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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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 Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Hey It's Scary... come on. YOU didn't do that, you didn't leave by choice or protecting some concept of "honor" or something... you got the ax with the batch at ADW. (as has been discussed here in the past)
I see nothing wrong with the people who are able to deal with it all and keep what can be a decent job with good pay if you are at the right branch. Heaven knows that there aren't enough jobs to absorb all these teachers if they all followed your advice.
I'm sure that they have zero problems looking at themselves in the mirror. And I say... more power to 'em. We all do what we have to do to survive in this world which can be tough on teachers - especially those with families and kids to educate.
VS |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Hey It's Scary... come on. YOU didn't do that, you didn't leave by choice or protecting some concept of "honor" or something... you got the ax with the batch at ADW. (as has been discussed here in the past)
I see nothing wrong with the people who are able to deal with it all and keep what can be a decent job with good pay if you are at the right branch. Heaven knows that there aren't enough jobs to absorb all these teachers if they all followed your advice.
I'm sure that they have zero problems looking at themselves in the mirror. And I say... more power to 'em. We all do what we have to do to survive in this world which can be tough on teachers - especially those with families and kids to educate.
VS |
Let's be clear here. I am not, by any means, disparaging this poster per se. I am commenting on the mindset that she defends.
What I am and have always been opposed to is that set of teachers who view themselves as glorified baby-sitters. You don't strike me as having been one of that crowd. Those who fall into the "baby-sitter" mindset have become jaded and have become a part of the problem. At that point, IMHO, it's time to move on...or...out and back.
Of course, I didn't leave on my own. That little trick was engineered when I made it public and clear that I was going to finish out the last year of my contract and keep my word. They are the ones who made their contract not worth the paper it is printed out on. And, because of that, they paid through the nose. But, even then, I walked (or was ushered) out with my head held high and my principles intact.
Too many times I had the baby-sitters undermine me by desperately wanting to be the "good" teachers. I called the attendance...they let them waltz in whenever they wanted to. I didn't allow them to choke on their chips and soda pops at their desks...they could care less if half couldn't follow the lesson due to the constant crunching and smacking, etc, etc...
And, we all know what the "good" teachers don't do-THEY'RE JOBS! (All caps for emphasis!)
It's my story stickin' to it! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 2:06 am Post subject: |
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| It's Scary! wrote: |
Let's be clear here. I am not, by any means, disparaging this poster per se.
...
It's my story stickin' to it! |
Well... I thought your post that I was responding to did just that... it sure looked like an attack to me. Any time anyone says anything even semi-positive about their job at HCT, you and a couple other posters pounce. We both know serious, hard-working teachers at HCT. By painting with such a broad brush, you are also sort of attacking them for not leaving... and you know as well as I do why most haven't... as yet. It isn't a perfect world. 
Let us warn people about the pitfalls of HCT, but let's not overstate the situation. In relative terms, someone living from paycheck to paycheck in the US or wherever should not be faulted for jumping at the chance to be able to pay off their bills, own a car, and travel. Or stay a few more years to pay off the kids' college tuition or be able to retire.
VS
(psst... while I consider myself a serious teacher, I too often describe teaching in the Middle East as glorified baby-sitting because that is what it so often is. Many (most?) of the young women at HCT are not serious academics or will even be able to join the work force if they want to... and that's fine even if all they leave with is better English. This isn't a system turning out brain surgeons, after all...  ) |
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republocrat
Joined: 14 May 2010
Posts: 70
Location: Stuck in Traffic on Airport Road
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I think IS is being a little too emotional and ungenerous too. Most of our teaching here in the UAE is a pretence, and some of it even is baby-sitting, but I guess we're all aware of that - and even learn to do it very well!
Those who come here like some sort of Jesuit with a mission to convert will either soon be converted themselves (the money can be quite persuasive!) or realise it's all a sham and go home. And that goes for the management too, as no local wants to be upstaged by some whitey westerner with a superiority complex due to having actually studied the subject!! Either they swallow the local approach to people management and getting things done, or they swan off.
The important thing is to make people aware of the situation before they come, and not believe the recruitment bullshit - or the management bullshit, for that matter.
People like SiJo, the big boss at ADMC, are the saddest ones, as they actually believe their own BS and think they are making a difference. These are the sort of people we should be ridiculing, not the honest teachers. |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:38 am Post subject: |
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| republocrat wrote: |
Yes, I think IS is being a little too emotional and ungenerous too. Most of our teaching here in the UAE is a pretence, and some of it even is baby-sitting, but I guess we're all aware of that - and even learn to do it very well!
Those who come here like some sort of Jesuit with a mission to convert will either soon be converted themselves (the money can be quite persuasive!) or realise it's all a sham and go home. And that goes for the management too, as no local wants to be upstaged by some whitey westerner with a superiority complex due to having actually studied the subject!! Either they swallow the local approach to people management and getting things done, or they swan off.
The important thing is to make people aware of the situation before they come, and not believe the recruitment bullshit - or the management bullshit, for that matter.
People like SiJo, the big boss at ADMC, are the saddest ones, as they actually believe their own BS and think they are making a difference. These are the sort of people we should be ridiculing, not the honest teachers. |
I respect your opinion, republocrat, but choose to respectfully disagree. Not nearly the Jesuit type, I spent 16 years in that morass without once subverting my principles or preaching to others.
My experience is that newbies come into that environment either already jaded or are indoctrinated by those already jaded.
In any regard, it's such a dirty little secret that it is never talked about in staff break rooms...that is...without a furtive look to see whoever was around...much like someone who is about to commit a crime.
So, whatever floats the boat of any self-professed professional, but if it is gloated about here, I will comment again.
BTW, as to what VS revealed at the top of the page...IT GETS BETTER!
It's in my nature (said the scorpion to the frog)! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| It's Scary! wrote: |
| BTW, as to what VS revealed at the top of the page...IT GETS BETTER! |
You are the one who revealed it here in the past in one of the many HCT discussions. And besides, you came out "smelling like a rose" after all the dust settled. Better job and better life all around. 
VS |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011< | |
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