Korean Job Discussion Forums

CanadaCommando · Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Location: People's Republic of C.C.

K, I gotta ask...

What's the deal with the special treatment of sports players in the public system?! In my school, soccer and basketball players get treated like royalty. They skip morning classes, they sleep through the afternoon ones, and they don't even have to write the midterms. My first week, I refused to let the jocks sleep, and asked them some simple English questions. To my surprise, the other students stood up for them and said. "oh no teacher! They don't speak English. They are sport players!" One of the members from my department got a talking to by the Coach, who in turn had to tell me "how things are here".
I understand that it's all about the honor that a winning sports team brings to a school, but it still seems a bit ridiculous. What parent would want their sons to be jocks, when it means they haven't a chance at University unless they make the sports team. And even if they do, just imagine how useful they are after college. Shocked

This isn't really a problem for me. Different culture, different rules. I adapted, and now the players are free to sleep to their hearts content at the back of my classroom. It seems wrong, but its not my place to say. I am just curious if any other schools have this attitude towards sports players...

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Try teaching in a North American high school - there you'll REALLY see the Reign of the Jock.

PEIGUY · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Location: Omokgyo

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

PEIGUY · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Location: Omokgyo

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

I don't know how things work in the US but I never saw anything like what was described by the OP in Canada either in High school or university. Certainly there may have been some things going on that I wasn't aware of but the athletes were still expected to write the same exams that I was. In high school I never saw any breaks for them academically except excusing them for games and possibly rescheduling tests.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

intro · Joined: 28 Mar 2004

Dr. Buck · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Land of the Morning Clam

This topic has been on my mind for some time. In the elementary school that I teach in, the division of the jocks has already started. They are the soccer players and they are given special treatment. This year they are given more leeway because last semester they won some kind of hotshot championship that brought glory to the school.

The kids are 11-12 years old. At this age the special treatment is getting ingrained. The same thing happens like mentioned above: I ask them a question, and the other students respond for them. If I persist on an answer from jock-boy, the other students cry out, Teacher! Soccer player!

I can understand this from an American perspective, where the special treatment of jocks starts in high school. So it goes. If their natural athletic talent allows them to excel in a certain sport, that is great but their basic education should not be sacrificed in the meantime---and it sometimes is (my high school required a minimum gpa in order to participate).

However, back here at my elemenatary school, this special neglect has already started at a young age. All students are required to wear uniforms, the soccer boys run around in shorts, jerseys, sneakers. They see themselves elite at a very early age and are treated as such. They pass the class no matter how ignorant they are. And they are helped along by everyone--their home room teachers, and also the entire class: other students generously let them copy their homework, or even do it for them.

It's the matter of dumbing down a student, and its shameful that it starts at such an early age. Already the school system has failed them in their most basic levels of education. And they are not even teenagers yet.

I don't do anything about this and I admit that I have a bit of sad guilt about it. Over 830 students burn through my classroom in a week and I can't spare the time or attention to give extra tutoring to these boys. So it goes. I decided some time ago that changing the system or trying to be some kind of education reformer in Korea only results in headaches, wasted time, or being held in contempt by the school adminstration.

Sad stuff and I pity the soccer boys. There isn't anyting more pathetic that a washed out middle-aged ex-jock. Kind of like the current soccer coach at my school.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Newsflash kids who are good at sports get special treatment! I have never seen that in new zealand, never has a first 15 player been shipped in from out of town or the pacific islands. We don't have a school fundraiser so that the netball team can go to some tournament somewhere. Rolling Eyes

maxxx_power · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Location: BWAHAHAHAHA! I'M FREE!!!!!!!

Do the right thing and kneecap the little fuckers. A subtle trip down a flight of stairs will end the special treatment real fast.

Can't kick a soccer ball or dribble a basketball with 5 pins your thighs!

CanadaCommando · Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Location: People's Republic of C.C.

Nah, come on, this is different.

Sure jocks get treated different back home as well. But in my Canadian classroom, like hell would a student be allowed to sleep of his freakin desk while I teach! Back home, jocks get days off, and special trips, but if they aren't doing well in class, their grades reflect it. HERE, they get a free pass the whole way. Skip class all semester and still get the A. Don't pretend thats the same as a fundraiser or a cool trip, cuz it's not. THESE KIDS EVEN HAVE A DORM ROOM TO SLEEP IN IN CASE THEY GET TIRED DURING SCHOOL. Rolling Eyes

I had to take the same attitude as Dr. Buck...Got enough students passing through my room that WANT help, and are willing to study for it. Ya can't save the unwilling. Or maybe you could, but their concerns are at the bottom of my other 422 students'.

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

One main difference is that Canadian Universities do not offer sports scholarships.

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Alyallen · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:32 pm Post subject:

Jocks do suck most of the time....

I think it is pretty pathetic here in the States. It's one thing to think you are amazing because you can play a sport but to get scholarships for it and miss class and such...it just perpetuates the conceit involved with talent. To be fair, I knew one girl who was amazing....she was a single mom, on the basketball team, had a work study job and graduated with a G.P.A of like 3.8. Those are the people who need to be respected for their skills....in and out of the sports arena