Job Discussion Forums

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Got to work this morningand I see a camera in my classroom.

Not sure how to feel about this one.

In Korea, a school I worked at had a camera in all the classes. This was so that parents could sit at home and watch their little terrors--er, darlings and also so they could "see the foreigner".

After 6 months, I just had gotten used to it when my boss suddenly complained that parents want to see me more (I used to hide under the camera as I am a human not a zoo creature).

I told him basically that he could go to you-know-where (politely of course) and if the parents want to see my class, they are welcome to drop in. It's not a TV show, it's a lesson!

So now my boss put in cameras because parents want to see the white monkey dance and sing.

Does it bother me? Not really. But don't they have anything better to do with their lives? I mean, my boss has 12-20 parents every DAY in his class watching his lessons (I guess to try to get free English lessons?? Not sure).

Does anyone have cameras in their classes and/or parents jammed like sardines along the sides of the classroom wall wanting free lessons?

[Roger]

You said, cameras don't really bother you - I should sort of admire you, man! I do feel pissed off by their presence - luckily, I haven't had to deal with any for some time now...

The first time it happened was when my boss decided to shoot a pic for his advertorial in some newspaper... The funny thing was that I was from that time on known to every street sweeper (always the last guys to pick up those papers and to collect a dime from the recyling mill man).
Then, ever more often pictures were shot without so much as my consent, and a while later, my visage would adorn someone's office wall or yet another...advert.

They even asked the TV to film me while on my job.

You really don't feel "bothered", man?

There went my privacy (again)... Luckily, that TV piece actually saved my skin one time when the cops conducted an ID control in the streets of a small, small town. I had neither passport nor my residence permit on me - and I thought that the cops were going to put me in their lovely guesthouse with barred windows... but then, a local peasant confirmed to the cops that, yes, he had seen me on TV, and so I was off the hook!

[Spiderman Too]

Hey T.G.W.o.W.

Have you ever thought about securing a teaching position at an educational institute, be it a kindergarten, school or university?

[mike w]

In my school parents and cameras are NOT allowed in the classroom, except when teaching small groups ( 3 or 4) of young children (6 or 7 yo), and then one parent per child only, and NO cameras.

The classroom is a place of learning, not an audition room to see if the parents like the teacher.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Roger wrote:

[Sinobear]

You pose for pictures, you do an interview or two, allow cameras to be installed in your classroom...when do you feel that you've lost enough dignity?

A good quote, "You can't be treated like a doormat if you refuse to lie down."

At my former school, I've seen a quick erosion of starting salaries and benefits, coupled with the elevation of verbal abuse towards the FTs by management simply because the staff refused to stand up to it. I left after 5 1/2 years because I was tired of fighting alone.
There's a lot said on these forums about the poor salaries being offered. Perhaps if enough people banded together and refused to work to for paltry salaries and undignified contract conditions, we'd all be better off in the long run.

[Roger]

I would never band together with others to fight for higher pay, full stop. You need a worthier cause for me to take part in it!

But, if fellow whites and blacks could muster enough spine to enforce a rule whereby Chinese must in future ask for our permission to take pictures of us AND USE THEM IN THEIR ADVERTS, you will get my support!

[mike w]

[Sinobear]

What I mean by higher salaries is that employers love the "4500 is more than enough to live comfortably here" line. It's enough to exist...not enough to LIVE. In Beijing, I had an apartment in a Chinese area. I paid 4150RMB per month (this was in 1998 when rents were higher and gouging foreigners was the norm). A Chinese person would only pay 900RMB for the same place. With having to pay a premium for almost everything that could be considered close to a decent standard of living, a "good" Chinese salary is insufficient.
For an 18 year old, living at home in his/her native country, the chance to have a first job and salary in China is an adventure. For those of us who are considered truly professionals (with the education, training, and experience to support that claim), salaries should reflect a comparable position in your native country (keep in mind, "Foreign EXPERT") and should compendsate for such things as remote locations, hardships, extraordinary expenses. 'Nuff said.
I wasn't refering to banding together vis a vis a union-like organziation to demand higher wages, I was making a dual point of solidarity with other FTs within your own organization to prevent the erosion of rights etc. that you already have, and the refusal to accept positions that offer a package that is no different than becoming an indentured servant.
And Roger, what worthier cause is there than the preservation of your basic self respect and dignity?

[struelle]

[burnsie]

Tell the school that they did not have your conscent about filming the class (it wasn't in my contract) and ask for extra money.