Korean Job Discussion Forums

rhian · Joined: 22 Jan 2004

My bosses five year old son is a bit of a lunatic.
Today when I tried to discipline him and stop him shoving things in the fan, he started kicking me and caling me a "chizapanza" (don't know what this is but take it it aint a good thing??!).

So, what do you do with violent kids?

If he were any older there would be no way he'd be tolerated.

Anyone been through similar?

Exasperated in Gyeong Buk Do.

lush72 · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: I am Penalty Kick!

Oh man, the memories! Back when I was a teacher, a long time ago in the land of Soju and Kimchi, there was "the boy".

"The boy" had an English name, which should have been Lucifer, and that name was Alex. Alex was 7 years (western age) old in 96 so he would be about 15 (shudder) now. Let me tell you of this diabolical child.

Alex was severely emotionally retarded and was, at the tender age of 7, already on his way to becoming a full-blown sociopath. Alex took great pleasure in the misery of his classmates. I spoke to my wjm dozens of times, yet nothing was ever done. Why? Alex had parents who paid double, as no other hogwon would have him. I was quite sure he was sexually molested, and brought that up at every teachers meeting and called attention to the "signs" multiple times, to no avail.

As a result of whatever inner demons he had plaguing him, he was an angry, sadistic child. Thus he required constant attention. The times when I was not at school, or during school lunches, were when he really went wild.

How wild? I wish I had my journal with me now, but as I don't I will just work from memory. Remember you always remember the worst, and no matter what, this little boy is a human being. I think that he was as much as a victim here as he was the villain.

Having said that, I arrived at work one day (after my vacation) and I was looking for my "teachers pet" to pick up and talk to, but sadly, she was not there at school. I asked why and the wjm took me into his office, shut the door, and started to cry. He pushed "play" on the vcr. The image was of play time, my class was in the playroom. My favorite student was standing on top of some wooden slide, ready to go down, when Alex all of a sudden sees this. I watched, jaw open, as he ran over to the slide and hockey slammed into the side of it. Jenny fell and snapped her collar bone. Alex was laughing and smiling right up till the point the cleaning lady backhanded him. I just walked away. That was the last straw for Alex, as the school and his family were facing a lawsuit, he was let go. Prior to that the kids were playing with 2 big been stuffed chairs. A small boy, Tony was lying on one of the chairs. Alex picked up the other chair and put it on Tony, and then lied down on top of it, smothering Tony. When they pulled Alex off (and the only reason they did this was that he had started to jump on the beanbag chair) of the chair Tony was already unconscious. Yes, the school told Tonys parents that he ��fell asleep and hit his head�� to explain the bruising. Alex had also previously done other, inappropriate sexual things to his classmates, which were always covered up.

So you are lucky if you only have a biter.

rhian · Joined: 22 Jan 2004

that is some heavy stuff.

so the establishment was putting money before the welfare of it's students? sounds all too familiar.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Had 0ne or two pretty bad kids- though nothing that compares to lucifer, above.
My worst was a face puncher who targetted mostly girls, and would erupt at the slightest provocation. Only 6 years old too. He was actually a good kid, but his idea of what was fair/ unnaceptable was a bit extreme. Eventually the director absolutlely laid into him for calling her some name, and the mother pulled her little sweetie out.

The worst kids tend to rule the hagwons, because Directors view them simply as money and pander to them. Time and again, an entire class will gradually leave because of the bullying by just one student, but the Director refuses to expel the troublemaker, until he is the last one left.
These kids need discipline- more than they need any wishy washy special counselling, or whatever.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Strange how the owners can't figure out the logic of this situation and how keeping the good 90% would actually make them more money.

posco's trumpet · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog

You need to be careful with juvenile sociopaths -- they're Korea's leaders of tomorrow.

I wish I was kidding.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

lush72 · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: I am Penalty Kick!

lush72 · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: I am Penalty Kick!

EDITED to RESPECT all of you who actually give a damn about teaching.

lush72 · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: I am Penalty Kick!

Alias- what would have you done?

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Some people have a remarkably poor grasp of the concept of sarcasm.

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

lush72, I was trying to imitate what an apologist would say.
Guess that post just came off the wrong way.

To get back on topic, I've had the same problem with violent students in hagwons as well. The reaction of the director is very similar to the reaction of school boards back in Canada. To deny it happens or try to find a way to blame the teacher.

There are a few on this board who believe that there are no bad students, only bad teachers. We still might hear from one on this thread yet!

rhian · Joined: 22 Jan 2004

as i said, this is the director's son, seems the hogwan was opened for his benefit: "i want the best education for my son, you must love him".