Korean Job Discussion Forums

[humanuspneumos]

You seem to be beating a dead horse. No one is going to "band together".

Maybe you haven't been in Korea long enough to see all the crap that goes on at hakwons. I'd say it isn't always the directors fault either. Would you stick you neck out for a guy you barely know, just because he works with you? You've been there 6mths, so far, so good, 6mths left. Buddy gets off the plane and starts whining and complaining about xxx and xxx not being honored.


Well- I said at the end of my last post that I was very cynical that foreigners would band together in their office.


And- I started in Korea around the same time Dave's started (96). So- I've seen a little and that's not looking at it from one-only-one school/situation.

Yes- I do/have stuck my neck out for newbies. I'm just one of those people who will because I think that a director will listen if I say- "Wow- that's not a good idea. The ESL community catches wind of that and it'll hurt you more than it'll do you good."

[Homer]

HP,

What about foreiners and their Korean co-workers working as a unit in their respective schools to improve the quality of education?

This happens and it does not require some waeguk only club.

Are you hell bent on separating us from "them"...?

It is more of a workplace thing that a waeguk in the workplace thing.

If any employees would need a union it would the the Korean teachers since by nature they are not temporaty workers (i.e. they live here longterm) and they often get the shorter head of the stick.

[humanuspneumos]

You're right Homer: they often get the shorter head of the stick.


Someone mentioned that nobody will band together. I guess that means to do improvement projects too.

[Homer]

The union idea is just not feasable on the grounds you mention HP.

Most Foreign teachers by trade are only here for 1-2 years. They would have very little interest in paying union dues or joining a union.
Also who would work as union rep?

Are we supposed to trust this person simply because he is a waeguk like us?

Not to mention the fact that many, many people in Korea (foreigners I mean) are quite happy with their jobs and-or have a decent employer.

Then there are those who do only pvts...how can they join a union?


Its a ship that's doomed to founder.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[bellum99]

I will not every go one little bit out of my way for another teacher. I ask no favors and I give no favors. I am not your mother or father and I do not love you. At the end of the day, the only things that matter is the size of the wallet and a man's family.
I once tried to help some teachers out when the boss was angry with them and then later after the boss was not angry they totally screwed me over with the boss. They lied and because there was two of them the boss listened.
I decided then that I will never help anyone who is here only for a year or two. You live or die by yourself and if you were on fire, i wouldn't stop to put it out. I might even put some wood on the blaze.

[just because]

[paperbag princess]

at my school, the foreign teachers always band together. we know we are alone in this. the korean teachers almost always stick with the boss. it's really an "us vs them" situation. bleh.

[humanuspneumos]

I once tried to help some teachers out when the boss was angry with them and then later after the boss was not angry they totally screwed me over with the boss. They lied and because there was two of them the boss listened.

Been there. And it's all water under the bridge now. I choose not to hold grudges. Still- I'd help new teachers simply because we can't tell the "bad guys" (I take the stance that everyone is bad in their own particular way) from the "good guys" right off the bat. Anyway- why not? If you're going to get burnt- might as well be for something decent than something not so decent.

[kangnamdragon]

just band together on the side of "justice". Do the right thing. If another teacher is doing something wrong, tell him, don't support him.