Job Discussion Forums

[Don McChesney]

Being the person referred to in Tofuman's posting (above), I loved it.
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story, especially if you are a Conspiracy Theorist.

[clark.w.griswald]

[Don McChesney]

You got it in one, clark. 100% correct in your thinking.

[tofuman]

My point not being that the foreign teacher was injured, but rather an elaborate manipulation contrived to bring him to the school again. The reason? The school was about to go from 3 FTs to zero, quite a loss of face for the FAO. So they were willing to spend some money, two weeks salary for me, and plant some phoney information with me: I was being kept around for a training session,"maybe."

You think FTs are willing to work in a third rate school with sociopathic administrators, mediocre students or worse, living a short distance from a major thoroughfare with its attendant noise, dust, and fume pollution? Some are, but generally, people don't choose circumstances like that if they have a choice. Had I been a compliant victim type, the other FT may not have been welcome back. They seemingly blew him off once before. Anyway, I once said atheists and corrupt [i]laoban[i] deserve each other, so I hope the happy couple enjoy their time together.

Unless you happen to be especially fond teen age girls, there is little to recommend the place.

Your naivete regarding the agenda and capabilities of some of these "school" administrators is going to cost you.

[Don McChesney]

Someone has to work here, Tofuman, to help some of the 4000 teenage girls (15 to 19 years old) to get an education and a real life for themselves in future, and not surprisingly, many do want to do well and respect good teachers.
It's not all doom and gloom here, believe me. For example tonight there is a 'party' where they will sing, dance and have fun and some teachers will join in as well. About 2500 girls will be the audience, and all are set to enjoy it.
I'm going too!!

ps We need 3 or 4 good teachers soon, female FT's are welcome, for our proposed new education model. PM me if you are interested.
Don in Zhengzhou.

[clark.w.griswald]

[tofuman]

Clark,

Not important for you to get it. If you like teenage girls, administrators who constantly lie to you, "colleagues" who report the substance of your private conversations to the FAO, students who failed to get into high school because of poor exam scores, the pollution of a dirty city and a major thoroughfare, then have a go at it.

Any school that pays salaries and provides legal documents is worth a look.

I'm glad to hear the the school in question is interested in hiring GOOD teachers. That's definitely an improvement. Few schools are interested in GOOD teachers. They simply want WHITE ones. If you are willing to pander to teenage girls and sociopathic administrators, you are likely GOOD enough for the school in question.

For some, a colleague like Don and a school like his might be a good match. For others it is poison.

As I pointed out in another thread, a reliable source has reported that this school is in or on the verge of bankruptcy and is being investigated for fraud and corruption. Anyone contemplating an institution with this kind of baggage should move very carefully.


Note that this new education model is being "proposed." This could very well be another scam to secure the ongoing presence of an FT. FAOs are great at creating busy work and ghosting relationships, alliances, etc. to help pathetic human beings give meaning to their lives. They do it for themselves all the time, why not for others, if it serves their agenda?

If the school survives the fraud and corruption investigation, or even if it doesn't, maybe it can be reinvented and deliver a decent education to young people who truly want it.

[clark.w.griswald]

[tofuman]

Clark, Your attempt to exegete my post indicates an abundance of free time. May I suggest that you devote your considerable skill to a document worthy of your talents, say the Pauline corpus, especially Romans and Galatians. I'm going to assume that it is my inability to clearly write in English that is the cause of your misperceptions. I'll briefly clear up a few of those misunderstandings.

It was not my intention to complain about a school. I apologize if it appeared that way. I do believe that the school in question is worth taking a look at because they did provide proper documents and prompt remuneration. That they hired me does not indicate that they were interested in qualified individuals to teach English. I have very little training in that area. I have little interest in the subject. The English language paradigm that is shaping China currently is deeply flawed.

To unleash Chinese people who speak English on the Western world is akin to letting a pack of wild dogs loose in a market place. Unless the Chinese are taught the business ethic of the West, akin to the golden rule, their presence in the market place is likely to provoke a war.

Your assumption that we are equally able/ unable to assess the situation there overlooks the two years I spent there and the history I have with the principals of the place. People do not change from sociopathic liars to pillars of truth without a radical transformation of character, something it is unlikely anyone there has experienced. If they must smoke 3- 5 cigarettes before a meal, they must continue to lie and deceive to accomplish their goals.

The other thread about a school getting its due and this thread somewhat overlap. As I pointed out on that thread, enough students are dissatisfied with the school to initiate a sort of class action suit against the school. There are other serious issues that remain to play out. Of course it is possible that I was misinformed about the situation. Time will tell. I did not name the school or its locale for that reason.

My situation is quite different now. I learned a lot of things there, particularly to be very wary of Chinese people who say they are my friends. I treasure every night I can sleep without being interrupted and appreciate the freedom from city pollution that I enjoy. I'm able to pursue my other interests with considerable freedom.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder.... LOL

Good luck in your experiences.