Job Discussion Forums

[delal]

What's discipline like in private schools in Mexico? I'm thinking of moving there and I'd like to have an idea of what I'd be getting myself into
Here in Turkey the kids are pretty wild and spoilt, which is to be expected, but there are also a few kids who are an actual physical danger to other kids eg attack them with scissors in the classroom (1st grade). How would the latter be dealt with in Mexico? Here the kids aren't told off and parents aren't informed. Another kid was trying to poke his classmates in the eye with a pin and the student counsellor sent him back to class with a pair of scissors. He then started beating me up because I wouldn't give him a sticker and I was basically told by the head of the primary school that I should have given him one. Here teachers have to accept that if they want to keep their jobs then they shouldn't "rock the boat," even if other kids are in physical danger.
Any comments/insights into the situation in Mexico are most welcome

[Enchilada Potosina]

[TeresaLopez]

My experience is similar to EP�s, which is a large part of why I no longer teach children, Howeve, it does vary a little from school to school, some in more middle income areas are a little more serious about education than schools that are all rich kids, so you have fewer attitude problems with kids in the more modest schools, but the pay is lower too. As for physical danger, no, I don�t think the other parents would put up with their kids being assalted in school. They might not care if the teacher is, but they do care if their kids are.

[delal]

Thank you both for replying.
Do they actually expel kids? Here they just drug them and hope for the best
Looks like I'd better think again about where to teach though. Unfortunately I may be doomed to teach in a private school wherever I go as I have a kid so I need compatible hours
Are you both working in language schools now?
Happy New Year by the way

[TeresaLopez]

Yes, private schools sometimes expel kids. For example, in a school in my neighborhood some older boys held down a 1st grade student and cut off all his hair. They were all expelled and the teacher was fired. I think she was a problem teacher anyway, so they used that as the straw that broke the camels back, and got rid of her. If you think about it, it is pretty scary that a 6 year isn�t being watched very closely, it could have been far worse. MOD EDIT I have also worked for language institutes, and while I did like the work and students, for the most part, the way got to be pretty low. It wasn�t always that way, there was a time when working for a language school was very, very well paid, ut that was many moons ago.

[Prof.Gringo]

Horror story from a Mexican colegio:

A student was videotaped while using the bathroom (inside the stall). The video was uploaded to the internet, and in the end only 1 of the 3 students that participated was "expelled" but he was allowed to return to the school so he could take all of the tests and still pass the school year, so really, what WAS the point?.

A female teacher was disciplined for not breaking up a fight as two male students went at it. She said to me thay she feared for her own safety and was not going to risk personal injury.

But for the most part, the Ss only behave in a horrible manner here. You will most likely never be assaulted. But if you have issues with Ss behavior or even violence, don't expect the admin to be much help.

[delal]

Thanks Prof Gringo
Sounds the same as here-Turkey-really. I was reprimanded by everyone in the chain of command above me-all together in one room-basically because I made a fuss about a vicious 6 yr old bully who attacked a special needs kid with a pair of scissors on the forehead (you may have guessed that I quit-they weren't expecting that-but I couldn't and wouldn't stay to take responsabilty should there be a nasty accident on my watch. Firstly, I would've had that on my conscience and secondly because I have no doubt that the admin would have thrown me under the bus. I really like teaching kids but it's actually a dangerous job!
Where's your "here"? A particular school or Mexico in general?

[Prof.Gringo]

[brian1972]

I work at a private school. The kids are in general, just normal "kids" in the lower grades. Spoiled, but kids. When you get to 5th and up you start getting spoiled kids who know their parents call the shots, not the school. They pay to go there, the school wants the money, therefore the kids stay... regardless of behavior. Also, grading is a bit different. If you give bad grades, you are generally percived as a "bad teacher". Good grades = good teacher. At my school, you CAN give bad grades and teachers have. However, once you do that... you will have angry parents banging your door down and freaking out because they have angel children who have never received a bad grade in their lives and it is all YOUR fault. If you can handle the culutral difference of the parents have more power than the admin and give good grades to kids that don't deserve it, you should be fine I taught in Central America last year and it was stressfull for me at first, but I am over it now. Whatever, I just play by their rules!

[Prof.Gringo]

[brian1972]

[FreddyM]

Discipline can be a horror, especially at the middle school level. After one year teaching at that level I will never do it again anywhere.
If you can manage the younger kids in primary school, it is a bit better. You can still strike fear into those little muchkins. Parents are a different matter. And the administration is no help at all. I've never taught at the prepa (high school) level before, but I hear it is better than secundaria.
If you can deal with the realities of where you are, admin no help, spoilt kids, demanding parents, be flexible, don't be too strict with grades, don't take your job too seriously, then maybe you might be successful. Oh, and I've never been bribed (or even offered a bribe), and I have failed kids before without any negative consequences to me.

I started another thread listing some of the colegios where you can probably find a good job in D.F. Take a look, the pictures at least can give you an idea of what some of the facilities look like, and they list tuition fees, to get an idea how much parents spend to send their kids there.

[TeresaLopez]

There are some colegios in more middle class areas where the kids are different. The parents usually respect the teachers a lot more, the kids behave better and expect the kids to perform. The pay decent wages, in the $15,000 peso per month range, plus a good benefit package, but they rarely advertise, so you almost always get the jobs through your contacts. I was offered a job by a former collegue last year and actually went to the school a few times to check it out, and I think it would have been a great wok environment.

[Enchilada Potosina]

[delal]

Thank you all for your input
Looks like things aren't much better on the other side of the pond unless you get really lucky.
Personally I think I'll stay put and find something outside EFL to do instead. I do envy you all being in Mexico though