Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Easter Clark]

Yesterday (and maybe today, who knows?) I was informed that the air conditioning at our school would not be turned on all day. When I asked why, I was told "Because the principal is in a bad mood and wants to punish the teachers." I don't usually get upset but my first reaction was "What an a$$hole! Can I go talk to him and have you translate that for me?"

The thing that gets me is, no one complained. Everybody just had the attitude of "Well, he's the principal, he can do what he wants." I couldn't believe it. I tried to reason with my coworkers--"Let's tell him that a comfortable classroom is a good place to learn," and another approach-- "Is our school really that poor, that we can't afford to keep the classrooms cooled?"

The thing that really got my goat is when I walked by the principal's office, he was in there with a bunch of officials from the GPOE, all sitting in air-conditioned comfort. I gave all of my students free time yesterday and told them to sleep.

Does this happen at your Public School? Thank God this guy is out of here next month.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Ha ha - to punish the teachers - that's great. What's he going to do next, have you all kneel in the corridor holding your hands above your heads for 20 minutes? Someone should sneak into his office and break the A/C.

My principal sometimes bitches at all the teachers during staff meetings but she seems to love me and I've yet to be able to put a wrong foot down in her eyes.

[Fishead soup]

Let me guess he's pissed off that the teachers are showing movies instead
of teaching. Then again it's been decades since he's stepped foot in the classroom and he has no idea the crap you have to deal if you actually try to teach after exams.

They should just finish after exams and post the students scores in the hallway. Trying to teach after exams is like flogging a dead horse.

[spliff]

I control air and heat in my classroom. If I want it on I press the button.

[ED209]

[Fishead soup]

[Easter Clark]

Yeah, this guy is a sad case. Always complaining that the teachers don't do enough to help the students, then makes it impossible to get any teaching done by burying the teachers in mountains of useless paperwork and making the conditions in the classroom hellish. Try teaching a room of 40 kids when they've just come from their PE class, having had to run around out in the heat for an hour, without a/c.

Some students were so angry yesterday they went to the janitor's room and complained that the students in the other building (the academic high school) always get a/c because the system isn't centrally controlled the way it is here--and those students pay the same tuition.

And I'm with you about exams being the last week of school. Makes no sense at all to have final exams then two more weeks of classes before the break! My kids are "working on their listening skills through exposure to American popular culture," a.k.a. "watching movies" for their remaining time at school.

[KYC]

off course. The principal is like a god. No one dare questions him. We've had AC once this week. AND the p was so cheap he told us if we turn on the AC, we must keep it at 27. Well a teacher I share an office with had it on 22, so he came in and adjusted it o.O. I had it on 19 in my classroom.

[ardis]

[nautilus]

In summer no aircon is allowed, in winter you must open all the windows.

Every school I've ever worked at appears to have had this policy. Why? The principal thinks its a good way to "save money" and show off his power at the same time.

[Easter Clark]

^

Wonder if this is as prevalent in hagwons? It's things like this that make me want to go "private" next year!

[it's full of stars]

My school seems to be the opposite of the OPs. Aircon and heat are used liberally when needed, no discussion.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[genezorm]

Welcome to Korea....the thing is the principal can do what he wants. I really don't think it is your place to challenge his decision, especially since the other teacher are not doing anything about it. I don't think the principal will care what the foreigner thinks. If you openly want to show that you aren't happy with him, or want another teacher to translate you calling him an asshole, don't expect to enjoy the rest of your time there.

[Easter Clark]