contract are, nevertheless, taking a risk. Should their employers find out about it, that could be grounds for dismissal. So, those teachers who do outside work are usually wise enough not to mention it to anyone.
Regards,
John

[gaijinalways]

They try to do that here with some jobs (not just in the teaching field) and I can understand it up to a point. They (your employers) want to make sure you have enough energy for your main job.

But you do have to wonder where does it end? If you like participating in triathlons and the training takes up a lot of time, does that interfere with your work?

The noncompete clause is different, but since none of the unis that I know of in Japan have teachers teach privately for the uni, you wouldn't be competing since the uni doesn't do it. If anything the student may be able to access tutoring which may be free or cheaper with student tutors, but it probably isn't at the same level of quality as I can provide (in my not so humble opinion of course ).

[parrothead]

"Friending" a student on Facebook sounds about as cool as "friending" one's own mother. How much access to his or her teacher's life does an individual student need to have? The teacher risks showing favoritism or having feelings misconstrued. Setting up a special facebook page for all students to participate in, or hosting holiday or seasonal events for all students seems like a better approach.

[gaijinalways]

[Justin Trullinger]

Sorry,double post

[Justin Trullinger]