Korean Job Discussion Forums

PBRstreetgang21 · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:43 am Post subject: masturbators

This is a serious topic and I don't mean it in jest. I teach a lot of younger kids at my hagwon and I have come find that some of the younger girls (aged 8-11) have been sereptisoulsy masturbating in class. Im not joking. The thing is I don't know what to do in this situation. I brought it up to my boss and her attitude is just to ignore it but....I can't help but feel EXTREMLEY uncomfortable as a male foreign teacher when my 8yr old student is double clicking her mouse IN CLASS. I mean....I didnt think kids that young had the capacity. Anyway....I just...what do I do in that situation? This is specifically occuring among three different girls, all in diffrent classes. One of them actually almost failed her test because she was "too busy". I dont address it to the girl in question, mainly because Im afraid to. I mean, these kids are too young to know what they are doing.

Has anyone ever encountered this problem? What have you guys done?

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

It's called an electrical cord.. unplug it.

Mi Yum mi · Joined: 28 Jan 2008

This looks like a jobfor CPN Smile

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

You know...I have actually seen this happen before too. I recommend not noticing it. I really mean it...don't say anything to the kid. Just do that class and ignore it. You will only get in trouble.
Note: Do not touch the kids, do not hold the kids, do not let them sit in your lap, do not do anything that may look weird. If someone is molesting a kid (like daddy) then the parents will be looking for anyone to blame.....like you. Protect yourself...do not be alone with a kid.

isthisreally · Joined: 01 Sep 2007

We had a girl in kindergarten doing that, I didn't teach her, but the other teacher would just tell her to put her hands on the table every time she was at it. The girl eventually stopped, but it took a while.

Dome Vans · Guest

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I get it now.

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I get it now.

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I get it now.

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

This happens all over the place. When my mother was a principal in Canada, she encountered this situation.

You DO NEED to talk to a female teacher and have her talk to her in private. She should explain very simply that this is not acceptable in a class room environment. I wouldn't talk to her personally, as it could lead to some problems. If it isn't brought to her attention, she will keep doing it. She needs to know that there is a right time and a right place for this action, and a classroom is neither the right place nor time.

If your boss doesn't support you, keep bringing the issue up on a daily basis until he/she does. Or just go around the boss and like a said, have a teacher talk to the student(s).

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

The OP asked advice to help him...not the kids. This is Korea and you all say he should take action....wrong. He should cover his own butt and keep his head down. This is not America or Canada where the parents will thank you for trying to help...this is Korea. Every kid is great and a genius...or you better act like they are.
I am telling you OP...protect yourself and stay out of this mess. Don't make trouble for yourself...you are more important than attempting to correct the problem.

rebel1 · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:20 am Post subject:

I second the notion that you should definitely not talk to the parents nor have the school single out the girls and have little chats with them. Only bad things will come out of that.

I've been teaching classes, 45 girls in each, of this age group for the last year and here is my advice. These are little girls- rationalising and talking won't get you anywhere. What you want to do is a variation on what the Korean teacher used (ie hands on desk).

TPR- as soon as you see her doing her stuff engage the whole class in a TPR activity for 2 minutes; Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes; Simon Says; even as simple as just get them to follow your instructions (raise your hands, stand-up, clap, sit down etc).Do this for 2 minutes and I bet she doesn't go back to lalaland when she sits back down.

If you want, I have a great song called "Teddy Says" that I can send you if you have the means to play it in class. Teach them the actions one day and later, when the action starts, just put on the song, let the kids follow the actions then sit them back down and continue the lesson.

TPR, TPR, TPR! It helps to keep them focused too.

Don't worry, you're not the only one this has happened to- at my boyfriend's old hagwan there was a kindy student whose nickname was "The Scraper" Rolling Eyes

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

me, I don't get paid to address problems like that. I teach english. That's about it.