Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Robot_Teacher]

I have a wonderful 3rd grade class I teach alone, except 1 boy is always getting teased by his classmates and then retaliates. I'm trying to get the oddling to understand it's best to ignore his classmates and then they'll stop, but the beat goes on continuously while most of the class is trying to follow my lessons. I'm teaching them phonics as English curriculum as they're very low level and need to learn the basics. Singing songs too.

I had a talk with their Korean teacher today who said the boy is picked on for being mentally retarded and said boys dad is also retarded. I inquired if it would be possible to put him in a special class as this situation is disrupting the class and handicapping the whole class from learning. I then went on how in America, we put special kids in special classes to make school more harmoneous and to better serve the students needs. He agreed to this idea, but said we don't have such a class. I said it's unfortunate as it's a lot of pain for the retarded student and puts the class at a disadvantage. This student does not look retarded and does perform just fine, but is a social outcast since he has a special personality. I honestly think he is a bright student, but just can't fit in. America also puts these smart kids in special ED for harmony. His homeroom teacher thinks he really is retarded, but I see he's not, he's just always fighting the bullies picking on him for his different way of thinking.

Another small school I go to has a severly retarded screamer which is sat in a room by himself all day which is bad. They might as well send this kid to Seoul to a school that can do something with him instead of isolating him in a room by himself nor would I suggest doing that with any other students.

Does your school have a special ED class or send students to another school equipped to accomodate them?

[mole]

No acceptable special programs I've heard of.
Fortunately, my experience has been that classmates,
while certainly using the "retarded" students as stage props sometimes,
generally are supportive and not outright mean to them.

It's the attitude from Korean teachers that bothered me.
Like oh, don't pay attention to him as if he's just a drag we have to cope with.

[rationality]

[Xuanzang]

My school has no special ed to talk of. Special ed is me trying to include the kid in the class or getting him to sit down, stop being mischievious.

[Rory_Calhoun27]

I'm sometimes shocked at how the teachers take my concerns for some students.

One boy in 4th grade, was just convering his face and holding a pencil, almost as if he was going to stab someone- it looked as if he was crying as well.

I went to him and at least offered some tissue if he was crying. My CTfH (coteacher from Hell) just comes to me and says "Don't pay attention to him- there is nothing you can do!" and then goes on with other things.

My school did shrink by 2/3 at the end of last term, but I still see kids I would guess have some type of "mental impairment." or have they changed euphamisms back home again?

anyway, I at least try to speak positively to these kids, as they always strike me as the ones most in need of a kind word. The least I can do is be a good element in their lives. If they get English or not, not that important.

[Ilsanman]

Korean schools do have special ed.

It's called 'regular class' here.

[Fox]

My school of about 150 children has two entire very nice classrooms devoted to special education, with two qualified teacher and one assistant. Last year, we had three classrooms with three teachers and two assistants. They also have a door-to-door van service to pick up these particular kids each day and take them home.

The amount of time and attention these children get is staggering.

[Xuanzang]

[Milwaukiedave]

The public school I taught at in Incheon had a special education program for disabled students. After I was comfortable with my co-teachers, I asked them to let me know who the special ed students were so that I was aware of their needs (some were obvious, some were harder to pick out especially if it was a mild disability).

[The Grumpy Senator]

[Ilsanman]

A majority of the kids show either a learning and/or behavioural disability. May I call a spade a spade?

[The Grumpy Senator]

[Hater Depot]

There are special education programs in Korea, but their coverage and funding are haphazard.

http://koreabeat.com/?p=3944

http://koreabeat.com/?p=366

You could also check out the Korea Institute for Special Education.

http://www.knise.kr/english/message.jsp