Korean Job Discussion Forums

[VanIslander]

This year there's been so many posters with issues in their public school jobs, more than ever it seems here at dave's where PS jobs were seen as the cat's meow a couple of years ago - now there's a whole slew of issues particular to ps jobs that seem to make it no better than the more traditional gripes of hagwon positions.

What gives?

Is it just a reflection of how many waygook teachers are in the public schools, or a sign of a change in the times? or what?

[I'm no Picasso]

I think it's cause and effect: there are so many schools with NESTs now that in order to keep everything organized, the MOEs are having to start coming out with more regulations and rules and paperwork and nonsense. They're still sorting this all out, and, as with any new/growing program/project, there are going to be hiccups and horrible ideas along the way. The PSs are undergoing a painful growth spurt, I think.

[whome?]

This may be growing pains, but it must be remembered that growing pains do lead to an eventual outcome. For instance, when the teenager gets horrible acne, that's a growing pain but the scars can last a lifetime.

And I think that's what's happening here. I think this is a fundamental re-orientation of the PS-NET dynamic to something paralleling the hagwon-net relationship.

This goes against their stated aim of improving PS and bringing in 'better teachers', but educational policy in this country rarely makes sense.

[reactionary]

Yeah, as someone who's been here since 05, and reading the boards and envying some of the PS posters up until 09, I feel like I was conned a bit. Overall this is better than a lot of hagwon jobs, but for all the 3 month application process and specific hiring window, it ain't all it's cracked up to be.

I actually decided to give a second interview with an international high school in Shanghai a miss because I'd already started the visa process with SMOE. I'm kicking myself a lot now.

[calicoe]

Yeah, I think it is a matter of supply and demand. As it is an employer's market now, everyone including the public schools is going to use that advantage as best they can. The Korean response is to insititute all kinds of petty nonsense and desk warming. Of course, as the squeeze also hits all workers, the low morale needs an outlet on some sort of scapegoat.

Guess who that is?

[VanIslander]

[BreakfastInBed]

[Kurtz]

Saving truckloads, one co-teacher is useless but whatever, she's gone next year, one week of camp, nearly 4 weeks vacation, VP wrapped around my finger, can't complain this end.

People usually write negative stuff on Dave's so I don't take anything written as a true indication of what's happening on the ground.

[Jimskins]

I'll second that.

I teach for 12 hours a week, have 12 weeks paid vacation a year and if I have no class can go shopping, do my banking, go to the gym etc. Not to mention all the classes that are cancelled or self-study time the students have at my high school.

I also started an after-school programme (my choice), 8 classes a week, 40,000W per 45 minute class.

I have an MA TEFL, soon to be on an F2 and am going to try for a Uni gig in Seoul next September, but to be honest from what I've been reading my current position sounds better than a lot of the Uni spots out there.

I wouldn't go back to a hogwan for less than 4 million a month.
I'm serious.

[Captain Obvious]

[BreakfastInBed]

[nautilus]

[I'm no Picasso]

I don't really understand this. If I taught only twelve hours a week and had months of vacation every year, I might go crazy. My after school classes just ended and finals are on, and I talked my co-teacher into letting me teach the third graders (who are finished with everything) just so I would have something to do.

I understand it's not as sweet a deal as in the past, but it's still a good job. Working a good solid 40 hours a week and having 2 weeks paid vacation is not a tragedy. And while I understand that some people get fired for stupid reasons, I think it's a great thing for the schools, the students and the hard working teachers around that the schools now have the ability to fire NESTs who aren't pulling their weight or dedicated to the job.

[Draz]

[I'm no Picasso]