Korean Job Discussion Forums

Boodleheimer · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:34 pm Post subject: I got me a whacking stick!

perhaps the power of having student bow to me has gone to my head. perhaps some students have come to class late once too often. (how can it take that long when you have 10 minutes between classes?)

but i now have NOT ONE BUT TWO whacking sticks!!! one is plastic and makes a cute little noise and the other is painful wood.

whack! whack! woo woo! whackwhackwhack! woowoowoo!

Boodleheimer · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:50 pm Post subject:

what i really wanted was a water pistol, but i couldn't find one. Sad

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

The painful wood one -- is that one merely for show, for waving over your head pirate-style, or for actual application? If the former, then why "painful"? Because the kids think it might hurt? Even though they'll soon realise you'll never use it?

I'm neither pro- nor anti-"love stick" and I thank the Heavens Above I don't have to be one or the other. However, I believe you'll find some posters with considerably warmer views on the subject, unless my reading of the mood on similar threads was all wrong.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:07 pm Post subject:

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Late for class...hmm...thats a paddling.
Talking out of turn..hmm...thats a paddling.

poet13 · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:25 pm Post subject:

"Late for class...hmm...thats a paddling.
Talking out of turn..hmm...thats a paddling."

I disagree. Never use a tool on a child.

Punch, kick, elbow, slap, armbar, choke out, body slam... OK. But no weapons.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:02 pm Post subject:

staring at my sandals... that's a paddling

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

How long have you been in Korea? Do you really feel that inefective as a teacher that you have to threaten (or beat) your students with a stick? 'Going native' (Stockholm Syndrome) is a psychological defense mechanism that people in hostage or stressed situations adopt to maintain psychological health/stability. Ask yourself - do you really need to 'go native' and stoop as low as a Korean teacher and beat children to help them learn English?? If you do, it's time to go sunny boy.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:27 pm Post subject:

dude, chill.

Yesanman · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: Chungnam

John Henry · Joined: 24 Sep 2004

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Yes, perhaps you're right. I completely missed the sarcasm. I just read sadism.
When I hear my students telling me about the beatings Korean teachers give out - with sticks, fists, feet etc. I just cringe. I read recently that it's not uncommon for Korean teachers to burst students' eardrums. Everbody here knows how little status students have - and how high-status teachers can abuse their status by beating students. That might be OK for Koreans - afterall, they are Confucians and living in the past (give or take 5000 years or so). But I don't think it's funny for a Western teacher to be bragging that they are intimidating (or beating) kids. To my Western mind - that shows a case of Stockholm Syndrome , or worse, latent sadism. So I called it.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:14 am Post subject:

whacking day was originally a way to beat up the irish.

aye, tis true! i suffered many a lump, but twas all in good fun!

Boodleheimer · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:16 am Post subject:

on a related note, did anyone's school have corporal punishment when you were growing up? i know the tradition isn't dead in the American South.