Job Discussion Forums

rap60 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 53 Location: Brisbane, Australia

my wife and I are working in a private school - 6000 kids - it's our first FT position. We work with 3 other FT's it is also their first teaching position, we are all new to China.

Each of us has witnessed what in western schools would be regarded as extreme physical abuse of some students - a student held in the air by their throat with a fist in their face - a girl dragged along the floor being kicked and punched - kids repeatedly slapped hard around the head.

my wife works in the kindergarten and often sees 3 year olds being treated very roughly, slapped and kicked, not particularly hard but as a means to get(or keep) them in line.

do we talk to someone? who do we talk to? one of the FT's talked to his TA about abuse he had seen between a student and another teacher, and she said "its between them, it is their secret"

our Ft liaison person is worse than useless, you mention the word problem, or issue and she disappears for weeks.

is this behaviour normal by Chinese standards? has anyone had to deal with this and if so how.

Conscience and common decency says we cant ignore it. any help/ideas/ etc appreciated.

keeperofpythons · Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Posts: 152 Location: zhu san jiao

Some may disagree with me, including some Chinese themselves, but physical abuse is an integral part of the culture ranging from barely on the radar (but on the radar nonetheless) to quintessential.

Conscience and common decency say the same thing to me as they do to you, however (I'm sick of hearing it but it sadly applies here) this is China. You're going to have to make a decision to either accept what you see, or leave the country. If the child's life is danger of dying, then I would do something about it. If it has not come to that, speaking up or pointing it out can only end up in your detriment. It could be used against you especially since there is most likely a cause in your contract that relates to respect of the Chinese culture and way of life which this, sadly, is a part of.

I could say more but this is 100% of what it boils down to. Leave it be or just leave.

May whatever universal deity or force, in the event that it exists, have mercy on my soul provided that exists too.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

rap60 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 53 Location: Brisbane, Australia

thanks big big bang theory fan, unsure why the comment on personal superiority. If being concerned for another s unnecessary suffering makes me superior, I'll have to live with that, I thought it just made me a human being.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

What we consider 'abuse' can be considered 'punishment' here. Things are changing, albeit slowly.

My school hits kids when they are poorly behaved and/or test results are dismal. The parents send them here because of it, not in spite of it; this is the niche our school holds in the English market.

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

Cairnsman · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 203

Lobster · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2011 1:48 pm Post subject:

I have never seen a teacher strike a student here, and I wouldn't work in a school where this takes place. I'd tell the FAO that I find it personally disturbing and upsetting. It probably won't make any difference, but it doesn't hurt to try. The only punishments I've seen handed out to students is making them stand up or self criticize. Not saying it doesn't happen, just not where I've worked.

RED

xiguagua · Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 768

I agree with those who said you shouldn't worry about it. Foreign teachers aren't very highly regarded with school administration, we're here for a face, and as soon as you go in trying to change how they do things then it creates a problem. You say something to the head master and rest assured that all the teachers will know about it and possibly create some resentment for the "ignorant foreigner that comes to China and tells them how to do their job."

I've seen students getting hit when they are junior school and primary school students, and I think a big reason for this is because Chinese parents aren't REALLY parents....teachers are looked to to essentially raise the children and do the disciplining. I agree with Keeperofpythons, if the childs life is in danger then of course you should step in, but other than that I would leave it alone. It sucks.....but that's how it is.