Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buymybook]

Just wondering how someone qualifies for the 4 week summer vacation? I think I remember hearing that if ZERO vacation is requested during the year then a Teacher does qualify, is that so? If a Teacher is told when to take a vacation during the winter then does that count as the Teacher's vacation? Or, I'll put it another way. If a Teacher is told when not to work during the winter break does that disqualify that person for the 4 week summer vacation?

[egrog1717]

Okay... I'll bite... What 4 week summer vacation? lol... I work for SMOE and have never heard about this (nothing in the contract either...)

[pkang0202]

SMOE is making their teachers use a week of vacation in the summer, and the rest in winter. They do NOT want you to take all of your vacation during the summer or the winter.

I don't know where you got the "4 weeks" of vacation from.

For those renewing their contract in August, you could take 10 days vacation, and then use your 2 week renewal vacation, and that would be 4 weeks.

Then again, SMOE doesn't want you to take so much time off in the winter or the summer because then you can't do any camps.

[egrog1717]

LOL... When I negociated my teacher training classes I told them I wanted to use 9 days vacation time at the start of January... With the Chrismas Holiday I'm off from the 25th of Dec. to the 12th of Jan... Pushed back the entire timetable for our wintercamp, lol...

[Bibbitybop]

SMOE is so understaffed, even policies they make go ignored by schools.

Vacation is set in the contract, but dates are approved by the school (i.e. the principal). Schools that are smart will understand that if you take NO holidays in the winter, you will have 21 business days (plus any extra from sleepaway camps or renewing a contract) in the summer. All vacation (except for renewal vacation) must be used before the contract ends. So if take NO vacation in the winter, you'll have ALL of it to legally take in the summer.

Remember, vacation is in the contract. If you are owed it, take it ALL. This means even if you don't work a camp, or if you work 1 week instead of the common 3 week camp.

Also remember if you started in the winter, you could plausibly take NO vacation the summer and take it all in the winter.

Finally, remember that SMOE doesn't want this to happen, but some schools, no...most schools, lack foresight. If you do end up with all you vacation at the end of a contract, you school will bitch and moan about you not taking a camp and how you should've used vacation in the other vacation time. Keep records of all official vacation to legally assist you.

[crusher_of_heads]

in other words, screw the lying pure blood arseholes before they do unto you!

you are welcome, because if I don't care about the South ko-re-an children, who will?

[buymybook]

[egrog1717]

[ernie]

you can't take your vacation any time you want. it states clearly in the contract that you can only take vacation if it doesn't interfere with normal school operations.

[egrog1717]

[Draz]

[Bibbitybop]

[ernie]

my point is that you can't take them 'almost any time you wish'. you will only be allowed to take them at a specified time during the winter and/or summer vacations. even saying this makes it seem more flexible than it really is.

basically, they tell you the exact week or two that you can take off, and tell you 'you can't' take it any other day, which really means: 'we don't feel like letting you take it any other day'.

[egrog1717]

[jkelly80]

The one thing that I think must be emphasized about SMOE is that there is zero, absolutely zero, standardization. The principal is king. Some new ones might have to kowtow to district supervisors, or use it as an excuse for denying requests. Some of them have no fear from district and do what they want. But unless you speak Korean fluently and have a hook up in the main office, you'll never know what the hell's really going on.