Korean Job Discussion Forums

Zoot · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Location: Bundang

How many of your students are teased for whatever reason? They're darker-skinned, slow, or just plain wierd.

I have at least a half a dozen students who are teased routinely for things but the most common reason is that they're slow and/or just plain weird. They say stuff at inappropriate times that have nothing to do with the topic at hand, they sing or hum to themselves during class, they're little badasses who don't listen to the teacher and disrupt the class (games included!), they don't do their work and hold up the class etc. etc. You know what I mean.

I was teased myself, as a child and I think that thanks to my supportive family and a series of other people who were there to prop me up, I made it through without too many problems. But not all kids have that.

My friend once told me this so here's the quesiton I'd like to open for debate:

Teasing and bullying are society's way of correcting socially unacceptable behavior.

I can't say I really agree but there may be something to it.

Discuss.

poet13 · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:50 am Post subject:

I'm cool with teasing the kid who has food all over his school jacket after lunch, or who sneezes and a yard long booger is hanging out of his face, but color, physical DEFECT, religion? No way. I also don't tolerate continued gang teasing or bullying.
I tease my kids sometimes. A boy leaves his book at home? I'll ask him to go get it, and tell him he has to be back in five minutes. I'll stop him when he gets to the door. No pencil, pen, or marker? I pull a tack from the board and tell him he has to write in blood. I used to tease a first year boy who was about 6'2" and maybe 100 kilos. He also had whiskers. At the beginning of our class the boys were introducing themselves, and I asked him how old he was. 15 he rumbled. "No way", I said, "you're at least 22. Sorry, you need to leave now. The university is just down the road."
Teasing for fun, and teasing to hurt are two different things. Teasing for fun is...well, fun.

jay-shi · Joined: 09 May 2004 Location: On tour

poet13 · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:21 am Post subject:

"It's a fine line line between being funny and being cruel to a kid. Learn to walk it carefully and it's pure gold in the classroom."

Well said.

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

.....

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

"It's a fine line line between being funny and being cruel to a kid. Learn to walk it carefully and it's pure gold in the classroom."

Thirded - there is tremendous value in levity in the classroom.

Now, correcting unacceptable behaviour is a very interesting point. I'm going to think on that, at least until lunch...

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Teasing "for fun" is cruel and in my opinion is not appropriate for an adult in the classroom.

Using the pressure of peers to get a student with bad or inappropriate behavior which they are capable of controlling can be a useful classroom management tool in a society like Korea.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

poet13 · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject:

"It is never OK, in my opinion, and should be dealt with quickly and firmly. I was one of those kids who were bullied in high school and the reason was that I wasn't athletic."

Ok, you've addressed bullying. But what about teasing?