Korean Job Discussion Forums

Dr. Buck · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Land of the Morning Clam

You wrote in your original post that you are a "softy." So why not buckle down and show some tough love on the little fellas? It's better than standing on the sidelines while psycho teacher heaps on more abuse.
After that, with your assertiveness rolling along, boot the crazy co-teacher out of your classroom. I'm sure she'd rather be doing other things than your job--a job that involves the always unsavory task of disciplining children--not pleasant but so it goes.

Tancred · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 6:28 pm Post subject:

i thought i'd give an update on this situation. Since i posted the original message, the teacher has been up to her old tricks again. In fact, it's getting so that not a day goes by that she doesn't lay her wrath on some poor child or other. Yesterday, she started screaming in that unearthly tone of hers at my favourite student (the sweetest little girl you'd ever meet, who unfortunately couldn't seem to draw the Hangul "D" letter the right way...i don't have korean language installed on this computer so i can't write the exact letter, but you probably get what i mean).

Her raged ramblings brought the poor girl to tears. I told the teacher that this wasn't needed. i then asked her why she was screaming at someone who just couldn't spell something right. She told me that earlier in the morning she was having the same problem. I could tell that the teacher wasn't too fond of the fact that i was budding into "her" business. I told her that while screaming at someone for being "bad" was somewhat acceptable, she shouldn't scream at anyone for a spelling mistake. I also said that, "Hey, don't you know that all of these kids are afraid of you?" She was boiling over at this point, as it's quite obvious to me that she really didn't appreciate someone telling her how to teach. That really wasn't my intention. I do think she's a good teacher, but i've had about enough of these disproportional outbursts.

She began to walk away from me while i was talking to her, and i yelled after her that if this happened again, i would instruct the student on how to do whatever it is they couldn't do right, and for her not to yell at them like that again...for what seems to me to be no reason. The truth of the matter is, if this happens again, i'll go to my director about it. The teacher gave me the silent treatment the rest of the day.

I've been trying not to get involved with all this. I'm so close to leaving that i really don't want to screw anything up for me as selfish as that may sound, and also i really don't like the idea of me being the foreigner who brings his values and attempts to impose it on another culture, and i'm always wary of doing this. But seeing the tears of that poor girl and hearing the hellish scream of this so-called "Christian" (yet another hypocritical Christian i might add, but that's for another thread), i couldn't or wouldn't sit by idly any longer.

Anyway, thanks for the advice many of you gave. To be honest, it was the conviction of some of you that helped me make my decision to intervene. As much as I want to respect the way things are in another culture, i guess there are certain limits that can't be extended.

My Dad, who was quite a traveller in his day, gave me a piece of advice before i came over here...he said, knowing my proclivities, "Don't get involved in korean political debates and remember that this is a different culture which may have different values. Don't step all over them." Anyway, i think i've heeded his advice to an extent, although i'm happy i intervened. Thanks again for the advice...

T.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Tancred, well done for saying something. But how about doing it more tactfully, and in private? I had an issue this week- I tactfully hinted at it a few times and went a bit cold on my fellow teacher. sure enough, today everything was solved, i got what i wanted, and she's still my friend!!
Koreans are so sensitive to confrontation and loss of face, that I've found its always far better to be discrete and toned down with them. they appreciate it, as i would.
The Kids won't reward you for, or appreciate your intervention. They'll just see it as a signal that you think its fine for them to act up. And I doubt your fellow teacher will ever lift a finger for you again.

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

No one mentioned my fav method. It's one thing to offer the naughty kid a bribe if s/he will behave, but that punishes the other good kids. What I used do with a real trouble-maker is hand out candy to everyone but the offender. Had a special bag ready at all times for this purpose. The kid sits there drooling as the others scoff thier food, and s/he really knows s/he's being punished. I think it's best to avoid hitting if you can. By the way, my method worked, I didn't have a lot of discipline problems.

Squid · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Anyang

I'm surprised to read any reports of teachers in favor of corporal punishment on this board. Sure, when I've not been feeling 100% or been tired or (Rarely) hungover I got to my wits end with the usual jerk in class and have expelled kids for innappropriate behavior- but to bash them around is cowardly.

Can't wait until some of you get them of your own- they'll be the poor little sods trailing after you in the street looking afraid, or getting yelled at and bashed in public whilst you take some perverted pride in the fact you can beat up on a minor... brave lot.

There's no such thing as a "Loving smack", it's plain out assault. My answer is to reward them with strength- swing them around, turn them upside down and shake 'em, pinch and cuss them when they're good, they love it- and they respect the strength you're using to deal with them.

Innattention, boredom and lethargy on my part are, conversely, props against misbehavior.

To the "If all else fails" mob, pick up and remove the problem from the classroom.

Yours squidly

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

<There's no such thing as a "Loving smack", it's plain out assault>

What about in the home? Do you consider spanking to be assualt?

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Sorry, but if you won't handle the discipline yourself you have NO right to criticise -- the students are YOUR responsibility when you have them, not someone else's. Learn enough Korean to correct their behavior -- shouldn't take more than a few minutes to make up flashcards for "sit down" "be quiet" "try again""do your work" and "get out." Delivered in a stern voice with authority -- once you shed that handicap of being seen as a "softy" -- you should have no problems with kindergarteners...it still works with unruly, hormone-raging middle schoolers -- once you have the reputation to back it up.

I, personally, am all for corporal punishment IN THEORY. In practice have never struck a student for any reason -- but the fact that I COULD have done so gave me some leeway to deal with the situation. In the US I have broken up gang fights and have had to get physical in some situations to prevent greater damage from being done, but I have never seen an equally dangerous situation in Korea (yet) and so have not seen a reason to actually GET physical in Korea (yet)....

Do your own discipline and be an adult -- your students do not need to like you to learn from you -- your job is not to be the students' buddy, it is to be their teacher. The funny thing is, students often like the stricter teachers MORE than the softies, both in Korea and the US...because the softies are not respected...and how can you really like someone you do not respect?