Job Discussion Forums

[Fitzgerald]

I know that I am reasonably fortunate in the job I have here in Mexico. I teach at a university-attached prepa at a campus in a regional capital. I'm nearing the end of my second year. I do not teach English, but a number of humanities subjects in English. I have my own office, which is a lovely perk. I am well-paid for Mexico, even if it doesn't amount to all that much in U.S. dollars.

And yet, I do have my issues, and lately I am thinking a lot about whether I should move on.

The students are one issue, and the school administration is another, but the two issues do seem to be closely related. Basically, whenever I have a behavioral or academic problem with an individual student, or, worse, a behavioral problem with a whole class, and I ask for assistance, there is no back-up to be found.

The "principal" is a public relations figurehead who is in other buildings (or other cities) taking meetings, seemingly 75% of the time. Her main functions are recruiting and hanging out with other university administrators. In no sense does she "run" the school. But no one else seems to, either.

There are no assistant principals. There is no one who is officially tasked with disciplinary matters, and no one who takes them on informally, either. There are no trained guidance counselors, no school psychologist, no special education department. Probably none of that is usual in Mexico. It's amazing to me how a prepa here can charge big tuition bucks for far less in the way of facilities, services, and staff than your average American public high school offers. I don't mean to be snooty about it, but it does make a conscientious teacher's life difficult!

This school has a lot of very rich kids, especially in its "upper track" (which is much more of a socio-economic upper track than an academic one). They are largely uncontrolled and get to do what they want. They live in an atmosphere of entitlement without any fear of consequences (because there are none here). Given all that, it is undoubtedly fortunate that they are "good" kids overall, albeit frightfully self-centered, because if they were "bad" kids, they'd be burning the place down for kicks.

Really, it's like a day camp with a pseudo-academic veneer. I feel like I'm living inside an episode of MTV's My Super Sweet Sixteen.

I should add that I do have some very nice, smart students who are rewarding to teach and interact with. Maybe 15-20% of the total. I think that I am a friendly, approachable teacher, but also a fairly challenging one, because this is supposed to be college prep, and some students don't care for that at all. Cheating is rampant here; dishonest students have techniques that CIA and KGB spies didn't have available to them back in the Sixties.

Does any of this strike a chord with others? Is it about par for the course? Have those of you who have encountered these issues, especially the lack of back-up, gritted it out, or moved on?

[notamiss]

I don�t have anything to help you, but I�m wondering� you mention there are no assistant principals � doesn�t your school have a director t�cnico? In my (limited) experience, that�s the person who is in charge of discipline, just like the vice principals in our high schools back home.

Also, in my (again limited) experience, it is normal to have a school psychologist, or access to one. Even in the public schools my kids went to.

[notamiss]

Also, do a search for �prepa� in this forum, and you�ll find that you are not alone. One memorable thread was http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=60104.

[MotherF]

I can't offer you any help either, other than to say, I've been using Dave's in someway or another since 1998 and I've heard your story time and time again.

I also hope that parents considering a bilingual school such as this one take note. I've come be believe that at high school in Mexico--public is actually much much better because they routinely kick problem students out of their schools.

[Fitzgerald]

[Fitzgerald]

[Fitzgerald]

I look forward to reading whatever further replies appear, but already, this has been very helpful to me! Both the responses here, and reading in detail the thread linked to above.

Since my school, although presenting real frustrations, is far from being as terrible as the worst of what I'm reading about, I feel that maybe I can survive here for a while if I adjust my expectations a little and keep my blood pressure from spiking too often.

Certainly there would not seem to be too much point in trying to switch prepas within Mexico when I might easily wind up someplace worse. That was part of what I wanted to find out.

The last few weeks have been difficult - I've had to bust a couple of blatant cheaters during an exam; had to end a class early because of out-of-control behavior; had 1/4 of an upper track class fail their First Partial Period; expressed some hard feelings toward their tutor (who promises to help, but never does); vented to my confidantes here; and written an email detailing my frustrations to the principal, my department head, the director of the upper track, and that tutor. I worried I might get fired for my honesty, then decided to go ahead anyway. I was in that kind of mood.

I've had email (not in-person) responses that the issues I raise concern them, and that they will take those issues up. I rather doubt that they will, but I'm not going to push it further. I had already agreed a month ago to return for a third year, and I don't want to jeopardize that more than I already have, because losing the job would mess up my life right now. My thinking about leaving had been focused on the year after that, and it still can be.

