Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Patrick Hanley]

Hi I was wondering, if you are told to work from home during the summer and winter vacation after the camps and personal holidays what does this mean?

I have been told I can't leave the country during this time(I am allowed leave during my 21days this is in relation to the working from home), but this seem a bit strange, that we would be made stay in a city and work from home with no work to do i.e. if you are not going to resign your contract and you have no kids to teach what is there to work at from home?

I would also like to know how SMOE would know if you left the country or not?

Other things that have left me wondering "What the Hell" and I must say my co-teachers wonder the same as me.

I guess what I am trying to say is why don't they just have us do the 3weeks summer camp and winter camp and let us take the rest of the time off if the school doesn't need us!

[fugitive chicken]

I have friends who have been told to do this...Their school made them do lesson planning and prep stuff for the next semester, then when vacation was over, the school asked to see the lesson plans they had created.

You might want to ask for more details on what exactly they want from you.

[NYC_Gal]

If you're lucky, you can work from home. Most of us are forced to deskwarm at least most of the day (some can go early, if lucky). I hardly think that being "forced to stay in the city" during working hours is much to ask. You COULD be forced to stay at your desk, so count your lucky stars if your school lets you "work" from home.

[Patrick Hanley]

What I mean is if you Contract finishes up in March and you are told to work from home during the Winter Vacation you won't have and more semesters, and I understand that being able to stay at home instead of at a desk is good.

What I am really asking is, if the school feels that is it reasonable to let a person do what they want during the time the school is closed can SMOE do anything about it?

I am just getting fed up with have to two bosses SMOE and the Principle and being told loads of different things. I think SMOE should have total say of just state to the School what our right are and then let us arrange things between the school for anything extra. I am sorry if this seems like I am giving out and I don't mean to be complaining but I am wondering does anyone feel the same. So please don't start attacking this post, you can write how you feel but try not be a dick.

[NYC_Gal]

Show them a bunch of touristy, ultra-Korean landmarks and sites that you'd love to experience to learn more about culture. They may let you do it, as long as you phrase it as though it's research.

[nomad-ish]

[Seoulio]

this is the classic case of balancing the school politics with AN NSET

Some have to deskwarm after the 3 weeks are up and they are NOT on offical vacation

Some have to do 5 weeks of camp, others have to do 2, others do none, some people have to do no camps and also not deskwarm and get a crap load of "vacation" from these extra days.

There are literally hundred of combinations.

Some of us get the shaft and some of us get dream "vacations" with 50 - 60 "vacation days when all is said and done.

SMOE mandates the 3 week camp and deskwarming, however they also know that individual schools can make individual decisions.

if your contract is being honored by the school you may be getting UNEQUAL treatment when compared to another NSET, but you are not getting UNFAIR Treatment.

Its sucks donkey balls when your buddies are on vacation and or getting work from home days with no camps, while you are doing 4 weeks, deskwarming when you are done, and fighting just to get a week of vacation before the new semester starts.

But that is life, and SMOE or your local district will not do a thing unless they are breaking your contract.

The only thing they can do is send a stern warning to ALL schools that ALL teachers must follow the strict guidlines ( MUST do 3 weeks, MUST deskwarm, and NO work from home days) but even that ( if it hasn't been done already) will likely be widely ignored by school admins.

[detourne_me]

well put Seoulio
/thread

[Countrygirl]

Korean teachers can't leave the country when they are 'working from home' either.