Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

So I had been bugging and bugging my school about getting my vacation sorted so that I could go on vacation somewhere. I told them I needed to have the dates set before november 30 so I could pay for my ticket before I lost my reservation. So sure enough they get back to me the day after, with news that I have to come back 3 days earlier than I had planned to sit in the office. Factoring in seolnal and my extra overtime, I actually have ended up with less vacation than I did last year. Way to go guys.

My prinicpal now wants me to put on an extra camp that students would pay for, but I would recieve nothing during the afternoons. Which is not only against my contract (which states I'm at school between 9 and 1), but would result in medicore camps they seemed to be unhappy with this.

To add further stress powers that be are coming in for their six monthy visit to check over my performance and justify their pay cheque. I now have to report on what did to make myself a better teacher during what little vacation time I did recieve. I am also in trouble because I can't give them all my paperwork for part of the first semester as my work computer died and my lesson plans were on there. At present I get to hunch over the very slow printer server and work while having printer toner blowing in my face, because the school won't replace my computer. As you can imagine this has done wonders for my asthma.

However the clincher is despite the last two times these inspectors visited my school I recived glowing reviews and even won some sort of commendation last time, and my students causing a big upset this year by beating several girls schools (including one private one) to win the regional drama contest that I spent many of my own hours coaching the kids for. My principal (who can't speak a lick of english) still thinks that after two years my classes are still medicore and not challenging enough for my higher level students. I try to do a good job with the resouces I have (chalk and photocopier) to teach classes of 44-45 middle school boys once a week for 45 minutes and keep most of them interested, entertained and on task which means I can not be all things to all people. I have suggested doing some streaming of levels but have been told that they aren't willing to accomdate this.

It's been so nice to recieve such a glowing validation of my efforts for my time at this school. I haven't had a pay rise in two years (despite saving money by re-siging) and worked extra hours this year because I was promised a good vacation which hasn't materlized. Given that I'm reciving less vacation and do more work of a higher quality than teachers at neighboring schools I'm about ready to go on a rampage.

[Incognito]

CLG...stop b*tching and leave/quit/don't renew! It sounds like you are miserable there!!! Teach your as*hole principal a lesson. I bet he won't find anyone better.

I am in a similar situation and rest assured, I won't be renewing.

[jaderedux]

Sounds like to me a gun for them folks would work wonders......this kinda a crap could cause a sane person go postal....sheesh.

Gee, wonder why it is so hard to get qualified teachers in Korea sometimes.

Jade

[crazylemongirl]

[Incognito]

[JacktheCat]

Hang in there CLK. Just keep chanting "three more months, three more months," while visions of a long vacation, and soul renewing travel dance in your head.

As well as visions of how your school is going to feel next year when the young, blonde FOB male teacher they hired can't preform as well as you.

[JacktheCat]

[Incognito]

[JacktheCat]

[Incognito]

Great response Jack! I expected no less from you as you are one of the cooler mods here on Dave's! I sure wanted to get a rise from you though!!!

OK...now back on topic. Nobody give CLG a gun.

[joe_doufu]

CLG, you have to grow some guts and be willing to disagree with your boss. Say "No, I'm taking the vacation as we agreed. Enjoy your three days without me." You may be amazed the first time in life you disagree with somebody and they actually agree to compromise and give you what you want... but it really does happen and it's not as scary as it seems the first time. (Sounds like you're a "confrontation virgin"... do correct me if I'm wrong.)

I talked to my boss to schedule my vacation today. I get a week in winter, the boss is allowed to decide when, but she didn't care this time, just said "it's up to you". She is determined to cover my classes for me while I'm gone (rather than just, I don't know, let the kids watch DVDs that week, or stay home). Anyway I proposed taking a Monday thru Friday break, because that way of course I get an extra weekend. She repeatedly told me I should take a thursday to wednesday vacation, because "that's seven days". Since she's only got to cover five days of my classes, either way, it doesn't make any difference to her, but she seems to want to prevent me from getting 9 days off, just because. It was incredibly audacious of her. I just explained the math a few times, she pretended not to understand, and eventually she just said "fine, ok" because her telephone started ringing!

[crazylemongirl]

[mysteriousdeltarays]

I had trouble following the story, but this is not unusual since I rarely visit soberly anymore.

This would be very typical of the public school system as I knew it years ago.

They aren't about to let you take a vacation, or do whatever. They will let you know a day ahead of time.

[jacl]

Stick up for yourself! And don't work for free! If you have plans for your vacation, make them. "This is when I'm taking my vacation." Say it really slowly. If you don't want to piss anyone off right away, then you can skip your vacation and make sure they pay you for vacation days not taken when your contract's up. Sounds like they'd weasle their way out of that one too. And get away with it.

Learn from this job and be more aggressive in your next one. They'll walk all over you here if you let them.

[joe_doufu]