Job Discussion Forums

[Chthon]

[Chthon]

[Grendal]

Is the old troll still in the apartment close to the KFU campus?

Grendal

[scot47]

The moral does seem to be that care should be taken before signing indentures.

[lizziebennet]

I was ok with business visas until two people I know got blacklisted on them by good ol M Trading. So doesn't matter if you are on an igama or business visa you can still be prevented from leaving the country! I am on a 6 month business visa now but will be moving onto my husband's igama...

[Chthon]

It would appear that I need to post both a clarification and a retraction regarding point five in my post. The teacher in question had a discussion with my regarding my post and gave some information I did not have before.

1. He did tell P verbally over the phone that he had type II diabetes (no injections required). I was told incorrectly that this was not the case; it was the case and he did state it beforehand.

2. The teacher in question does not take medication for his heart, but rather for his diabetes. This was a misunderstanding on my own part based on my lack of knowledge of his medication.

3. The teacher feels that he was terminated initially, as he felt coerced into signing the agreement during the first meeting I mentioned. He does not agree with me portraying it as a resignation.

It is not my intention to talk bad about anybody, and I respected his coming to me directly with his concerns, so I feel I owe it to him to post this clarification here. I will also edit my original post. It was actually a good talk and also proves to me that posting your name here on the forum is actually a good thing as long as you speak as you would in a face-to-face conversation.

The rest of my post still stands, though. People have different experiences and views; all I want is a little fairness in how things are presented.

Daniel

P.S. The gentleman ("old troll") is still living in the same apartment building as last year, rent paid for courtesy of Shabaka. I still see him hitchhiking around Hasa from time to time.

[nickelgoat]

Thanks for all the info - I've decided not to come to Hofuf. I'm sure I can find something better.

[The Lathe of Heaven]

[scot47]

Another one to include in the same folder as EdEx ?

[GladToBeFree]

As the teacher who was the subject of the firing by P in January, I want to say run for the hills from this place! Life there was hell. Everything Westy and others have said are totally true.

If you are female, be advised that no women from this past years group are returning - they seem to somehow be a threat to P. If you do come, married or not, be prepared for sexual harassment by the management, and I am not talking about Saudis.

The PYP dean is impossible to deal with. When I got sick that day in class due to food I ate in the cafeteria, he started trying to get me out of Shabakah saying that I "fell down" in class. The IGNORANCE of this comment galled me - I never fell down, I sat down for a few minuites because I was sick to my stomach - I never fainted or collapsed.

Another issue with P is his constant judgments on his teachers. He criticized me for not saving my money (I decided to pay off debts) and used my age as his justification. Yet, less than two years ago in his own postings on this board, he described himself as "broke". Can we say "hypocrite"?

Feel free to PM me if anyone has any further questions - glad to help anyway I can.

[Grendal]

My experience at Al Hassa with Shabaka is worth mentioning here. The students at King Faisal are notorious for going straight to the dean. One day I asked everyone in class to turn to so and so page and noticed that only half the class had brought in their books. Well that was it. I teamed up students with no books with the ones that brought them. The next problem was the lack of notebooks, pens and paper, which 3/4s of the class didn't have. I asked that the ones that do have paper share it with the class and give some to students without paper. It was going good until I noticed no one but a chosen few good students were taking any notes from my meticulous board work. So I decided to stop and asked the students that did take notes if they could photocopy it for the class and give it to them later so that they could do their homework.

What happened after that class was over was beyond me. Some of the students with books went to complain to the dean that I made them share their books with other students. Some of the students with extra paper went to the dean to complain that I made them give out their paper to other students and finally my best students went to the dean and complained that I made them photocopy their notes to hand out to other student who didn't take notes.

I was labelled as inadequate classroom manager from that day on and had regular visits from Mr. PJ observing my class. When I asked for feedback he said that it was ok and there was nothing to worry about. I thought well that's strange because after any sort of classroom observation the teacher being observed should get feedback and also be given a chance to reflect on things done right and things needing improvement. This is what I am used to anyways. It seems that a conspiracy started from that day on to get me out of there and I was eventually asked not to teach summer school that year (2009).

I was furious, to say the least, and asked the dean what his reason for this was. He just said that he did not know about my case personally but noticed that there were a lot of illy qualified teachers that Shabaka had brought in and that he wanted to create a screening process for all the teachers being hired for the next year. The Shabaka side didn't help me out in anyway they just wished the problem (me) to disappear, saving face and avoiding confrontation all in one lethal stroke of the pen.

Hey you from Qassim University going to Al Hassa to work for King Faisal University through Shabaka contracting. Beware or be square. You are entering one of the most dangerous snake pits known to man. You will need to align yourself carefully with the university faculty, students, Shabaka, PJ, the other contracted teachers, and then some. You know who you are and this is my advice to you. You are young and will be like clay in their hands ready to be moulded in their image or cast aside if you are not their shape.

Grendal

[veiledsentiments]

[cmp45]

Students that repeatedly forget to bring textbooks, notebooks and even take notes...is inevitable, but if it happens again and again with the same students...I would let them sit there with nothing...asking students that are bringing their own supplies to share with the slackers only perpetuates the situation.
Asking students to photo copy notes for other students that can not bother to write their own notes is an over the top request! I'd complain too if I were a student.

[No_Longer_Surprised]

I agree with cmp45. I can't imagine asking, nor have I ever asked, a student to share thier supplies, books, or work with another student unless they were in first grade!!

If I were one of these students, I would definately complain.

[Grendal]