I don't want to develop a reputation here at school as a whiner or malcontent. That wouldn't be helpful. I fear I've been edging closer to it, as I've continued putting out distress signals because I truly hoped that someone would respond to them in some way. Now, I've come to believe that won't happen. They might humor me to an extent as long as I don't go too far with my bitching; or they might fire me if they get tired of it (although I just recently had an excellent performance review, which is in my file, and got a small raise). But actually dealing with my gripes would be a lot bigger deal for them than I at first tended to think; I'm up against a norm, and effecting a paradigm shift in another culture is well beyond my power.

I believe I do some good for some students. Perhaps that is all any teacher anywhere can do. I should probably try to lighten up on my reactions to the behavioral and academic non-cooperativeness by too many students and occasional whole classes, without gutting my academic standards. (I try to find ways for students not to fail, but I have no compunction about passing them low. In my grading practice, a "B" shows pretty noteworthy effort, and an "A" really counts for something.)

[davidmsgi]

If you think of the business side of private education here in Mexico, it all makes more sense. The parents are the clients - they pay the money that pays for EVERYTHING - including your salary and the salaries of your bosses.

The kids are also clients - keep them happy, they tell their parents good things about the school, the kids return each year, and the parents keep paying. It's common for multiple children from the same family to attend the same school. These are the most valuable clients of the school, since they generate MULTIPLE payments.

As long as the money keeps flowing, the school leadership is happy, you keep your job, and the school is "successful."

Rock the money train, and you will be gone. The teacher is the disposable factor in this equation - the parents and kids are not.

Education is a secondary consideration in this business - after all of the clients are made "happy", we do our best to provide some education.

I think your job sounds about as good as it gets. Keep your perspective, go with the flow, understand your place in the "money machine", and always look at the glass as "half full."

As long as the kids don't burn the place down, your job is secure.

If they DO decide to burn the place down some day, don't be the one to pull the fire alarm, and don't grab a fire extinguisher - you'll still have your job when the new school is built.

[Fitzgerald]

[tjteachin]

I've had many wonderful experiences teaching in Mexico. It's been a mixed bag with private institutions. My first prepa in 2004 wasn't good. I had spoiled, misbehaving, and rude students. The admin didn't do a thing. Since I had just inherited some money, I quit after only 3 months and opened my own schools.

A couple of years ago I had a similar experience in another school. (I had sold my interest in my schools since I couldn't correct all the problems I had inherited from the previous owner.) There I worked with all ages and levels from elementary to high school. The juniors highers were actually quite lovely and I was able to work with them. But the high schoolers would never shut up long enough to let me teach while the elementary students misbehaved (not all of them, but enough) and it was my first experience working with students that young. While there was some sympathy from the admin and they made some modest efforts, it was out of hand. After a month the parents didn't want me there anymore, so I was showed the door.

But not to be discouraged. I'm sure some prepas are good to work at and teachers are content there. Nonetheless, I agree that in for-profit schools, the main concern is making money, not education. (Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get my partners to focus more on the educational aspect and not as much on the profit side.)

Meanwhile I left Mexico temporarily and came to Oman to make some real money. Now I'm building up my savings again and I'll go back to Mexico ready to have my own schools again (among other businesses). I'll be sure that my school not only makes money (if at all possible), but also that it really educates students and matches them with good employers, for those students who will be looking for jobs. Also, the teachers will have the necessary support. Even if I have to expel a few students, I really want my school to truly educate students and benefit society, in addition to making some money. In the long run, I will gain from a better reputation in the community. There are wayyyy too many schools that don't offer a quality education at all (my former schools that I owned included, despite my best efforts to change the sad state of affairs).

[Fitzgerald]

[litterascriptor]

I wonder, if you just teach and ignore the ones misbehaving, would you get in trouble for it?

I know if my boss wasn't willing to give me support I wouldn't much bother trying to get the students to toe the line. Though I rarely need it as I handle my own classroom problems, but the rare occasion when I need my boss to tweak some ears, she's been great.

[Fitzgerald]

[litterascriptor]

Ahh, hmmm... yeah... disconcerting to say the least.

I have classes like that. I put all the students into groups and penalize the entire group for one person's cheating. Takes a few times before they figure it out and start policing themselves or keeping it under the table enough where I can't see it.

I suspect even that would cause you problems.