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Zach with a Z
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
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 Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:26 pm Post subject: Private and Public school hours pay |
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Hey I am weighing the pros and cons of public and private, a very popular pastime I have come to realize.
My question is, with the lower pay of a public school versus a private. How do the hours line up?
Public schools appear to be 22 hours a week and privates roughly 30.
Are you legitimately only "working," these hours?
It would appear that the extra 8 hours off a week with the public school can offset the lower pay.
Can anyone give me any (non sarcastic, many of you are more cynical than helpful) information on the actual hours you put in?
If you are simply sitting in the school not working, can you *u*k around on the internet or just read a book while not teaching?
thanks! |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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There are always exceptions, however, in general -
At a public school you are contractually obliged to teach 22 classes per week:
one elementary class = 40 min.
one middle school class = 45 min.
one high school class = 50 min.
Those classes will be scheduled within a 40-hour work week - eight hours per day, five days a week (Mon.-Fri.) when you are expected to be 'at work'.
At a hogwon, the 'standard' contract is 30 hours per week. Some may consider a class (however long) an 'hour'. However, unless this is specified in the contract, the owner will probably expect you to teach for 30 actual hours: i.e. 45, 40 min. classes/week... or 40, 45 min. classes/week etc. At most hogwans, if you are' finished' teaching for the day, you can leave. |
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blackjack
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't forget that at a public school even if you are not teaching you still have to be there between 8.30 and 4.30 so you are at work 8 hours a day. while private jobs you may have to be at work an hour before class |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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In general (that goes for everything I'll say here):
You get paid more per class in a PS than you do in a hogwan because you teach considerably less classes. However, you get paid less per hour because you have to be there 8 hours whereas in a hogwan you'd be there 5-6 hours. But, in a PS you'll teach 2-3 different classes a week, so lesson planning is a breeze. In a hogwan you'll teach 20-30 different lessons a week. Also, depending on your hogwan, there may be tons of paperwork, marking, report cards, etc. None of that in PS. Finally, classes get cancelled all the time in PS, usually on average a couple a week (sometimes the whole week...I've been back at my PS for 2 weeks and have only taught 6 classes thus far).
In elementary PS, you will teach mornings and then sit at your desk in the afternoons. Most schools will give you the opportunity to teach after school classes for a few hours a week to up your salary, so you end up making more than what it initially looks like on paper. Or you could use that time to do an online course, take up knitting or watch every video on youtube. My PS also has several sports teams I've joined, so I even get out of class to practice and play in tourneys (and trust me, I'm no superstar).
The only thing I miss from my hogwan days are the late starts. But the months of school vacation where I worked half days and still made some OT, then took a 5 week holiday more than make up for it. And I haven't even mentioned the contractual sick day allowance, extra random holidays, and generally being treated like a human being rather than a piece of machinery. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Hagwons ("private schools") will PROMISE you more money, and even write it into the contract, and then will cheat you.  |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:40 am Post subject: Re: Private and Public school hours pay |
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| Zach with a Z wrote: |
| If you are simply sitting in the school not working, can you *u*k around on the internet or just read a book while not teaching? |
I do... and sometimes I 'make like' a K-teacher and sleep... sometimes I prepare for classes.
Sometimes I drink coffee and smoke cigarettes, sometimes I go shopping, sometimes I go for a walk, sometimes I go to the bank, sometimes I go to the Post Office (usually to pay bills), sometimes I go to the dentist, sometimes I patrol the hallways and talk to the 'bad boys' who have been kicked out of their classes. Nobody ever knows where I am or what I'm doing. I have my principal's and v.p's permission to do as I please when not teaching. Not all (in fact, probably most) schools/administrators are so lenient.
As a newbie at a PS, much will depend on 'luck of the draw' and whether or not the principal likes you. Assume they will hold you to the 'letter' of the contract you sign and you won't be disappointed... if they give you more, it's a bonus. |
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blackjack
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:01 am Post subject: Re: Private and Public school hours pay |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| Zach with a Z wrote: |
| If you are simply sitting in the school not working, can you *u*k around on the internet or just read a book while not teaching? |
I do... and sometimes I 'make like' a K-teacher and sleep... sometimes I prepare for classes.
Sometimes I drink coffee and smoke cigarettes, sometimes I go shopping, sometimes I go for a walk, sometimes I go to the bank, sometimes I go to the Post Office (usually to pay bills), sometimes I go to the dentist, sometimes I patrol the hallways and talk to the 'bad boys' who have been kicked out of their classes. Nobody ever knows where I am or what I'm doing. I have my principal's and v.p's permission to do as I please when not teaching. Not all (in fact, probably most) schools/administrators are so lenient.
