Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beckykorea]

I've been working for about 7 months now at a school that I like. I know that they have been happy with me as a teacher. We just got back from vacation, and now there are video cameras in all the classrooms. This really bothers me. The idea that someone could be watching me at any time kind of drives me crazy. I am suddenly a lot more concerned about how my teaching looks for the camera, so it's a lot harder to teach a lesson that is benefical for the students. They said that most of the big schools have cameras now. Do a lot of institutes really have video cameras in every classroom? Does it bother anyone else that teaches with a camera on them or would it bother you if your school suddenly installed them? Thanks for your opinions.

[garykasparov]

Paretns watch classes on the monitors sometimes but I don't know if you have them at your school or not. Take them with a grain of salt and continue doing your job as a good teacher.

[Tony_Balony]

I live under camers as well. It works out better. Its like really having God by your side. I think.

[coler651]

I love cameras and the whole big brother aspect. It teaches me discipline and helps me maintain a subservient attitude towards my director. My director is God, my alligence is the the institute I teach and to the director that owns me. I also would like microphones in the classroom as well. That way the director has complete control over my teaching and make sure he pays me well.

[jinks]

I worked at a university last year that suddenly installed cameras in the freshman English classrooms and corridor. At first we were all a bit pissd off and different teachers reacted to the cameras in different ways. The video footage from the corridor camera was once used to tick a teacher off for being late, but it turned out that the classroom cameras weren't actually ever switched on. Before I discovered the classroom cameras didn't work I would start every lesson by making the students:


1) STAND


2) FACE THE CAMERA


and...



3) BOW

[passport220]

I love to hear when one more school installs cameras. It is the same feeling I have when a unqualified teacher is caught with a fake degree. Weed out the teachers with fake degrees and those who can not stand up to having their lessons scrutinized - my market value go up.

If I were a parent and I had a choice to send my child to a place where I could see what was happening in the classroom and one where I could not�..no brainier, I would pick the place with the cams.

I can see how it might be uncomfortable at first and there is the danger of anyone viewing �nit picking� your actions. However, I would not assume right off the bat that is what is going to happen. On the contrary it may help improve the students behavior and performance.

It seems to me it may be worthwhile to make up some kind of �key teaching points� sheet to be given to the parents so they have a overall idea of your classroom teaching methods. Or some other strategy to let the director/parents/students be better able to interpret what is happening in your class. I am thinking proactive is best instead of waiting for the parents or director to take a step.

I think if done right there is an opportunity to get director/parents to buy into what you are doing and significantly improve your status and earning power at a school.

Good luck

[saw6436]

I've worked in place both with and without CCTV. For me there is no difference. I don't do anythng different in either case.

If you actually doing your job I don't see how anyone can complain about having cameras in the classroom. Actually I prefer the cameras as it keeps parents out of my classroom. Nothing I hate worse than having some mommy sit in an observe my class.

[genezorm]

i just get a student to stand in front of the camera while i sleep

[kat2]

I had a hogwan that had these cameras. Everyone was mad pissed when they installed them over vacation too. Actually it worked in our favor most of the time. Kids could no longer lie and say "Kat teacher very mean. Kat teacher hit me. Blahblah." (whatever else the kids wanted to say). Also, if a kid was being extremely unruly, the manager would just come knock on the door and take him out. It actually turned out to be kind of good. The kids learned to be a little better behaved b/c of hte cameras. Use them in your favor! Fear is the best motivator!

[Ody]

[xtchr]

I'd hate it, but I'd also know that like anything else at my workplace, it would be done half-arsed, and the cameras probably wouldn't work longer than a month before breaking down, never to be fixed, because it's too 'difficult', or too 'expensive'.

[twg]

1- The kids don't give a flying crap about the cameras. It's not a behavior modifier.

2- The parents don't know enough English to judge your skills. Don't worry about you being a bad teacher.

It's all for show. Much like the reason you're there to begin with.

[moosehead]

[JoelCosmeJr]

at my last hagwon the director installed web audio/video cams in the hopes that they would do many things. The children were to be calmer; they continued as if the cams were not there. It was used to monitor teachers; it was nice to have students come to class and tell me they were watching me during my 1 hour prep time eating my breakfast and fixing homework. and to improve business at the school; business went down and resulted in great chaos (which continues today - glad i am gone). the cams are for show. i worked the same with or without the cams. just keep doing your job and forget about big brother.

[beckykorea]

Thanks for your advice everyone! You're right, I'll just keep teaching the way I always have and try to forget about the camera.