Korean Job Discussion Forums

ekul · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: [Mod Edit]

Recently in my classroom candy and chocopies have been going missing from the bottom draw of my desk. At first I didn't realise the bag of lollipops was going down, then when the bag was empty the penny dropped. I spend my free periods and lunch in the office, so the thieves could of struck any time they really wanted outside of my lessons.

The door has a classic combination lock, but because of students having to clean the room and looking over my shoulder when I open the door I don't think it was a huge secret. Not having any proof of who it could be (personally I think it's some of the cleaning kids) we changed the lock.

The previous lock had 10*10*10*10 (10,000) combinations. However this lock is slightly different, it has 8 buttons that can each be pressed once for the 4 digit code, basically the numbers cannot repeat. This lock has 8*7*6*5 (1680) combinations.

Now the truly amazing thing about this story is that last night I changed the lock, and I arrive at my 9am class to find them all sitting at their desks... They had already cracked the combination! I thought this was pure luck, but then in the 3rd period I turn up again to find they have also cracked the lock and figured it out. Obviously the first class could have been lucky, but the second class aswell? I suppose they could have told them, but for some reason I doubt it.

Just give me a lock and a key! Screw this combination locks.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Looks like it's time for a stake-out with camera ready.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

ekul · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: [Mod Edit]

Luckily the K teachers are pretty mad about it as well. My head of English told me a little story about having to fix cracks in windows before they get worse, which I found quite cute. Other than catching them red handed it's not an easy thing to do.

I'm more annoyed about them figuring out the combination already, i was hoping something else would go missing and then i would know for a fact it was the cleaning students, but now it could be anyone :/

nathanrutledge · Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh

Just today we got a new combination lock for our office. Apparently the kids figured it out, which they revealed by telling my co teacher "Oh, I'll go get that for you, we know the combination to the office!"

In the larger office in my school, they posted the combination on the inside of the door in plain view of everyone, so it's no secret, but I showed up today and we had a new lock on our door. Of course, its one of those 4 dial locks, and they have so much play in them I figured out the combination and opened it in about 10 seconds, so it doesn't surprise me at all that these kids figure them out.

Myself, I used to work at a hardware store and worked on re-keying locks and opening padlocks that people had forgot the combination to or lost the key for. Believe me, even if they were solidly made locks, anyone with a little training and about 10 minutes could get one open.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Chocolax!

or rat poison if it's really getting to you

Rusty Shackleford · Joined: 08 May 2008

The attitude towards pass words here is weird. You have to have a password on your PC which is then written in a book that is available to every one to see, at any time. I also have to lock my desk every day but I usually leave the keys on the desk in plain site. Which isn't a problem.

But the PCs in the classrooms are often available because no one knows the password. Rolling Eyes

cmr · Joined: 22 Mar 2006

I don't know if they have that in Korea, but a box of chocolates for your little thieves might be a nice thing... of course, I'm talking about Ex-Lax chocolates! Wink

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Yesterday · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:42 am Post subject:

I have always know that

I have always kept candy, chocolates in a locked cabinet, or desk for students who save up so many coupons (for homework, good work etc)

my elementary school students (grade 3 or grade 4) have shown me many times - that they can pick the lock in less than a minute

these days I only use padlocks and keys... and still the students try to destroy or break the door on the cabinet

I also had to fasten the cabinet to the wall - because the students were shaking it so much to try to break it - the Korean co-teacher thought the cabinet was going to fall on top of them and kill them...

Korean students are thieves at early ages..

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004