As a newbie at a PS, much will depend on 'luck of the draw' and whether or not the principal likes you. Assume they will hold you to the 'letter' of the contract you sign and you won't be disappointed... if they give you more, it's a bonus. |
Beware this is not always the case. The public school teacher at my school is not allowed to leave school grounds, even to go to the bank. He needed a couple of hours for some banking issues and the time was deducted from his vacation. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:21 am Post subject: Re: Private and Public school hours pay |
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| blackjack wrote: |
| He needed a couple of hours for some banking issues and the time was deducted from his vacation. |
As I said - "luck of the draw" -
Blackjack,
You 'speak' of the "public school teacher" at your school in the third party. What's your position? |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Location: somewhere in China
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:49 am Post subject: |
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I have done private schools since 2003 and they have always had books for me to use. The public school I am at has nothing, so I have to make a curriculum in addition to the teaching. These "extra" hours are used up rather quickly.
If time is a concern for you, I would take a hagwon job and make sure they don't split your schedule. Second best is what I have, a public school position with a co-teacher. This way you can work in the classroom and then prepare lessons while your co-teacher teaches a lesson. Make a lesson, teach it, train your co-teacher to do it, and then you can prepare future lessons while they teach repeat lessons. This will generate more "free time" and help during the busy weeks. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| lifeinkorea wrote: |
| Make a lesson, teach it, train your co-teacher to do it, and then you can prepare future lessons while they teach repeat lessons. This will generate more "free time" and help during the busy weeks. |
 This is certainly a 'new one' on me!  |
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blackjack
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:05 am Post subject: Re: Private and Public school hours pay |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| blackjack wrote: |
| He needed a couple of hours for some banking issues and the time was deducted from his vacation. |
As I said - "luck of the draw" -
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which is why I said not always the case, just want the op to see the other side of the coin
[/quote]
Blackjack,
You 'speak' of the "public school teacher" at your school in the third party. What's your position?[quote]
After school teacher, in at 12 out at 5 (1hr prep) with a max of 14 students in the class |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:30 am Post subject: Re: Private and Public school hours pay |
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| blackjack wrote: |
| After school teacher, in at 12 out at 5 (1hr prep) with a max of 14 students in the class |
Sweet... any benefits?
OP,
I didn't mean to give the impression all PS teachers as a fortunate as me - most aren't. I taught in K-land for two years before moving to my present position and was able to pick my school. For the vast majority of newbies, PS' are a total 'crap shoot'... you may get lucky... but it's best to assume you won't. If you choose the PS route, be prepared to teach/control classes of 35+ (mostly) unmotivated students and do a lot of 'desk warming'. |
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blackjack
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:24 am Post subject: Re: Private and Public school hours pay |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| blackjack wrote: |
| After school teacher, in at 12 out at 5 (1hr prep) with a max of 14 students in the class |
Sweet... any benefits?
OP,
I didn't mean to give the impression all PS teachers as a fortunate as me - most aren't. I taught in K-land for two years before moving to my present position and was able to pick my school. For the vast majority of newbies, PS' are a total 'crap shoot'... you may get lucky... but it's best to assume you won't. If you choose the PS route, be prepared to teach/control classes of 35+ (mostly) unmotivated students and do a lot of 'desk warming'. |
no pension (but as a kiwi that's good for me) my choice
if the school has a closed day then so do I.
I work harder than the PS teacher but less hours
i get paid more but have extra work like reports and making tests, but my company has a pretty good support structure.
overall i have a pretty good deal, my boss is always looking for good experienced teachers with a bold on experienced teachers.
there are better jobs floating around but I think I have a better deal than most hagwon/PS teachers, pm if interested |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:59 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
In general (that goes for everything I'll say here):
You get paid more per class in a PS than you do in a hogwan because you teach considerably less classes. However, you get paid less per hour because you have to be there 8 hours whereas in a hogwan you'd be there 5-6 hours. But, in a PS you'll teach 2-3 different classes a week, so lesson planning is a breeze. In a hogwan you'll teach 20-30 different lessons a week. Also, depending on your hogwan, there may be tons of paperwork, marking, report cards, etc. None of that in PS. Finally, classes get cancelled all the time in PS, usually on average a couple a week (sometimes the whole week...I've been back at my PS for 2 weeks and have only taught 6 classes thus far).
In elementary PS, you will teach mornings and then sit at your desk in the afternoons. Most schools will give you the opportunity to teach after school classes for a few hours a week to up your salary, so you end up making more than what it initially looks like on paper. Or you could use that time to do an online course, take up knitting or watch every video on youtube. My PS also has several sports teams I've joined, so I even get out of class to practice and play in tourneys (and trust me, I'm no superstar).
The only thing I miss from my hogwan days are the late starts. But the months of school vacation where I worked half days and still made some OT, then took a 5 week holiday more than make up for it. And I haven't even mentioned the contractual sick day allowance, extra random holidays, and generally being treated like a human being rather than a piece of machinery. |
Yep, pretty much sums it up....IF you have a good school....I know others are bad schools and it can be the total opposite. I have a great school and it's worth it's weight in gold. |
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rac118
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:08 am Post subject: |
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i cant even imagine dealing with 30 or 40 kids
these last few days ive realized that my current gig (1-3 students max) is probably too much. |
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