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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009 Location: Electron cloud
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject: My school don't want a human being to teach |
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I know, kind of sensationalist title huh?
It's true though. I work at an elementary school at the after school programme.
Now before you write me off as a bad teacher who puts in no effort and is lazy etc, please let me assure you I've been teaching for 5 years, public school, have a tefl cert and prepare my classes well with a good mix of singing, chanting, textbook work, visual display, role plays, varied activities such as interviews, quizzes and plenty of educational games. I have a good debit / merit system in place and manage my class well through awarding / deducting points from teams of students... 99% of the kids love me.
Recently, one child who was behaving like a spolied brat, turning up late with no explaination, laughing when I deduct points from him or his team, not doing homework for 4 weeks, distrupting the class etc... I told him
'This is NOT the playground. this is the classroom, you come here to study, not to be rude and play about, okay?'
Of course, his parents took him out of the programme as they say I'm 'Too Angry' in class and demanded a full refund for the term we are already one month into... (I suspect so they could put him in another hakwan - beware when a parent in Korea takes their kid out of your programme, they often use 'bad teacher' excuses when really this is just a face saving technique so they don't have to admit going elsewhere for other reasons...)
So I'm called in to speak with the director who tells me the usual 'Korean parents love their kids more than any other parents, so they demand extra from teachers, please show your love to the kids and all that bs...
Next day my manager is sent in to observe my classes (presumably to see how 'angry' I am in class.) Lo and behold after three classes she tells me
'That's why your teaching is famous in our comapany, those were the best classes I've seen.'
I'm like 'cool, finally, some praise for my efforts...'
Then in the last class, a 5th grader was walking precariously on some chairs and due to
a. This being innapropriate classroom behaviour
b. Very dangerous
I told her 'Get down off the chairs, this is not the playground, it's the classroom.'
I said this in an even, well mannered yet slightly stern voice as a teacher / adult / guardian would. BUT NO. My manager looks at me with a ridiculous expression I can't even describe in words and says
'PLEASE do not be angry with the children, do not be strict with them!!!'
Now what kind of teacher / adult or human being would I be if I let a kid walk on chairs and risk smashing their head open and not let them know it's innapropriate?
A teacher would respond as I did in any language in an classroom in any country across the globe. Their Korean teacher would scream at them like a banshee in fact.
but no. The Korean parents do not want the waeygookin having any real authority over their little emperors / empresses..
Well anyway, I told my manager that I wasn't being angry, some strictness IS NEEDED in a well functioning classroom and if she wants someone who doesn't care about the kids behaviour or safety and someone who doesn't act like any other human would, I'm not the man for them. She muttered 'please be kind to the children' and left...
Ridiculous people, often ridiculous society. Korea. |
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JJJ
Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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You're preaching to the choir here.
I hear ya. |
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sharkey

Joined: 12 Oct 2008
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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I get angry..but not in my afterschool classes. It's more in my regular classes.. nothing has been said to me for nearly 7 months. I even scare the co-teacher, but she has no spine and kids trample on her like nothing. |
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detourne_me

Joined: 26 May 2006
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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Please, at least use correct grammar in the title of a thread. |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009 Location: Electron cloud
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject: My school DOESN'T want a human teacher |
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detourne_me wrote: |
Please, at least use correct grammar in the title of a thread. |
I'll promise to if you promise to never contribute worthless, antagonising and pointless posts in any of my threads ever again.
Deal? |
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Yu_Bum_suk

Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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I've met the type before. What the promiscuous bovine probably could not fathom is that the first three lessons went so well because you've disciplined the kids before and taught them how to behave. I'd have a very hard time not tearing her head off in front of the kids.
[now sings to self] Thank Chr*st I don't teach elementary! |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: My school don't want a human being to teach |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP wrote: |
I
but no. The Korean parents do not want the waeygookin having any real authority over their little emperors / empresses..
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In that case, could you please explain when I've punished my students (both elementary and middle) why I've never gotten any nonsense from parents? Granted such punishments have been few and far in between, but...
Oh wait you teach at an after-school program? Then that explains it. Paying customers and all that. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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You will have to have a heart to heart with your director and tell him that you will not allow children to run wild in your classes. If he doens't like it, he can find another teacher. Explain to him that in your classes, you are the boss, not him, not the parents and definitely not the students.
Yes, you do have to be that blunt. It's the only way he will get the message.
Don't be rude or angry, just straight forward and direct.
If the parents don't like it, they should go somewhere else.
If you don't do this, prepare to be walked all over for the remainder of your contract. |
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Demophobe

