Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pkang0202]

My vice principal came by my classroom today and inspected my office. I share my office with my coteacher and because its just the 2 of us in there, we don't keep it clean like a museum.

Well, my coteacher is off in Yongin for some workshop so my VP tells me to come to his office after class. I go there and he reams me out for a good 15-20 minutes about how dirty the classroom is and how messy the office is. He orders me to have both the classroom and office spotless within 2 days.

In our office we have no bookshelves, no storage containers, nothing. We have to stack books/papers on extra chairs. My classroom is the biggest one in the school but I have no cleaning supplies, no vacuum, and a tiny trashcan.

I usually do what I can but when you have 800 different kids go in and out of the classroom every week, its hard to keep it in pristine condition. Some 6th grade students are assigned to clean the classroom and office, but I haven't seen them come by in a couple weeks. I'm guessing they thought they could just slack off since their exams were finished.

There is one positive thing about all this. The only thing my VP could complain about is how clean the office/classroom is. I guess he doesn't have any problems with my teaching, conduct, or anything else.

[Bibbitybop]

Try to get some Korean teachers to assign kids to clean. Pick up anything that's personally yours. After that, whether the kids clean or not, explain that you took responsibility for your personal things and that cleaning classrooms is not part of your contract. Organization of teaching materials is one thing. Using mops and being a janitor is another.

[soju pizza]

Tell them that you own the classroom, and that they must clean it for you, and that their parents must bribe you with envelopes of money.

[aaabank]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Oh, how I would like to have been in your position just for that one meeting.

[Suwoner10]

Tell them you are a teacher, not a maid.

[T-dot]

1) Your partner is at a seminar about foreign teachers.

2) Ask one of the korean teachers to assign a kid to clean your office as a form of punishment.

[spliff]

I keep my classroom clean by co-opting some Ss in the last class of the day.

[KYC]

I don't even have my own classroom. I share a classroom with the computer teacher/tae kwon do teacher/etc. I jsut like things clean. I make sure the kids clean any mess they brought or made otherwise they are not allowed to leave. The teachers think I'm crazy for doing it but I just like having things organized.

[icnelly]

[nomad-ish]

[VanIslander]

[MissT]

That's so strange that the students don't clean your room.

At my public school I have a set of 8 first grade middle school students who are assigned to clean my classroom every day. They certainly aren't the best cleaners in the world, but they sweep the floor and take out the trash. Every once in a while I motivate them to clean things well by helping wash windows and desks. I do tidy my own desk and cupboards where I store materials.

Korean teacher's aren't asked to clean, but they do supervise and help out if they feel so inclined. I don't think you should be asked to clean up after 800 students. How about suggesting that some students be assigned to your room and you'll supervise?

Just a thought. Good luck with that!

[Milwaukiedave]

I worked for a public school for a year and ended up doing some (but not a lot) of work to help clean the classroom. There was typically a class assigned to clean the classroom, but most of the time they were lazy and did a poor job. Finally I got to the point where I started going back to their homeroom teacher and complaining and they started to shape up.

I agree with what BB said, if there is not already, get some of the students assigned to help clean on a regular basis. Be prepared to pitch in a bit, but certainly don't get stuck doing all of it.

[Young FRANKenstein]