Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Homer]

laogaiguk,

While I think your opinion has merit and should not be dismissed simply because you have no kids, I think there is still a vast difference between the opinion of a non-parent and the opinion of a parent. This is for the simple reason that having a child of your own confronts you with concrete decisions as opposed to a discussion of possibilities.

This does not make your opinion invalid. It does however change the weight it might hold when it comes to discussing the issues related to raising kids.

[kermo]

[laogaiguk]

[JZer]

[Homer]

[JZer]

[tzechuk]

[steroidmaximus]

I haven't read the whole thread, and I've avoided this thread for a long time because I knew what it would consist of. Let's just say I was saving it for I don't know what.

Anyway, I'm a veteren, been here 7 years, married with 2 kids. Taught mostly in unis, but have some public education under my belt as well.

I'm heading back to Canada because I don't want my kids to go to school here, and because I know I need to again start building up my credentials back home before my kids are ready for school. I'm willing to take the hit because I know what's the better option: less money for daddy for more grounded, rounded kids. In my opinion, it's a sacrifice for the next 5-8 years for something better for my kids.


FIRST:

I have a sweet set up: most of the kids I've taught privately have studied abroad. There are a lot more then you realize, and they all speak fabulous English. They generally think differently than the students who have only known Korea (more expanded world view), and they have in general more developed analytical and critical thinking skills. In general, most of them want to go back, since they found their lives more interesting and varied then they do here. Whether I'm projecting or whether they are only saying that to make teacher happy, you can decide. But the number of times I've heard the same thing is compelling.

When studying abroad, almost all of them excelled in science and math, subjects that require a great deal of rote memorisation, but did not do as well in social science or language arts, subjects that require greater analytical skills. Now of course, math and science require analytical and critical thinking skills, but any person who doggedly memorizes the basic formulas can get a good grade. It's not that math and science are HARD, they're TEDIOUS. Anyway, once coming back to Korea, their grades in the social sciences and language skills showed a marked improvement. I've seen many many report cards before and after, so I speak with authority on this. Conclusion: In Korea, they spend so much time hitting the books that of course they will retain more math and science, subjects requiring the memorization of theories and facts. There is not such an emphasis in Canada to force students to spend that much time reading books, since we recognize that a rounded student requires participation in other facets of life. I'd rather raise a kid to be well rounded as opposed to being a socially dysfunctional math 'whiz'.

SECOND:

Ther are far more problems in the public school system then you realize. Take a job there and check it out for yourself. I'm glad I did: I learned more about Korea last year then in the previous 2 years, isolated in a uni surrounded by other foreigners or wannabes. Until you've spent some time in there checking it out, you can't really comment about how glorious the system is. Everything that people have said so far is true:

- Kids isolated and treated badly by students and teachers alike
- Poor facilities
- Students beat down to study, not encouraged
- Jingoistic, nationalistic platitudes passing as education
- racism and high levels of general ignorance of anything outside Korea.
- gangs, teenage pregnancy, all the same social ills (albeit in smaller numbers for now, but greatly increasing. Except for the syndrome of teenage girls and older men. It actually is frightening how often it occurs)

etc etc et al. It most certainly is not the rose garden some of you paint it to be, and I'm shocked that you would think it that way. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience in school, but my experience in Canada was fantastic compared to what I see these Korean kids going through. Study from dawn till well past dusk, no time to play and play consisting of spending all their free time in front of a computer. Hello, generation of social misfits!

THIRD

My kid's experience with kindergarten: the oldest came home complaining about how she didn't want to be a foreigner. She stopped going to that 'school'. People constantly coming up and wanting to touch them, and going on about ooooh how cute you are and look at how different etc. My kids are developing a complex about it: they don't like it when someone coos over them too much like this. I'm sure there are some good schools out there, but it's a crap shoot, and in my experience so far they will run into more bad than good. I've heard more horror stories from the people I know in the same situation as myself then good. Reading here it sounds the opposite, but on the ground level I hear differently.

I don't want my kids growing up in an environment that is going to shun them for their differences, or shutter them in a classroom so they can maybe get accepted at the top 3.

[fidel]

Right on Steriodmaximus!
I spent the past 3 years in the public education system (high school) and can tell you from my experience that K kids don't get their aptitude at math and science from the school system; that all comes from private, after school education.

The Korean public school system is a disgrace and I would be loath to send my son into it; and it's not just me, Korean parents are voting with their feet and currently hundreds of thousands of students are studying abroad.

All that said, I imagine out of the cities in the more rural areas there are some good schools with good teacher to student ratios anda caring environment to learn.

[JZer]

[bellum99]

[Scott in Incheon]

It certainly has not been my experience nor has anyone I know of who has kids in school complained of this sort of thing. I don't think it is as common as some people believe or want us to believe.

Maybe it has something to do with the areas we with live...(we being all the different parents with different experiences...) though I find hard to believe that Incheon is more tolerant than other places in Korea.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[laogaiguk]

[Ody]

my point all along has been that there are different experiences and that as parents and educators we should be a little less judgemental; respect the choices others make.

lack of information is the biggest culprit. i disagree that it's a crapshoot. the trick is to keep the avenues of communication open. we in the expat community can only benefit from the sharing of information.

.