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binderman278
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
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 Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject: SMOE - Can I switch public schools after my contract ends? |
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| I am currently teaching at an public elementary school in Seoul. I want to stay in Seoul, but I want to teach in a different area or at a high school after my contract ends in August. My school/location is kind of a dump and I have to commute 30+ minutes to work each day. Does anyone know if it's possible to be relocated or do I have to re-apply all over again through EPIK-SMOE? Any information would be appreciated. |
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ssmith
Joined: 23 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:21 pm Post subject: changing schools |
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| Unless you have really good reason in leaving and it is acceptable by all (the school, SMOE, and possibly others) you have to remain at the same school for three years. |
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Ji
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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+1 ssmith
It's really really rare to be able to change schools. The only time I've heard of it happening is if SMOE has a rural spot to fill and they need a volunteer. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: SMOE - Can I switch public schools after my contract end |
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| binderman278 wrote: |
| I am currently teaching at an public elementary school in Seoul. I want to stay in Seoul, but I want to teach in a different area or at a high school after my contract ends in August. My school/location is kind of a dump and I have to commute 30+ minutes to work each day. Does anyone know if it's possible to be relocated or do I have to re-apply all over again through EPIK-SMOE? Any information would be appreciated. |
You might end up with a longer commute at another location. The contract states you may commute up to an hour. |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:15 pm Post subject: Re: SMOE - Can I switch public schools after my contract end |
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| nukeday wrote: |
| binderman278 wrote: |
| I am currently teaching at an public elementary school in Seoul. I want to stay in Seoul, but I want to teach in a different area or at a high school after my contract ends in August. My school/location is kind of a dump and I have to commute 30+ minutes to work each day. Does anyone know if it's possible to be relocated or do I have to re-apply all over again through EPIK-SMOE? Any information would be appreciated. |
You might end up with a longer commute at another location. The contract states you may commute up to an hour. |
On foot, right?  |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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| If you have a fear of public transportation, then you might have to walk for two hours. |
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Illysook
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:18 am Post subject: Re: SMOE - Can I switch public schools after my contract end |
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| Ramen wrote: |
| nukeday wrote: |
| binderman278 wrote: |
| I am currently teaching at an public elementary school in Seoul. I want to stay in Seoul, but I want to teach in a different area or at a high school after my contract ends in August. My school/location is kind of a dump and I have to commute 30+ minutes to work each day. Does anyone know if it's possible to be relocated or do I have to re-apply all over again through EPIK-SMOE? Any information would be appreciated. |
You might end up with a longer commute at another location. The contract states you may commute up to an hour. |
On foot, right? |
In three feet of snow, uphill both ways. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:28 am Post subject: |
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About 4 years ago, I had a friend that was promised by Lois (used to be head of NSET program at SMOE) that he would be placed in another school if he re-signed.
He re-signed, and then they completely ignored their agreement. They gave him the runaround and said "talk to your district supervisor." He should have gotten it in writing, and was stuck at his same crappy school for another year.
Due to this, he quit caring, put half as much effort into his work, and ultimately SMOE hurt themselves and their students. The guy had an education degree from a highly ranked US university. Keeping those kinds of people around and happy is cheaper and better than finding a replacement. |
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b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
About 4 years ago, I had a friend that was promised by Lois (used to be head of NSET program at SMOE) that he would be placed in another school if he re-signed.
He re-signed, and then they completely ignored their agreement. They gave him the runaround and said "talk to your district supervisor." He should have gotten it in writing, and was stuck at his same crappy school for another year.
Due to this, he quit caring, put half as much effort into his work, and ultimately SMOE hurt themselves and their students. The guy had an education degree from a highly ranked US university. Keeping those kinds of people around and happy is cheaper and better than finding a replacement. |
I've also known someone in pretty much the same situation. One of the problems here is the differing perceptions of the word 'promise'. Quite often Koreans who are in some position of authority will tell you something that many westerners would reasonably understand to be a promise that said Korean person will make something happen for you. However, the reality sometimes is that this person doesn't actually have the ability to effect the change that you think they've "promised" and that they never really intended what they said to be taken as what we would see as a "promise".
Ssmith is on the money IMO. The decision makers that matter in this kind of case are the people at the top of your present school (i.e P, VP, possibly co-t if s/he is sufficiently influential) and the people at the district office. Lois was indeed "head" of the SMOE NSET program but her main job and that of her successors is recruitment. People may have had the impression that she was able to wade in and pick an NSET out of one school and place them in another at will, and she may even have given that impression herself, perhaps unintentionally as her English wasn't perfect at all, but it wasn't really the case.
To the OP, I'd suggest that changing schools is do-able, BUT, first of all you need a good reason, probably related to personal circumstances. Someone, whose reason appears to be little more than that they just fancy trying somewhere else for a change, isn't going to get very far, even if they're an experienced and well qualified teacher. Having your own (i.e not school provided) accommodation maybe strengthens your hand slightly and weakens it if you don't.
I'd also say you should ask yourself why you want to change. A 30 minute commute isn't really that long and if you think it is then you're perhaps going to be hard to please wherever you are, particularly if you're relying on SMOE to house you. And lots of schools are in "crappy" areas. What is your actual teaching situation in the school like? That really should be much more relevant than the area the school is in. |
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jonpurdy
Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Location: Ulsan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| Due to this, he quit caring, put half as much effort into his work, and ultimately SMOE hurt themselves and their students. The guy had an education degree from a highly ranked US university. Keeping those kinds of people around and happy is cheaper and better than finding a replacement. |
After 2.5 years here I've learned that Korean management really doesn't care about anything but their own convenience. As much as individual teachers and schools may like you, education offices just don't care about keeping their teachers happy despite it being their job to provide the best possible education for Korean kids. |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| jonpurdy wrote: |
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| Due to this, he quit caring, put half as much effort into his work, and ultimately SMOE hurt themselves and their students. The guy had an education degree from a highly ranked US university. Keeping those kinds of people around and happy is cheaper and better than finding a replacement. |
After 2.5 years here I've learned that Korean management really doesn't care about anything but their own convenience. As much as individual teachers and schools may like you, education offices just don't care about keeping their teachers happy despite it being their job to provide the best possible education for Korean kids. |
what?! |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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| jonpurdy wrote: |
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| Due to this, he quit caring, put half as much effort into his work, and ultimately SMOE hurt themselves and their students. The guy had an education degree from a highly ranked US university. Keeping those kinds of people around and happy is cheaper and better than finding a replacement. |
After 2.5 years here I've learned that Korean management really doesn't care about anything but their own convenience. As much as individual teachers and schools may like you, education offices just don't care about keeping their teachers happy despite it being their job to provide the best possible education for Korean kids. |
Yeah, 3 prior years with SMOE and I can honestly say they haven't been doing their job. The illlogic of waste. |
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