Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rationality]

She said the other two schools� native teachers are doing eight hour camps for two weeks, but what they didn�t tell her is that the teachers will be compensated overtime pay for the 18 hours over their contractual 22 hours. Nevertheless, she expects me to report in during my vacation and work the extra 20 hrs, so she can meet supposedly the BOE�s hour quota.

[Rusty Shackleford]

First of all, don't use insulting language to your co-teacher. That is the first lesson of getting what you want. Don't argue, insult or complain. Having said that, you must stand your ground.

You could definitely use some emotional black mail, here. Eg, you have a verbal agreement. Say something like "Is your word not worth anything?", for example.

I always give the advice that you should be ready to walk away from any situation, at school, or in life. It may hurt you in the short term, financially or whatever, but it will keep your self esteem and self worth intact. Which is worth a lot more than a few measly won.

[chris_J2]

Your contract allows you to take vacation without any work time. You could contact the Ministry of Labor, if she wants to make an issue of it.

Under normal conditions, your work hours should be 88 hours a month at most (22 hours a week in a public school contract). It depends on your school for summer camp times, but 80 hours a month is totally unreasonable.

I have 14 days summer camp from 9am to 12:10pm, with 4 classes of 40 mins each, & 3 ten minute breaks. ie, 15 hours 20 minutes a week.

I would have a chat to your local POE, if, after negotiating with her, she refuses to cut it down to more reasonable times.

[rationality]

[rationality]

[I'm no Picasso]

[asmith]

My co-teacher is a sweetheart. I'm getting a month vacation after I do one week of summer camp.

I guess it comes down to the luck of the draw.

[rationality]

Picasso is a low life that knows her position in the hierarchy. She is a typical sucker upper co-teacher's pet! Yet, she obviously can't read.

[blonde researcher]

She is correct in that public school contracts are driven from the decisions made by the local office of education. Individual schools have some ability to help you with holidays, but if they are told from 'above' something 'must happen' they have to follow this order.

Your co teacher really had no authority to tell you what holidays you could or could not take. She has made a mistake and now is trying to undo it, obviously without success! Did you get the vacation dates in writing ? If you didn't get this approved in writing, you may struggle to sort this out as it will be come your word against hers.

If a direct order has truly come for you to work the hours you are saying, then she will now be in big trouble with her VP and the principal because they will be expecting her to solve the problem. I can only wish you luck on sorting out a suitable agreement on this without it all getting worse.

[rationality]

[bobbybigfoot]

[rationality]

[son of coco]

Yeah I'm in a similar situation. My school believes in making me work as many hours as possible during the holidays so I have two weeks of summer camp coming up (6 hours a day, but we get paid overtime so that's ok). Then I take 5 days of my holidays. That's followed by another two weeks of conversation (or concentration) camp. 6 hours a day again. I get two extra days holiday for this.

Meanwhile most of my friends jet off to the UK, Australia and The Philippines to make the most of the lengthy holidays their schools give them.

I understand it's in the contract, and that common sense doesn't rule the day here, but it'd be nice to have a break like so many of my friends are. I'm tired and have no faith in what we're doing at school to teach the kids English.

My co-teacher's an arrogant control freak with a very feminine disposition too (he's a man...just). Has made this year quite painful.

Bring on a trip home in November followed by a search for a school with holidays.

[Straphanger]

[rationality]