Korean Job Discussion Forums

[seoulsista]

I would like to change my answer to the "take a violent dump option" and I would like to add the caveat of then hurling the specimen in his direction. Not directly at him as that would be distasteful.

[sadsac]

I am a dictator. My classroom, my rules, like it or lump it. Teaching adults is worse than teaching kids, adults think they have a clue, when in reality they are clueless. High and low level together and have the higher level adult mentor the lower level adult. My adults and I have a clear understanding, you don't like what I do, don't come. Easy solution.

[Thunndarr]

So, here is the second part of the question, which really isn't much of a question at all, more of a "How would you feel?/What would you do?"

So, as per the original situation, I finshed class. I did not have any kind of confrontation, rather, I was just quite taken aback and severely put off my stride. After a few moments awkward silence (after the interruption) we all continued class, and things seemed to go well enough.

When class was finished, the offending student (teacher) and I left together (by design, as I wanted to have a word with him away from everyone else.)

So, as the two of us were alone together, I let him know that I did not appreciate how he'd contradicted me in front of the class. I admit, I was probably a bit angry at this point, though nothing too extreme.

What I specifically said was that I did not appreciate him contradicting me in front of class. He responded by saying that he was just speaking for the other students and also that he was only speaking his opinion. (He maintained that he'd done nothing wrong.)

Now, I understand speaking one's opinion, but I also understand that there is a time and a place. I was unable to communicate that to him. He kept demanding that I apologize to him, which I refused to do. At that point, he ran back into the classroom that we'd just recently left, which was still occupied by the other teachers.

This also served to set me off a bit. I had specifically waited until class had ended to talk to him, so that the two of us would be the only ones to know of our discussion. Apparently, he felt no such compunctions about arguing with me.

In any case, he entered class (where everyone was still standing around) and told them that I had an announcement. I was a bit non-plussed, and simply told them that I would like for them to try my intstructions next time.

Unfortunately, HE, (who shall remain nameless) wanted to escalate the situation in front of the other teachers. He kept demanding that I apologize to him.

At this point, there were several things going through my head. First, I had tried dealing with this privately. Second, I hadn't done anything wrong (in my opinon at the time.) Third, the jackass who had caused the problem had made our dispute public, whereas I had tried dealing with it in private.

The scene that ensued was the two of us arguing with each other, him demanding that I apologize, and me, with, what I'm sure must have been a beet red face, staring at him in incredulity. It ended with me walking out of the room, and the other teachers just staring on uncomfortably, as they could not understand what the problem was.

Now, I understand the confusion. I was a bit upset about the original situation to be sure. That's why I'd waited until after class when we were alone to continue the discussion.

However, when he made our private arguement public is when I really lost my tempter (internally.) I didn't DO anything, per se, I was just completely incensed at the lack of professionality displayed by what is supposed to be one of Seoul's finest teachers.

So, now I have to deal with the fallout at the school. I must address not only what I did, but why I did it, as well as explaining to the other teachers what may have seemed like my being overly angry at one of thier own.