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kimchi_pizza
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Location: "Get back on the bus! Here it comes!"
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 Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject: A "friendly" dialogue with hagwon owners? |
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Korea Times:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/05/117_24760.html
| Quote: |
Foreign Teachers Seek Dialogue With Hagwon Owners
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
A group of foreign English teachers proposed to open a dialogue channel with the runners of foreign language institutes, or hagwon, to work together for the common goal of the development of English language education.
The teachers recently formed the Association for Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK) and plan to register itself as a non-profit incorporation with the Ministry of Labor next month.
Their suggestion came days after the Korea Association of Foreign Language Academies (KAFLA) told The Korea Times that it opposes the formation of such a representative body for foreign teachers.
Board members of the hagwon association said they cannot acknowledge ATEK as a body that is entitled to represent foreign English teachers.
In response, ATEK said it wants to talk with the hagwon association.
``ATEK was disappointed after reading the statements made by KAFLA in The Korea Times. We regret that our relationship with them is starting out in this way, as ATEK and KAFLA share similar goals, such as the professional development of members and improving English language education,'' said Tony Hellmann, ATEK media relations officer. ``ATEK believes that working together, we can do more than we can working separately.��
He asked KAFLA to have an open discussion with ATEK about what they have in common and what they can do together to meet common goals.
Upon the suggestion, KAFLA indicated they could meet the leaders of the foreign teachers' group but that does not mean that they acknowledge ATEK as a representative body.
``We cannot acknowledge the body. Still, we can meet them on an individual basis to discuss some issues,�� said its general director Choi Chang-jin.
Regarding this, ATEK member and legal attorney Lee Seung-ju said "Any attempt to prevent foreign teachers from forming an association would constitute a breach of labor law as well as the Constitution."
ATEK has drawn about 200 members so far and will complete all paperwork for the registration with the authority, with an aim to become the first national organization for foreign teachers.
The National Institute for International Education Development, under the Education Ministry, and Korean teachers' groups reacted positively to the movement by foreign teachers at schools and private language institutes.
[email protected] |
The above line I highlighted is a shameful tactic and trap. Bring in a lone representative and have a face-off with a long table of inhospitable and hostile hagwon owners in a place and time of their choosing. Any meeting that takes place should be in a neutral location, open to the public with an equal number of representatives in the actual meeting made known before hand. A member of the Korean media in tow may be beneficial to ATEK and protect them against any underhandedness.
It's a shame to begin friendly relations with such precautions but given their general opinion and treatment of foreign teachers it's best to be cautious. Intimidation and show of force or numbers should be expected and ATEK should be prepared to counter'em if it happens. You're dealing with unscrupulous businessmen and not educators. I'm sure money and power (control over foreign teachers) is all they understand and care about. G'luck |
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Darkness
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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I hope someone *beep* hogwon owners....*beep* them all, EVERY last despicable one of those cock suckers....
....minus the 3% that are ACTUALLY non-corrupt and honest. |
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The_Conservative
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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Wait a minute, wasn't ATEK formed to combat illegal practices by hakwon owners?
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=116248&start=0
ATEK was presented to us as an association that would fight against "unpaid salaries, pensions, taxes, health insurance, unsafe and inadequate housing.."
And now they want to play kissy-face with the hakwon industry? And now they want to work together as they share common goals? |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 12:53 am Post subject: |
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Baby steps ... obviously they can't go into it with guns blazing and expect to make any progress.
It's a good idea that they're approaching this from the angle that it would improve education, because it highlights that hagwon owners have zero interest in education and only want profit. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:40 am Post subject: |
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this topic is already posted here:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=123799
| The_Conservative wrote: |
Wait a minute, wasn't ATEK formed to combat illegal practices by hakwon owners?
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=116248&start=0
ATEK was presented to us as an association that would fight against "unpaid salaries, pensions, taxes, health insurance, unsafe and inadequate housing.."
And now they want to play kissy-face with the hakwon industry? And now they want to work together as they share common goals? |
They are a group who wants to be everything to everyone and in the process manage to be nothing to anyone.
Honestly, IMHO, we would have better representation from the migrant workers union that ATEK.
. |
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valkyrian2
Mod Team
Joined: 15 May 2007
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