Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mikowee]

I'm guessing the consensus amongst the foreigners teaching here is that physically striking a kid is inappropriate. But everyone has their breaking point. A friend of mine got fired for punching a kid after the kid spat on his face. That would probably be my reaction as well.

So how far would a kid have to push you before you lose it?

[mateomiguel]

If they don't listen to me, I repeat myself. If they don't listen to the repeat, I resort to physical violence. Usually flicking their ear or smacking them on the head with my teacher's book.

Their mother approves.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Hitting, beyond something like a light slap across the shoulder, as an immediate response, is always the wrong course of action. No matter how outrageous the behaviour, punching a kid is a response a teacher has to be able to avoid. Bringing a kid like that to the staff room for a well deserved caning would be an entirely different matter.

The worst I ever had was a kid who threw his shoe at me back in my brief hogwan days. I didn't hit him or do anything physically harmful to him, but his wrists were locked in my hands for several minutes while I dragged him around looking for his Korean teacher and telling him off. I made sure he went home (late) very sorry he ever thought of doing it.

[Smee]

Right or wrong I did smack a kid for trying to ddong-chim me with his broom.

[hubba bubba]

When I first started at my public ele, I was having a hard time with discipline/being taken seruously. I was the first waegook in the countryside, etc. So after a few months, I was at my wit's end, and called a meting with the VP and (my sometimes) coteacher. I explained that I just couldn't do the job and I was going to look for something else.

They told me not to be discouraged, and that I should start hitting kids if they are that out of line. I was shocked, but figured since all the homeroom teachers do it, I might as well do the same.

So, it went much better after that. Kid is a fuckwit, I slap his palms three times with a stick, same as all the other teachers. Kid needs to focus on what im saying, a little tap on the arm. Nothing major, but they get the point. Hitting kids was dont calmly and as a fairly effective disciplinary measure. But one day I snapped at a chronically mouthy sixth grader and hit him quite hard on his arm. I could tell by the look on his face that I had really hurt him.

I felt terrible about that for a long time. Still do. I had crossed a line that I never thought I would. I hit a f'ing kid out of anger. That will be the last time I ever hit a student.

[Tud Ferguson]

[quote="Yu_Bum_suk"] Bringing a kid like that to the staff room for a well deserved caning would be an entirely different matter.

The problem is the kid will get no punishment at all if you aren't the one to give it to him. Take him to the office, ya right, the higher ups take us as seriously as the kids do. I say if a kid crosses the line, then let him know he ain't in Kansas anymore.

[CasperTheFriendlyGhost]

I once swung a kid by his fooot and smashed him into a bed 3 times for kicking a girl and then kicking her again while she was crying. This was after he kicked me.

He must have told his parents -- to get me in trouble probably -- the next day he had a gift of chocolate for the girl.

Sometimes I lightly kick in the back of a kid's knees to make him sit on the floor if he's been bad.

Usually I have no problems with the girls, but if I do, I mark up their hands with markers.

[Milwaukiedave]

I would would be very unlikely to take a swing unless a kid swung at me first. I agree little stuff like flicking their ear is fine, but I wouldn't resort to hitting them unless it was self-defense.

[Cerebroden]

I had a kid almost hit me today. I was sitting at the table with him and I saw his hand coming towards my face. Just out of instinct I threw my hand up blocked his and spun him around, i probably hurt him a little but he was more in shock than anything. No more problems the rest of the class.

[tareze]

I do a buncha different things. Sometimes I hold the kid by the shoulders VERY FIRMLY and redirect him, or just stand next to him and squeeze the shoulder. I will hold them by the chin so they have to look directly into my eyes as I say 'STOP", usually just once fimly and as devoid of intonation as possible. It's all in the eyes... I've pinched a cheek or two. Mostly when they're really bad, I cease giving them any attention at all and they sit and write 'I will listen in class.' or some such 50-100 times. Someone said they'd wrist locked a kid and I've done that before too, to drag him out of the room.
I also give them friendly smacks and prods.

[merkurix]

The only time I've physically hurt a kid was when I was vacationing in some Third World country (for its spectacular nature scenes), some little turd tried to pick my pocket. I caught him in the act and took his little dirty hand and bent his finger all the way back. I told him it's wrong to steal. He left crying. Before anyone says I was cruel and that I probably overreacted, we are talking about thousands of dollars and my passport in my pocket. He wanted to take the whole damn thing!

But I suppose that if one is past the breaking point, that is one painful, but harmless way to calm an obnoxious kids down (they are all cartilage anyways, there is little risk of tearing or breaking bones).

[andy202]

I work in a hagwon and sometimes it is necessary for me to clamp a hand on the back of a 12/13 year old boy's neck and squeeze just hard enough for it to be uncomfortable. I don't believe this is a violent act. It is a reminder that although they may be bigger than the kid they are picking on, they are not bigger than me. I think this is a worthwhile message to send out to boys this age in particular - the psychological talking does the job and no injuries or consequences have ever arisen.

[richardlang]

[CasperTheFriendlyGhost]

[screw_driver]

i made a boy in 2nd grade middle school cry the other day because i wouldn't let him go to the toilet (he was bigger than me). I felt bad afterwards