Korean Job Discussion Forums

harlowethrombey · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

I think some school in Texas stumbled upon the solution.

Just lock your problems kids in some kind of cage, thunderdome style, and let them fight it out while you take wagers. And, as a bonus, the school can take a cut off the top so everybody wins.

Auslegung · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Location: MB, SC

I don't know about your school, but my hagwon has absolutely no problems with "creative" punishments. I make kids write on the chalkboard until it is full with things such as "I will not lie to teacher," I hit them (though definitely not hard enough to do damage, just enough to shame them) with a book or pencil, throw them out of class, physically move them to the place I want them to be, etc.

However, I work with elementary students and am a 6'1" man. I don't know your situation exactly, but "keeping your cool" can sometimes come off as weakness. Definitely don't yell if you don't need to, I tell all my students that if I have to yell to get their attention, some of them will be crying shortly thereafter. However, do what needs to be done to foster the best learning experience for those who want to learn, and show the kids consistent boundaries with realistic punishments. Throw kids out of the class, send them to the principal (or whomever), make them stand on their toes with their nose on the chalkboard, give them extra writing assignments. Of course, none of this will work if your principal and co-workers don't support you, and if the students think you're a pushover or anything close to it. Best of luck. Sorry if I repeated something someone said, I didn't feel like sifting through all the replies.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

Yep, without school support attempting classroom management is a waste of time.

Should your classes stand outside the school's behaviour policy????Of course not.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

Darkray16 · Joined: 09 Nov 2008

I work in at a public middle school. Had one of the larger students try to stand in my way and block me in order to test me. I put him down hard. It does help that I'm a 6 foot tall and 200lbs weight lifter that has done jiu jitsu for 6 years.

I've noticed that parents are expecting teachers to discipline their children for them. And most teachers go along with this concept. It boggles the mind that parents honestly think teachers = babysitter/surrogate parent.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Freddypops · Joined: 11 Jun 2009

Last year a lisping sweatpatch took a swing for me (I work in a mixed middle school). He was about to hit another student and I grabbed his arm. He swung (a big looping right hand) and I ducked under and pinned his arms to his sides. Then I gave him a "love push" out of the classroom. I've had plenty of amateur boxing and Muay Thai matches, so I've got a bit of experience slipping punches. For a split-second I considered clocking him, but that would have been a terrible idea - we're the adults, right? I refused to teach him again, and he had to make an apology. (Apparently he "has trouble controlling himself". What's he going to do in the army?) I was annoyed by the whole thing (there's no way he would have tried that with a Korean teacher) but it also made the day a bit more exciting, and I feel like I handled it well.

Crucially, though, I got the full support of my co-teachers, although initially they didn't seem to think it was a big problem. Without that - as others have said - you're a pretty bad situation. I also get the feeling you're a woman, and (quite rightly) feel intimidated by this little sh!t's threats. Just emphasise the fact that taking no action will set a precedent of abusive behaviour towards teachers.

I'm no Picasso · Joined: 28 Oct 2008

This is off topic, but...

You've been here for 11 months and your Korean is good enough to have understood all of that? What the hell kind of classes are you taking? Or whatever?

Not being a smartass. Genuinely interested.

More on topic, I work at an all boys' middle school and God only knows what some of these little people have muttered under their breath toward me in Korean. I've managed to make a few quite angry. I don't worry about whatever those few might be saying, though, because they're only ticked off because I've succeeded in making them do whatever it is I wanted to make them do in the first place. They can say whatever makes them feel a little better about that.

poet13 · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject:

I had a student stand up to me once in middle school. I think it was my "welcome to MY school" test. He was a bunch taller, and probably 50 pounds heavier (I'm about 225), and on the Sirrim program. I cartwheeled him through the classroom door and let it go at that with no follow-up. I think they respected the fact that I didn't rub his nose into his "loss", and we never spoke of it. A few students asked me, and I never responded. Even though their English was poor, they turned out to be very good students.
I see that boy and others from that year still. They enjoy playing with my 4 year old son and are exceedingly polite to my family in public.

In response to Darkray16 and expected discipline.
Last week someone broke into my apartment. One of policemen who took the report said his son was in my 1-2 class. He indicated that his son did lots of pushups in my class. I thought.."Oh crap". But he broke a big smile, a thumbs up, and a "very good".

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

poet13 · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject:

Ah, we were asleep. Whoever got in (windows were open, but the landlord left the security gate open) took mybe 40K won off my desk, and my sons piggy banks. They were each about 50K.

To channel Chris Rock, "What kind of a sick society do we live in where someone would steal a babie's piggy bank! That's just [Mod Edit for filter dodging]up!"

No, we weren't too stressed.

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

For the problems, I hope it gets better.
For the rest, have you ever heard of Gokusen?

Its a Japanese (I know) show about a teacher who ends up with the worst class at the private (technical) high school. Not sure if there is a Korean equivilent, but...

Tape your classes, turn into scriptwriter, make money.
I'm laughin, others will.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

This thread makes me feel a lot better about the possibility of North Korea attacking. With all of the Rocky/Ramboesque posters here and their unmatched expertise at defeating middle schoolers in hand to hand combat...who would dare?