Korean Job Discussion Forums

lorenchristopher · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

I recently started smoking again (sucks I know), and I was wondering if anyone on here has encountered any problems from their boss, students, or parents about smoking.

I have 10-minute breaks and will sometimes go up on the roof and have a cigarette. I try to chew some gum before I come back down, but I've had a couple kids call me out when they smell it on me. I'm sure my co-workers are aware too, although no one has really said anything.

I'm curious as to whether or not it's really frowned upon for a teacher specifically to be a smoker? Would it be something that many parents would complain about? I realize I'm not going to get fired over it or anything, just want to hear what others have to say....thanks!!

peppermint · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:55 am Post subject:

Frowned on fairly intensely for women, not so much for guys. A friend got smacked by a random adjoshi, who proceeded to lecture her about smoking once

skconqueror · Joined: 31 Jul 2005

I would say depends on the school...

prolly more acceptable at a hagwon .. and less so at a public school

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

It's fine. When did schools back home become so @nal that it became wrong for teachers to smoke?

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

I smoke and work at a public school., Whenever I want to go for a smoke during my breaks i go outside and down the street so my students don't see me. When i come back I eat a candy or chew some gum to hide the smell.

However, some of my students ask if i smoke either because they can smell it on my clothes or noticed the box of cigarettes in my pants pocket.

I think most of my co teachers know I smoke, including the principal because I sometimes go out for a smoke with my vice principal. To be honest I really don't care if they know or not. However, I do care about my students finding out i smoke.

Damn I need to quit. I tried the no smoking gum before, but it doesn't do anything. Maybe I should just go cold turkey. I'll start right after I am finished this fresh pack of cigarettes.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

I lot of the teachers at my public school smoke, but they do it during breaks while the kids are in class and won't find them. Most of my students seem surprised when I tell them I don't smoke.

drunkenfud · Joined: 08 Mar 2007

I work at a public school and smoke. Between classes myself, the vice principal, the korean language teacher, the social studies teacher, and the janitor can often be found having a smoke behind the toilet block. Sometimes students come out to ask us questions.

Frowned upon? Not in my experience.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I would definitely hide my smoking if I was teaching under high school age. Younger kids need a constant, "smoking is bad" mantra.

But I reckon high school kids are either, already smoking, or have made their mind up more or less about smoking.

God gods sake! I'm 40 in Korean age! Too old to be lurking around, hiding in bushes puffing on a crafty fag!!

So, no. I don't really hide it from my high school kids.

M-su · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Location: Seoul

Thank you for pointing out what a major loser you are!

You a 40 years old, teaching high schoolers in Korea....come on!
Don't worry, you don't have to hide in the bushes, nobody cares about you.

You must be one of those disenfranchised foreigners I see loitering around ever so often.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Gibber on, nutbar.

ben-ja-mas · Joined: 20 Jan 2008

M-su you are a headcase

freshking · Joined: 07 Dec 2006

Probably just a new incarnation of some other idiot who was kicked off this site.

Yesterday · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:07 pm Post subject:

I was just "blackmailed" by a grade 4 student (10 year old boy) -

because in my class I was giving all the "good students - who had done an activity well" candy..

he was on the "No candy list" because he and his unruly friends had been disruptive in class...

He told me either give him the candy - or he would go directly to the Principal of the school after class to report me for smoking - during my break...

I didn't budge - and didn't give him the candy..

I have to wait until next week - to see if he really did report me..

** The principal and vice-principal and most of the Korean teachers DO NOT smoke at my "Public elementary school" - but I always leave the school and "hide" across the road (away from students) to smoke - but he is one of the little rascals who follows me - to "watch me" - even though I continously keep shouting at him - "Go away, hoy-hoy, jodi-ga, go home!"

Tathen · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

I use to smoke, but quit 2months ago. I would get the "teacher smoke smell!!!" from students constantly. I would just say "I'm 26"" look at them with a very confused look that showed I was wondering why they were even talking to me about this.

Generally I hid from my elementary school students while smoking outside in an ally. Middle school and older, I really didn't care if they saw me.

As far as my experience goes, the first hagwon I worked at certainly didn't care. Once the kids had left at the end of the day, my boss would come into my room (where I teach kindergarten) smoking and offer me a smoke as well.

Public schools, no idea.

~Tathen

hauwande · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: gongju