Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cazzy3]

I know each public school has its own policy regarding foreigners, but has anyone else been informed that there will be two weeks of classes late Jan- early Feb? I know in the past the kids had a few days that they came in and just screwed around, cleaned up, etc.

In the past we never had to come in during Jan/Feb so I booked a ticket already, and now they're thinking about having actual classes! First off, if they had to add days because of no more Sat classes, why not just add them at the end of the year? Secondly, if Sat classes were only half days and twice a week, didn't they already add days during the summer to alleviate this problem?

Cheers.

[Flashcard_Queen]

What were you expecting for vacation? What does your contract say?

I worked at a public elementary school in Gangnam-gu a few years ago and had 2 weeks off in the summer and another 2 in the winter. The rest of the time, we were expected to work a 'camp like' program in the mornings for a couple hours, which was pretty slack.

Of course, the year I started, they decided to implement a two week, district-wide, full-day camp throughout Gangnam-gu, at various schools (sometimes we ended up at a school that wasn't where we usually worked).

Because it wasn't in our contracts at the time, we were given the choice of not working (and being hated by all), working one week (for 500,000 won extra, which I did during the winter) or working the full two weeks (for 1,000,000 won extra, which I did during the summer).

Even then, I definitely recall coming back to work full days for a couple weeks in late February, but never Jan/Feb.

[CentralCali]

Public schools are required to have their GET on the premises both morning and afternoon during the summer and winter breaks, except on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and the GET's approved vacation. The Provincial/Metropolitan City Board of Education is required to have unannounced inspections both morning and afternoon during said summer and winter breaks to guarantee that all schools are following the policy regarding GET on the school premises. If the GET is not there and there is not an approved absence form on file, the GET will be charged vacation time.

This year, the big problem issue is the simple fact that the school breaks are shorter owing to the supposed absence of scheduled school on Saturdays. The national curriculum still requires the students to receiver a minimum number of hours of instruction through the year. What happened is the schools had to increase the number of weekdays for instruction, thus making the breaks between semesters shorter. And by shorter, friend, I mean a lot shorter. I mean so much shorter that their usual number of days of "camp" will overlap your number of vacation days if you're on your second or subsequent contract with the same P/MOE.

In other words: You will be there. You will be there from 08:30 to 16:30. You will be checked on. And you will have a fight on your hands if you expect to take your full vacation time during the winter break if you're on the 2nd or subsequent contract and your contract began at the end of summer.

By the way, do you know why this policy is in place now? The stated reason in the policy letter was--and I'm not kidding at all here--"Due to the number of GETs who are dissatisied because of those GETs who are given unauthorized days off during the semester break, each school will follow this policy as outlined by the Ministry and this will avoid dissatisfaction among the GETs." Yep, your fellow foreigners griped about having to desk-warm and they griped, not among themselves, but to the Office of Education! You'll notice that nobody bothered to check with the GETs to see how "satisfied" they'll be under this policy, but of course why would anyone start checking with us on our jobs or lives? The days of getting permission to "prepare lesson materials at home" are gone. Well, they're not gone for the Korean teachers, just for the GETs. The contract for 2012 rots compared to previous years. And it will only get worse for the foreseeable future.

[Ranman]

[Squire]

Has anybody ever seen anybody who checks on us during the holidays? Or know anybody who has been checked on? It's something I've heard of but I've never heard a first hand account of it happening to anybody

[newb]

The issue about inspectors from POE checking on FT's at respective schools is a myth (perhaps at certain areas). The school principal has the direct authority when it comes to who should be present at the school premises during school vacation. If you were approved by the principal for home/cultural study, lesson planning, etc. in writing, the POE cannot force you to deskwarm. Afterall, some schools don't want another Korean staff/teacher to babysit you at the school. With exception to your approved vacation days, however, you'd have to stay within Korea.

[CentralCali]

[newb]

[JustinC]

If you have your holiday dates in writing then you're good, if not you're SOL, soz, lol.

[ippy]