Korean Job Discussion Forums

[farrepatt]

I know this has been brought up on other threads, but my employer wants me to write a report for my days off this coming weekend (the day between Sunday and Children's Day, then our school birthday is the 6th). Apparently, I'm supposed to lie and talk about how I spend my days off preparing for classes, because this is what all the Korean teachers do. I know, I know, I know that this is how Korean schools function, and I�m supposed to just kiss the VP�s foot. I got frustrated, because... well, it was just one of those days and this was the last straw. After I had my permission forms signed for not coming in those days � permission forms that say I�m going to an English Teaching workshop � my VP told us (there�s an intern at my school as well) to write reports on the workshops I�ll be attending and the past workshops I attended. That�s when I did something stupid, �But we�re not going to workshops. This is all a lie.� The VP blew up and said we should be thankful to be given the permission to have the same days off as the Korean teachers and staff at our school. He then told us to write 10 pages for each day.

Any recommendations for how to deal with this?

[Rusty Shackleford]

Just plagiarize something of the internets.

[DJTwoTone]

Nobody is going it read it... print the first 10 pages of Moby Dick and be done with it...

[Trip]

If it's not in your contract, don't do it. Advice them they should put that in the next contract.

[The_Source]

If it's not in your contract to write reports (and it probably isn't), don't even bother with it. Next week if they ask you for it, just keep saying, "It's not done yet" or "I'll get it to you ASAP." Eventually they'll stop asking you for it.

[I'm no Picasso]

[JJJ]

Wow, he sounds like the biggest arse. I honestly didn't know that some schools were making or threatening their native NSET's to come in on Friday and Monday. I thought every school was closed automatically. I look at my school calender and it's a purple day (being a school day off) with a red day on Sat. and Monday. Purple is off, no questions asked. Was I wrong to assume that? Sorry.

10 pages/day!!!??? So, he wants 10 for Friday and another 10 for Monday. Jeez. Are you gonna do that? I'd love to shout, "Screw that!!" but I myself might find some elementary or high school report on what I did on my vacation on the Internet and print it out. I do know I wouldn't be typing one out. Good luck on your situation.

[dhalgren17]

You can come take my place. I'll be glad to write a paper. I'm doing a camp on Monday.
dhalgren17

[Otherside]

[Robot_Teacher]

To OP's VP: "With all due respect, holidays and weekends are my time off to enjoy a part of my life as I please, it is not for planning on how to do my work. I work to live; not live to work. I plan on how to do my work while at work when not teaching a class. I have about 18 hours office time during a normal typical week for lesson planning and other business matters. I have to disagree with your expectation of expecting me to work on my days off and then writing reports on my progress during my free time."

If they, VP and principal, do not change their minds, then go higher up with a complaint assuming your in public school. It appears they just don't get it with what the deal is on having a NET nor have any respect for the OP. If they threaten to fire you, then threaten you're going to labor board and going to go public with this issue and it will look bad upon the VP, principal, and the school. It will be communicated in Korean to further communicate the issue to our higher ups and the local community.

I don't play along with power trippers and abusers walking all over me. I go against the grain when they're wrong even though I know that's out of bounds in Asian cultures. It's also out of bounds today in America on all those low paying jobs back home where 100 people or more are waiting in line to get your $8/hour job with an intimidating boss or management cutting their own throats trying to cut costs rather than manage to add value. Just becauase I'm in your country doesn't mean I have to tolerate unreasonable demands or abuse. If you go to my country, the USA, do NOT tolerate any unreasonable treatment in any circumstance and DO speak up loud and clear to state your issue.

[Straphanger]

[Rusty Shackleford]

The problem is, is that Monday and Friday aren't holidays. Therefore, the VP is well within his rights to ask you to come to work. By asking you to write a report, he is covering his ass in case the POE wants to know what you were doing.

Just do what someone else suggested, and write a intro and conclusion, then Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V the rest. It will take less than an hour and you will get 2 free days off.

BTW my school is open both days.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[sinsanri]

[kiknkorea]

Yeah the Monday and Wednesday are not holidays, just days when you don't have to teach. Some bosses expect something even if you're not 'working'.

Sinsari said it well about contract issues. Though I definately wouldn't be turning in 10 pages!