Job Discussion Forums

[bshabu]

I just have a quick question, especially for those who have been here for awhile.

What responsibilities do you have at work? Other than teaching I mean.

I work at a Kindergarten and have responsibilities that the time may call for. Recently, we had a our happyoukai at our school. All they teachers and staff you quite busy and could not be in the office. So they ask me to answer the phone. I think this is a big responsibility. I have been in Japan for a long time, but only since April at this school. I was shock and flattered when they asked me this.

Some other responsibilities are taking a kid to the hospital. Granted I was not alone with him. I was asked to ride the school bus with the kids to return them home.

I am asking this, not complaining, but curious how many have been treated more as an equal by given extra responsibilities.

[shmooj]

Answering the phone? No way. I still hate the phone even after five years.

Other stuff teachers are expected to do here includes:
handing out flyers occasionally
staff meetings
prof development meetings/seminars
closing down the building
recycling
cleaning classrooms
washing cups used for class tea-time
driving to outside locations
helping plan and run parties for adults/kids
contributing to school newsletter occasionally
helping out with stuff like helping a new teacher settle in etc
admin to do with classes

[Glenski]

At my high school, I have to do the following besides teach.

Attend 3-4 meetings a week, usually in Japanese.
Be on security for various events. (Walk around school on patrol.)
Help homeroom teacher with a zillion things from distributing papers to meeting PTA members.
Coach impromptu speech candidates even if they don't take my classes.
Provide mock interviews for people applying to foreign universities.
Proofread English documents as they arise.
Set up meeting rooms with chairs & tables.
Take part in a special projects committee in which I'm on 3 subcommittees to search for various information or set up things in English.
Monitor major exams even if I didn't contribute to writing them.
Serve as a member of the rescue team in case of emergency.
Design future class curricula and select materials for those classes.
Substitute for absent teachers even if I know nothing about their classes.
Write sections for major tests, including taping of listening sections.
Correct sections of major tests, even if it's not a subject I have taught.
Plan major speech contests (make the brochure, select judges, make judging forms, etc.)