Job Discussion Forums

[caleypatrick]

The issue: A number of my university students in a Friday afternoon class asked me if I would mind changing the Friday, April 30th, afternoon class to Monday evening past. It sounded like a great idea, so I did. All 54 students arrived for the Monday class and instruction was provided. (This a curriculum course in Management Fundamentals.) At the last minute, I whipped off an email to the FAO, more out of courtesy than anything else, to inform of class change. That's when the shite hit the fan.

The next day, Tuesday, I was asked to see some University Class Scheduler. He informed me that I would have to give my Friday afternoon class, or pay the university two hours of my salary. I told him the class had already been provided and most of the students had made arrangements to leave school early for the May Holiday. I also told him that the move was made with good intentions and fostered good teacher/student relations, plus all students went to the Monday evening class where a number would have missed the Friday-before-May Day Class. He couldn't have cared less.

To get along, I said that I would have the Friday class, but it would have to be voluntary and that few students would show up or stay for instruction that was already provided. That seemed to appease the lad.

So, this afternoon Friday, he showed up at my classroom door 10 minutes after class started. He told the lone student that was speaking with me that all the students who were missing my class would be disciplined. That when I had about enough of the malarkey. I stood up, got in his face, and told him that if I or any student in this class was disciplined further over this matter that I would be catching the next plane back to America. He became bug eyed, turned and walked away. The student with me said I shouldn't have said that.

So, what's your take?

Yes, my contract does state that classes can only be changed with prior permission of the FAO, but it doesn't speak to sanctions and/or discipline. Mountains of mole hills? I don't know. I've since been told that another student was told to take similar punishment or "it would look bad on his record when contract renewal comes around." The nub is that I couldn't give squat about contract renewal, and whether I go back to the USA now or at the end of my contract is really of little real importance to me. So, again, what's your take?

[caleypatrick]

Yes, it is China, and one must get used to the vagaries of the control state.

I suppose I've been a bit conditioned. When I was teaching a college curriculum course back in America, I had little problem adjusting my course schedule to accommodate school, mine or student needs and at my own volition. I would have thought a little explanation and now that you know the rules please don't do it again to have sufficed in this situation. No, they want their pound of flesh.

[Ariadne]

The problem happened because you were courteous enough to let admin know what you'd done. I did the same thing once and will never do it again. It was ridiculous. I still can't believe how much hoopla there was over a simple class change that was acceptable to both me and the students. I WILL change classes again on occasion, but I will NOT tell admin. Some things in China I just do not understand and never will.

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[kev7161]

One thing I don't get about my school is that they can yank classes away from me or my students without hesitation: holidays, "sports" days, festivals, special occasions, celebrations, etc. When 3-day weekend holidays roll around, it's not unusual for 3 or 4 of my students to be missing a couple days before or after because the parents want a nice long holiday instead. Yet the minute I may want a day off for a personal reason or even if I'm feeling under the weather, they almost have a fit! I have only had one sick day in five years. I've asked my school if I can have one day off in June so I can attend the Shanghai expo with a friend, but in the middle of the week when the crowds won't be quite as heavy. They sure hemmed and hawed about that, I can tell you. However, they have agreed. I'll have some work for the kids to do, a DVD to babysit them, and the Chinese teacher can take an extra class or two if she'd like (she teaches all of one class a day!).

[Jayray]

Why did the FAO get involved? This is a matter for the foreign languages department. The notice should have been sent to the FL department, not the FAO. If your school is large enough to have a resident FAO, it's large enough to have a FL dept..

[dakelei]

Oh, you "emotional" American. I'm one, too. For half of one term I was employed by a university and it was enough. I requested a transfer to a junior middle school to escape the insanity. I completely understand your frustration and your response. I'd almost definitely have done the same thing. If all universities are similar to the one at which I "taught," well, most students would be better off not bothering to attend. Mine seemed to be nothing more than an extension of high school. Boring classes followed by an "exam," the purpose of which is to prove you've memorized everything you're supposed to memorize. Students were awakened at a ungodly hour even if they had no classes and were ordered back to the dorms before midnight, even on the weekends. Independent thought is highly discouraged if not outright banned. Periodic "extra" classes were scheduled to discuss the greatness of Deng Xiaoping. Most of the office staff were "guanxi" hires who were completely incompetent at best or downright corrupt at worst. I'm at a high school now and will never teach at a university again. I know many here consider uni work the best possible here but that wasn't my experience at all.

[johntpartee]

"So, what's your take?"

You were wrong.

[Mister Al]

Despite your good intentions you were wrong:

1. You should have cleared it first. You didn't so you didn't show respect to the person who could give you the okay to change the class.

