Job Discussion Forums

thelmadatter · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:20 pm Post subject: CYA

So tell me, just how bad is the "cover your @ss" mentality in this country?

Our first period exams were a disaster (IMHO) and there was a huge disagreement over how to take care of the problem. Much of the issue seemed to revolved around saving face. I was taken a little to task because I actually admitted to my students that the test (written collaboratively by the dept, including me) was problematic. My boss warned me that my students would twist my words and start some kind of campaign against me and/or the school that could last years!

Now he is probably exaggerating about the "years" thing -- but he upfront told me that we had to protect the school's reputation and that I had to "learn how to operate in this culture."

I didnt think too much about what I had said (after all, if I did, I wouldnt have admitted telling the boss what I said). To me, it was simply acknowledging a problem to reassure my students that I was rectifying it. But my boss didnt see it that way. What are your thoughts? How out of line was I?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Well, for my personality type, you weren't out of line. Can't stand bullspit myself. but...

I suppose receiving a paycheque means following the company line at times. I think you were reasonable. I wouldn't even boil it down to a simplistic us vs them attitude on admitting such a problem. I'm sure Mexicans, as anyone else, would apprectiate the acknowledgement and further expression of a fix in progress.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

If I think about it and put myself either in the position of the students who heard the comment or the boss who was told it, I'd probably be disgruntled.

From the students' point of view, having to sit a test which the teacher admits is flawed would drive me nuts. I'd be fuming while I took it thinking what a waste of time it was and how I would not have a chance to get any kind of useful score even if I pass it. I'd feel ripped off by the system and concerned that my whole education might be a con too.

From the boss's standpoint, I'd be concerned that if the teacher admits this to me, he might well be saying other stuff to students that he would not admit. Kind of like a where there's smoke there's fire attitude. I wouldn't call this paranoia - it's just how I've learned to read my staff when they drop offhand comments like this. I ignore them to my peril. I would probably have done pretty much the same thing as your boss did if you were working for me (a Brit) here in Japan.

This would be particularly the case if the teacher was involved jointly in producing or setting the test. Making negative comments to students about something others have been involved in creating is not going to help morale from anyone's point of view even if you are right in your criticisms. You also have to weigh up what snowball's chance in hell you have of changing anything even if you do voice your opinion. I'm not advocating sticking your head in the sand. It's just that we should weigh up the costs to see if there will be anything left to build with once we have torn down what exists.

So, I wouldn't feel too bad about what happened. I think Ben is right - this is something you can definitely learn from. Wink

thelmadatter · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 5:01 pm Post subject: sigh

Thanks for the feedback guys. I guess I keep forgetting Im not in Kansas (or New Jersey) anymore!

MELEE · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2003 11:06 pm Post subject:

I've found that the Mexican Memory can be very very long. Of course the details change and get exagerated or distorted, but the overall good or bad impression can persist for generations. Your students may protest if their children want to send their granchildren to your school because they'll remember that back at the turn of the century an English teacher told them that the exams weren't valid....