Korean Job Discussion Forums

[teachingld2004]

I was every impressed with my school Friday.

I work at a Korean Kindergarten. It is a Korean Kindergarten with an English class added, not an English speaking school. (it is a great job)

I was very impressed Friday, because the school had 3 firemen come in and show the children what do do if there was a fire. We actually have a back staircase, and it is open so that we have acces to it.

I have never been in a school where there has been a fire drill. Last school I was in had wall to wall papers, and some one threw a lit match into a trash can, and you could not see or breathe because of all the smoke. Some kids were led down stairs, whild others were told to go on the roof.

We did not have another exit, and I asked "What if the fire was serious? (any fire is serious, but this was delt with and the kids were safe) I was told 'The kids will go on the roof. There was no other exit, and we were on the 4th floor. There was a window that I was told the people can get out of, but it was blocked my a desk, and there was no rope ladder.

I have been teaching my kids "stop, listen, please be quiet", and "look at me" for many reasons, but safety is the most important one. I am happy to admit the administration and all the K. teachers have helped me get all the kids to do so. Even the babies (who I do not teach) understand these commands.

I know that lots of schools do not listen to us, just please try and have a "fire drill" with your students, and teach them simple commands. It can save a life.

[Octavius Hite]

My public middle school had a drill and it was handled in typical Korean, bali-bali fashion. They said this is a drill and the kids started screaming and running down all the exits and left all the doors and windows open insuring that any real fire would spread as quickly as possible. The kids piled out onto the quad where the fire deptartment lit an old couch and some scrap wood on fire. They then put the fire out despite the students screams of protests to the contrary. All they while they failed to tell the foreigner, me, who watched with a chuckle from my 4th floor classroom. Luckily the building is all concrete so a fire seems unlikely.

[teachingld2004]

Octavius, what a "womderful" story.

Yes, a school that is all concrete most likely will not have a fire, but what if God forbid some one decided to throw a lit match in the library?

Great organization.

[Jarome_Turner]

We had a "drill" last year at our elementary school. The kids all piled out of the school, in no particular order and seemingly under little instruction. There was an oil drum filled with newspaper in the quad. It was lit, and our school handyman proceeded to put the fire out with an extinguisher. It took him a few tries, but he did finally manage to put it out. Then a fire truck sprayed some water towards our school. All parties involved were given a rockstar reception by the kids. The whole time, I couldn't help but think what a show it seemed.