Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Homer]

Ok..

If it is your classroom it is just normal common sense that you (the teacher) cleans up after himself. This should not include moping or brooming the floor or emptying the garbage can.

It should include cleaning your desk and making sure your students did not leave stuff on theirs. Making sure the floor is not littered with paper and other debris is also a good idea. I man why not give the cleaning personnel a hand here if you can.

Citing the contract and the Korean consitution (this is a joke right?) to tell your boss that it is not part of your duties to tidy up your classroom is, for lack of a better term, completely ridiculous.

[ThePoet]

While I do believe that even though it is not the teachers' responsibility to do major cleaning, they should clean up small messes that their students made if they cannot control their students enough not to make those messes. They should also clean up after parties that they host for their children.

Having said that, on the other end of this spectrum, a friend of mine took a job at the university I work at. He went to his office as he got here and the previous foreign teacher left it a total mess (yes, I realize they should have cleaned up after themselves...but thats not the point). My friend goes to the building assistant and asks if he can get his office cleaned. The reply was "no, you can clean it yourself"

Can any of you even remotely envision a Korean faculty member of a university here being told to clean their own room? Can you imagine the hell that would be raised if that was done? and yet the staff thought nothing of telling the foreigner to do this.

Always a bit of a double standard here. We are asked to do things and sometimes it is difficult to handle if you've been through a few experiences like this.

Poet

[Junior]

I declined to clean when asked. however i do clean the place sometimes of my own accord. Usually the kids do it for their daily chores.

[EFLtrainer]

I have a co-worker (ahem) who should read this thread. The punk continually leaves his boards unerased, his crap lying about the desk, his tea cups cold and smelling up the place.... he's a freaking child... and he's a FATHER!!!

Scary-ass shiat, that.

Ever seen a "man" get into an argument with his 4 year-old about the 4 year-old trying to manipulate the father? Ever seen said 4 year-old's absolutely confused look as he's thinking, "WTF??? I just REALLY wanna play that freakin' computer game!!! What the HELL does manipulate mean?????"