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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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 Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject: Summer Camp Problem - Advice? |
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So, two weeks ago, when we had our last meeting about the summer camp I'm teaching at for my school (I've been on vacation for the last week), I was told that other than the hours I am teaching, that my time would be my own. The camp ends at noon, and I only teach two classes, so I chose the 9-10:30 shift so that I would get out and have the rest of the day to do whatever.
When I went to teach today, my supervisor (though a translating teacher) told me that I have to stay at the school the camp is held at until noon, then I go home for an hour for lunch, then I have to go back to the office of education until 5pm and twiddle my thumbs. My supervisor says that I should prepare my materials for next semester with the time, but I already have 25 lesson plans done for next semester, which is actually more than I need. I have explained this to her, and said that there is no point for me to be in the office after the camp ends.
Some of the other teachers leave at noon, some of them stay until 5pm, but the ones who stay until 5pm are also helping to organize/run the camp, so they're doing that, not just sitting at a desk for hours of pointless time.
I had a tough week last week, as my boyfriend was in town for my vacation, and nothing seemed to go right in terms of us getting to actually get out and see anything, and I'm not going to see him again for 10 months, and was hoping to have my afternoons free to go to the beach or whatever to get my mind off it.
Advice?
Last edited by driftingfocus on Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Is this taking place at your school? Who are 'they'? Is the supervisor a teacher at your school? |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| Is this taking place at your school? Who are 'they'? Is the supervisor a teacher at your school? |
I work in a rural area and so the kids are from all the various middle schools on the island that I teach at (you may remember that I teach at 7), so it is being held at an elementary school near the office of education, as it has air conditioning and the middle school here in town does not.
So, no, it's not at my school, especially since I don't have "a school". My supervisor works at the office of education, and while she's sort of my boss, she is not actually my employer, the province is. I do report to her, though she generally acts like I'm a nuisance when I do. I've contemplated making myself enough of an annoyance today that tomorrow she won't want to have me in the office.
"They" is my supervisor speaking through a translator, since she speaks basically no English. |
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Easter Clark
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Summer Camp Problem - Advice? |
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| driftingfocus wrote: |
| I was told that other than the hours I am teaching, that my time would be my own. |
Who told you this? Be sure your supervisor knows that you were told this. Tell them that you will come in and do the class then you will go home. IME, people will test you to see how far they can push you in order to gauge how much they can get out of you with no complaint. This sounds like an instance where you're being tested, and if you submit without a fight you can expect more to come. |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: Summer Camp Problem - Advice? |
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| Easter Clark wrote: |
| driftingfocus wrote: |
| I was told that other than the hours I am teaching, that my time would be my own. |
Who told you this? Be sure your supervisor knows that you were told this. Tell them that you will come in and do the class then you will go home. IME, people will test you to see how far they can push you in order to gauge how much they can get out of you with no complaint. This sounds like an instance where you're being tested, and if you submit without a fight you can expect more to come. |
My supervisor told me this, via one of the other teachers as a translator. I specifically asked "After 10:30, I can go home, right?" more than once, and the answer was always yes.
I'll offer to stay until the camp ends at noon as a compromise, if they want, but I really find it ridiculous to have to come back to an office I don't even really work at.
She said something along the lines of "Your vacation is over, you must work now." and I said "Right. I am working. In the mornings. This is not vacation, I am here, working for your school board." but she seemed to disagree about teaching during the mornings as being work. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| driftingfocus wrote: |
| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| Is this taking place at your school? Who are 'they'? Is the supervisor a teacher at your school? |
I work in a rural area and so the kids are from all the various middle schools on the island that I teach at (you may remember that I teach at 7), so it is being held at an elementary school near the office of education, as it has air conditioning and the middle school here in town does not.
So, no, it's not at my school, especially since I don't have "a school". My supervisor works at the office of education, and while she's sort of my boss, she is not actually my employer, the province is. I do report to her, though she generally acts like I'm a nuisance when I do. I've contemplated making myself enough of an annoyance today that tomorrow she won't want to have me in the office.
