Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brento1138]

So, I love working in my public school, except for one small... er... well, rather large complaint.

The Cold!!! I mean, it's freezing in here. It's actually colder in the school, than outside of the school. The kids bring blankets to school, and they get sick easily. All the teachers constantly refer to this school as a Siberian prison camp. And if I ever get a cold, it sticks with me for at least a week. My doctor said "stay in warm locations" when you get a cold, it helps the body fight it off better. However, I think I'm spitting up gunk and coughing like crazy due to this cold temperature.

Also, I'm not a fan of wearing a hat &jacket indoors, overtop my nice professional clothing, while teaching. It just looks plain silly. And I've talked to my teacher, about how the students might concentrate better if they weren't shivering.

So, I'm just wondering. Is it just my school, or does every public school in Gyeongi-do not have heating? It seems a very simple thing to do! Install some heaters..... like water heating, or air vents. Couldn't cost THAT much... probably less than the silly elevator they are installing.

I'm not much of a complainer (and I'm Canadian, so technically I should love cold weather)... but this is a different story. I just want my kiddies to concentrate on the English I am teaching them, instead of them shivering whilst muttering "Choo-wa!"

So, does your public school have heating in winter???

[SPINOZA]

It's always much, much too hot in the staff room in winter. Classrooms also have the big heaters.

My school isn't one of the more wealthy either.

[brento1138]

[Gamecock]

You're an embarrassment to all Canadians. It's not even freezing yet. You do know that when the heat comes on, they will have to open the windows to ensure you are not suffocating! Time to have mom ship you some long underwear and wool socks.

[Katchafire]

Walking to school in the morning ... I enjoy breathing the sharp, frosty air, (it's almost enough to fool my brain into thinking it's FRESH air). The school corridors are as cold as it is outside .... but then you step into a classroom and "wha-whammie!!" it's SO hot you can hardly breathe.

[njp6]

I'm with the OP. There are heaters in the office and the classrooms where I teach, and I don't think anyone but me knows what they are for. It wouldn't be that bad if I could be a barbarian and wear my shoes inside, but we have to wear sandals or flip-flops. I don't bad-mouth Korean culture or ways of thinking too much but I think the ideas of heating and cooling over here are way screwed up (except for ondul, I love that).

[CentralCali]

A cold runs seven to ten days, so I wouldn't be too concerned about having a cold that sticks with you for a week. What you need to be concerned about is the people who are sick coughing all over creation, even into your face, with no though whatsoever of covering their mouths. You also need to worry about the windows being open in the middle of the coldest day of the year because you'll be the only person in the building who doesn't believe it'll suffocate you to close the thing.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

It's still mild autumnal weather,stop being such a girls blouse.

[OiGirl]

[nobbyken]

Yeah, it is warmer outside our school too, because of the strong sunlight. Lovely weather outside, but cold and draughty in the classroom.
I am told that the aircon units in the ceiling also act as heaters. The temp will probably have to drop into minus figures before the principal turns on the heat. Lets everyone know there place in life.
Someone said on here last year that he wouldn't be surprised if they didn't drill holes in wall to make it colder.
Confusioned, you will be!

When they do turn it on, probably have to use a fan to keep cool. One extreme to the other. Tradition always outweighs common sence, it's a cultuiral thing .

Edit

[MarionG]

It's miserably cold in my school, too. There's a big heater, and we're told, "Oh, turn it on whenever you want!" but the instant we do the director turns it off.

Last winter I found that working at the board with chalk, wearing mittens, was really problematic. Also, my winter colds (2) last year continued for 4 and 6 weeks, and the first cold I've had this year is in it's 7th week. One cold over the spring-summer-early fall, and it lasted 5 days.

[Ilsanman]

I am on both sides of this argument, because I agree with energy conservation, but also, the cold school is not conductive with learning.

I teach both morning and afternoon classes. The morning classes are in cold classrooms with no heating. The kids and even my co-teacher were their jackets and sometimes more. My feeling is that with their jackets, they don't fully settle down in the classroom. It's like the kids who try to put on their jackets and pack their bag early. They are only counting the minutes until class is finished.

The afternoon classes are downstairs as part of an after school program. We can control the heaters and air conditioning ourselves. I rarely touch it but my co-teacher certainly does.

In the summer, the kids would run around like retards in the hallways, and when they came into the classroom, they'd ask for the air-con. I would say no.

[indigo777]

I think my school has heating but I don't think it has been turned on. All the teachers wear jackets at school and the doors are kept wide open, creating a wind tunnel in the halls. I was thinking of buying a pair of those gloves with the fingers off them for the classroom, but I don't think that would go over well.
I should of brought long underwear from Canada

[Roch]

[nobbyken]

Heating on today^^ my coteacher looked very thankful, as I think she was suffering from the cold: her desk is nearer the window.

Happy nearly early winter everyone.