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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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 Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Personally I was always happy to find a few "eslbear" types in the department. It was such a pleasure to not hear them carping about perceived slights or things that "weren't the way we did it back home" wherever that was... :cool:
VS |
Yes, but you can hear them carping about being morally superior to the more sensitive souls. |
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urbanversion
Joined: 27 Jan 2011
Posts: 426
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:58 am Post subject: re: top down |
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It is a problem of Omanis passing decrees, sub-continentals and phillipinos who won't question them, as asians generally don't talk back to managers or question anything. With perhaps a mix of british red tape thrown in as well to the mix.
This results in frustration for the humble western FT.
As littlejohn would say: You couldn't make it up! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| isabel wrote: |
| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Personally I was always happy to find a few "eslbear" types in the department. It was such a pleasure to not hear them carping about perceived slights or things that "weren't the way we did it back home" wherever that was... 
VS |
Yes, but you can hear them carping about being morally superior to the more sensitive souls. |
And that too is a gross over-generalization. Many, if not most, teachers just get on with their job and leave the carping on both sides to those that are over-obsessed with themselves.
VS |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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We all have our own experiences to call upon. I have seen both the whingers and the sanctimonious. But, given the problems at too many of these schools, the ones who complained often had good reason, and often the reason was to improve the circumstances of their students and colleagues. And the sanctimonious were often busy feathering their own nests.
Yes, I may have overgeneralized, but it is also an over-generalization to say that people complaining are "over-obsessed with themselves".
I found it really hard to trust people or trust my own judgment. It sharpened my instincts, but I think it cast a shadow over my soul I am still trying to exorcise. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| isabel wrote: |
| Yes, I may have overgeneralized, but it is also an over-generalization to say that people complaining are "over-obsessed with themselves". |
From what I saw in my 15+ years in the ME, I think I "under-generalized" on this point. Only a tiny minority of the chronic whingers were concentrating on either the students or their colleagues...
But, that is human nature...
VS |
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Space Teacher
Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Sharqiya University. Yay or Nay? |
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| While I was out wrote: |
Anyone got the skinny on the Sharqiya University? I've heard there were/are issues with current staff.
When I say issues with current staff, I mean they are experiencing trials and tribulations relating to pay and holiday entitlement. |
Just a quick reminder of the original question that was posed and its intended purpose.
The poster was obviously asking for points of view of the institution in question and for verification of the information. Which needless to say sounds rather "bad', hence some negative posts.
Once again, there is no point attacking the negative points of view, just because you may be tired of hearing them. Someone else may genuinely want/need to hear them.
As for the "positive points of view" of said institution, they seem to mainly come under the category of attacking posters who have had a difficult/ unpleasant time at this institution.
Instead of attacking such posters, perhaps we should allow those (if any) who enjoyed their time there to give their views instead!!
Furthermore, those who have suffered those "trials and tribulations" perhaps need to vent their feelings, given what may have occurred. If it bothers you to read it, then don't. Try to be a little sympathetic if you do read it.
A strong offense does not necessarily make a good defense. 
Eid mubarak to all! You just have to love meat on a stick! |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| Only a tiny minority of the chronic whingers were concentrating on either the students or their colleagues... |
I beg to differ. At FMC I along with those seated around me fired shots aimed at issues that did affect students directly or indirectly.
And we had a store of ammunition, let me tell ya.
MEB |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:16 am Post subject: |
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| Middle East Beast wrote: |
| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| Only a tiny minority of the chronic whingers were concentrating on either the students or their colleagues... |
I beg to differ. At FMC I along with those seated around me fired shots aimed at issues that did affect students directly or indirectly.
And we had a store of ammunition, let me tell ya.
MEB |
So... were you a chronic whinger? Not something I would brag about. It is almost always a complete waste of time that only causes more problems and a completely unhappy working situation.
VS |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:39 am Post subject: |
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The age-old question of the chicken or the egg...
Do those who raise concerns about issues at the college create the bad working environment, or does the bad working environment create the voicing of concerns?
I say it's the latter. Teachers aren't responsible for the DA issues that create so many problems for students and teachers.
If you go with the flow, you go over the falls.
MEB |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:45 am Post subject: |
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| Middle East Beast wrote: |
The age-old question of the chicken or the egg...
Do those who raise concerns about issues at the college create the bad working environment, or does the bad working environment create the voicing of concerns?
I say it's the latter. Teachers aren't responsible for the DA issues that create so many problems for students and teachers.
If you go with the flow, you go over the falls.
MEB 8) |
Well said. I agree. Some people are always complaining about everything in the world. But when most of the people are complaining about something- there is usually a reason. People who travel the world teaching are generally pretty flexible, but some of the problems encountered at ME universities test the most seasoned of them. |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:57 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| Middle East Beast wrote: |
| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| Only a tiny minority of the chronic whingers were concentrating on either the students or their colleagues... |
I beg to differ. At FMC I along with those seated around me fired shots aimed at issues that did affect students directly or indirectly.
And we had a store of ammunition, let me tell ya.
MEB 8) |
So... were you a chronic whinger? Not something I would brag about. It is almost always a complete waste of time that only causes more problems and a completely unhappy working situation.
VS |
I beg to differ on this one. The problems at the uni where I taught are being dealt with- on Omani time, but being dealt with. If people just continued to sweep the issues under the rug, the problems would have continued. The problems? Poor curriculum, teachers who didn't teach, class sizes, unfair distribution of work loads, teachers who were abusive to their students, etc. All of these things affect the students and affect the entire faculty. The little cabal which had been able to run the place (into the ground) are now all gone and things are improving. That little group didn't complain about things- until their reign was challenged- then they became the biggest whingers in the department. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| isabel wrote: |
| The little cabal which had been able to run the place (into the ground) are now all gone and things are improving. That little group didn't complain about things- until their reign was challenged- then they became the biggest whingers in the department. |
They tore the department to pieces, but would very likely come on here and sound like MEB (no criticism to you MEB). They would claim that what they did was right and proper and they were only trying to fix the problems... when they were a large percentage of the problem.
That is how it always goes. Because the chronic whingers always think that they are right and everyone else is wrong. Which is why I am back to my original comment that they may think that they are concentrating on the students/colleagues issues, but it is really back to me me me.
VS |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe the problem is the definition of whingers,
There are people who complain and complain and complain but who never actually attempt any practical measures to effect change. All talk, no action.
But then there are also those who complain AND at least TRY to improve matters.
I think that perhaps VS is writing about the first kind whereas Isabel is writing about the second.
Regards,
John |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Maybe the problem is the definition of whingers,
There are people who complain and complain and complain but who never actually attempt any practical measures to effect change. All talk, no action.
But then there are also those who complain AND at least TRY to improve matters.
I think that perhaps VS is writing about the first kind whereas Isabel is writing about the second.
Regards,
John |
And who would you say I'm writing about?
I reject the notion that if you don't have a solution don't complain about the problem. If you don't speak up, then often you're criticized later for not doing so after the consequences of the issues are realized or grow out of control.
I'll state again that the institutions create the issues. Without the issues there's no basis for complaint.
I won't march in lockstep, go with the flow, and over the falls. HCT has gone over the falls because it didn't listen to the complaints, and in fact, was offended by notion that anyone would dare question any of their policies.
MEB |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
But then there are also those who complain AND at least TRY to improve matters.
I think that perhaps VS is writing about the first kind whereas Isabel is writing about the second. |
Probably so John. But... I found that way too many of those in the second group were totally convinced that they were members of the first.
VS |
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