"They" is my supervisor speaking through a translator, since she speaks basically no English. |
That's a tough one. I personally have no problem with / trouble killing time at school, so I'd just surf the Net and read. I like your idea of making your supervisor's life more troublesome, though. |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| driftingfocus wrote: |
| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| Is this taking place at your school? Who are 'they'? Is the supervisor a teacher at your school? |
I work in a rural area and so the kids are from all the various middle schools on the island that I teach at (you may remember that I teach at 7), so it is being held at an elementary school near the office of education, as it has air conditioning and the middle school here in town does not.
So, no, it's not at my school, especially since I don't have "a school". My supervisor works at the office of education, and while she's sort of my boss, she is not actually my employer, the province is. I do report to her, though she generally acts like I'm a nuisance when I do. I've contemplated making myself enough of an annoyance today that tomorrow she won't want to have me in the office.
"They" is my supervisor speaking through a translator, since she speaks basically no English. |
That's a tough one. I personally have no problem with / trouble killing time at school, so I'd just surf the Net and read. I like your idea of making your supervisor's life more troublesome, though. |
Except that she has her desk situated so that she can see my computer screen, and fusses at me when I am not "doing ESL work". |
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Hanson
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I was told that other than the hours I am teaching, that my time would be my own |
This is all that matters. If this is a battle you're willing to fight for, I'd stick to my guns and tell "them" in no uncertain terms that once 10:30 hits, I'm outta there.
Perhaps to smooth over the rough edges, you could bend the truth and say you made plans for the afternoon hours based on what I quoted above. Tell them you're studying Korean or signed up for a non-refundable swimming class or something.
Good luck. |
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DaffyD73
Joined: 28 Nov 2007
Location: Planet Earth on the left
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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How far do you want to go?
How close to end of contract? do you want to stay?
All questions you need to ask before you do something.
Personally if you really want to push the boat out.
Bring a pillow and a floor mat, find a nice place near your desk but in the way or obvious to your super and have a snooze on the floor. It won't make you friends but your point of it being a waste of time should get through. |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| DaffyD73 wrote: |
How far do you want to go?
How close to end of contract? do you want to stay?
All questions you need to ask before you do something.
Personally if you really want to push the boat out.
Bring a pillow and a floor mat, find a nice place near your desk but in the way or obvious to your super and have a snooze on the floor. It won't make you friends but your point of it being a waste of time should get through. |
I'm 10 months from end of contract. I do want to stay.
However, if I get fired or quit, my supervisor also gets fired. So, that gives me quite a bit of leverage.
I've thought about sleeping at my desk. |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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| driftingfocus wrote: |
However, if I get fired or quit, my supervisor also gets fired. |
are you certain about this? and your supervisor is the one telling you to sit at school til 5 with no slacking off allowed? i know what i'd do |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad-ish wrote: |
| driftingfocus wrote: |
However, if I get fired or quit, my supervisor also gets fired. |
are you certain about this? and your supervisor is the one telling you to sit at school til 5 with no slacking off allowed? i know what i'd do |
Positive. |
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Hanson
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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What, nothing about what I suggested is worthy of a reply?
Hmph!!! |
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driftingfocus
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Hanson wrote: |
What, nothing about what I suggested is worthy of a reply?
Hmph!!! |
Your advice was good, and therefore did not need a reply. |
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ds_fan
Joined: 07 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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to be fair, you cant expect to get 2million wons each month if you are 'working' for 2 hours a day.
Everyone gets down etc, but you hav to make a living. They do that to everyone, korean culture- long hours= great work. In reality, long hours= bad quality of work, and tired lazy attitude.
My hagwon is on vacation for 2 weeks, im on my 5 days im entitled to next week, this week i only have 1 class, 3 times a week, the rest of the time i have to spend in the hagwon doing bugger all 9-5. assholes, still if the brown stuff hits the whirley thing and i decide iv had enough, i wont feel so guilty about departing.
advice- tell them you have a message to do, i.e. post office, bank things etc. Go out in the middle of the day for an hour and break up your day a bit. |
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