Joined: 17 May 2004
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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some waygug-in wrote: |
You will have to have a heart to heart with your director and tell him that you will not allow children to run wild in your classes. If he doens't like it, he can find another teacher. Explain to him that in your classes, you are the boss, not him, not the parents and definitely not the students.
Yes, you do have to be that blunt. It's the only way he will get the message.
Don't be rude or angry, just straight forward and direct.
If the parents don't like it, they should go somewhere else.
If you don't do this, prepare to be walked all over for the remainder of your contract. |
Yep. |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009 Location: Electron cloud
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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Have done this at previous jobs. Have been here long enough to know this and to have previously asserted my rights.
This time however (I'm being PRETTY well paid and have a cushy job) I work at one of the most prestigious elementary schools in Seoul in THE most prestigious district (I'll leave you to guess) and the parents are super fussy. Also they're a bunch of yuppies and I suppoose they figure 'we pay for him so we own him.' The director of the company has his a'hole twitching so fervently after the last clown (was a dopehead, dirty, wore scruffy clothes, porn found on computer etc) was fired after 3 months that he's worried about the school not re-signing. Hence all the pressure comes top downwards towards moi...
It's not that bad really, but it's annoying when asking a student not to walk on desks or chairs is seen as being 'ANGRY' or 'STRICT'... lol.... |
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Demophobe

Joined: 17 May 2004
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP wrote: |
Have done this at previous jobs. Have been here long enough to know this and to have previously asserted my rights.
This time however (I'm being PRETTY well paid and have a cushy job) I work at one of the most prestigious elementary schools in Seoul in THE most prestigious district (I'll leave you to guess) and the parents are super fussy. Also they're a bunch of yuppies and I suppoose they figure 'we pay for him so we own him.' The director of the company has his a'hole twitching so fervently after the last clown (was a dopehead, dirty, wore scruffy clothes, porn found on computer etc) was fired after 3 months that he's worried about the school not re-signing. Hence all the pressure comes top downwards towards moi...
It's not that bad really, but it's annoying when asking a student not to walk on desks or chairs is seen as being 'ANGRY' or 'STRICT'... lol.... |
Yeah, well, you make your decisions then. It sounds like a drag, but not hell. |
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bobbybigfoot
Joined: 05 May 2007 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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detourne_me wrote: |
Please, at least use correct grammar in the title of a thread. |
+1 |
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Rory_Calhoun27
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:56 am Post subject: |
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sharkey wrote: |
I get angry..but not in my afterschool classes. It's more in my regular classes.. nothing has been said to me for nearly 7 months. I even scare the co-teacher, but she has no spine and kids trample on her like nothing. |
maybe that's what they wantcha ta think!
I was amazed at items coteachers will allow to go on, and when the stinkin' American (me) does something to change the situation, like the boys smacking the girls in grade 5-6, somehow it's the teachers' fault.
and the shocking side is that the kids are at least SOMEWHAT more respectful in their own classrooms.... but when it's time for English, the first boys in will run on the tabletops, try to knock the main computer screen off the front of the room, and generally cause mayhem. and yet when the English teacher tries to intervene, they're the ones being disrespectful..... but again, asking for an Enlish team meeting is out of the question.... despite gepik's recommended actions...  |
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wallythewhale
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Everyone wants robots these days...especially after watching Transformers 2. |
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pkang0202

Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:22 am Post subject: |
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OP,
You do not work at a public elementary school. The minute you walk into those doors after school, you are at a hagwon. Your director only cares about the customer (parents and kids). He cares more about them than you because they are giving him money, and you are the one taking it from him.
Your after school program, like a hagwon, is a business. Just like the saying goes, "the customer is always right". |
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