2. Shouting at the chap in the classroom. Bad idea. You now have at least one enemy in the administration.

Clearly the chap is a bit of a pr1ck but for the sake of better relations maybe you should get ready to make some apologies.

[thessy]

When I first came here, I was very naive. I was worried about getting in trouble for various things, so I always asked my employer for permission before doing anything that could possibly have repercussions. The conversation usually went something like this:

Me: Boss, I would like to do [insert thing that could possibly have any controversy whatsoever attached to it here], but I wanted to make sure it was alright with you first. Am I allowed to do [task]?

Boss: No, you are not allowed to do that, so please do not tell us if you do it.

I was a slow learner, so it took me a couple times before I caught on.

Unless absolutely necessary, just keep quiet about things. Had you not told them, they likely would have never known and there would not have been any problems.

The guy who is acting all anal about things is doing so probably because it's his job to do so. Asking permission for something in China requires someone to make a decision, whicih in itself is a very difficult thing to get. Also in a Chinese system with any kind of hierarchy of power involved, it's a near impossible feat to get approval for anything because anyone can say "no" and take the easy way out, but saying "yes" would require so much hassle (and sometimes a risk to themselves) that nobody is willing to do it.

There are a lot of things in China that are not allowed, but are a total non issue unless the parties involved have their heads up their asses so to speak. For example street vendors don't pay taxes on their wares, but they don't go asking the Chinese Gov't Tax Dept. if it's alright to do that. Tread lightly and avoid rubbing anything in anyone's face and you'll be fine.

In your case, I would suck it up and issue an apology and explanation, because you did exactly the opposite of what I mentioned above. Take it as a learning experience, but don't lose your job over your Chinese employer acting like..well..a Chinese employer.

[johntpartee]

thessy, I think that's bad advice. "Do what you want, just don't tell anybody that you're violating an agreement?" They LIKELY would have never known? Too many "what if's".

[thessy]

I can certainly understand why you feel that way. If I didn't find what I said to be SOP in China, practiced by virtually every peer I have encountered, and encouraged by every employer I've had, I would also feel my advice is very poor.

Everyone must live with the decisions and possible consequences of the choices they make. There is of course risk to what I suggest.

[caleypatrick]

I think the advice not to have told anyone and just to have gone and made the change is what I should have done. I have since been told by several teachers, who are having fun with my situation, that they just go and make the change and everyone looks the other way. Live and learn.

Apologize???? Nope. Not getting off this high horse, unless it's to slap the little shite.

[Sinobear]

caleypatrick:

I, for one, support you on what you did, what you attempted to do (with the admin) and whatever you decide to do as a result.

It is the Chinese school administration's credo of "My way or the highway" or "Do as I say, not as I do." It's funny that administration for colleges and universities do not require either advanced degrees in neither education nor administration. My own college admin is based on connections (friends & family) and is a complete mess.

thessy is correct, too. It's also Chinese SOP to "Act first, seek permission later."

It's NOT about contractual agreements and conditions, it's all about FACE. As a foreigner, you have no face to gain, but you certainly have face to lose (yes, the Chinese understand negative numbers as well). If you "go with the flow" {how many idioms can you spot in this post?} you are being complicit in the very system we all claim to abhor. Does anyone not feel the need for some sort of self-respect for making decisions that are not life-threatening nor counterproductive to student learning?

Eh, I'm rambling. Caleypatrick, stick to your guns and don't back down. Gunboat diplomacy is wrong, but apologizing when there's no apology needed is also wrong.

Good luck.

[gene]

[Sinobear]

Well, Gene, I'm certainly thankful that I am in charge of my program here and answer to nobody but my director in Canada...my teachers can change their timings as caleypatrick has done with a simple SMS or email. Making up class time ahead of the missed time is to be commended rather that those who promise to make up the time after-the-fact.

You can't really apply western SOPs and work ethics (especially bringing contractual agreements) into play considering the blatant disregard (re-read some of the posts in this very same thread for evidence) for justifying that caleypatrick should put his tail between his legs and lick the boots of the admin in this situation.

Logic query: Did his actions cause inconvenience/suffering/hardship/confusion to the students?
Did his actions cause a possible/probable loss of income to the college?
Did his actions put anyone in mortal danger?
Will the world end due to his putting the balance of nature/power out of sync?
Did he connive to hide his intentions? Did his threats to the students involve dire bodilly harm and distress to their families?
Did he (and I certainly hope caleypatrick is a male, otherwise I've made a dire error) threaten to quit if his demands were not met? Oops! He never made demands or threatened anyone, did he? He agreed to make life simpler for his students, was responsible enough to proactively make up the class time, and suffered the wrath of both an anal administration AND other FTs who've, indoubtably, been subject to the whims of non-professional admin types.

Caleypatrick is NOT in the wrong.