| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Richardjw84
Joined: 12 Aug 2011
|
 Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject: New Seoul Mayor. Good, Bad or Indifferent News for Teachers? |
 |
|
| The question is in the title! Just curious if the election of Park Won-soon will have any impact on SMOE and teachers working in Seoul... |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
brento1138
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: New Seoul Mayor. Good, Bad or Indifferent News for Teach |
|
|
| Richardjw84 wrote: |
| The question is in the title! Just curious if the election of Park Won-soon will have any impact on SMOE and teachers working in Seoul... |
I talked to my Korean co-workers about this. In general, they say Park Won-soon is left-wing-leaning, and in their words, "he thinks the poor are better than the rich." Hehe... I think they mean he is a little bit socialist: give to the poor, create more social programs, etc. They also say he is very open-minded. In general, they seem happy.
However one far-right co-worker at my school called him a "Communist."
I have no idea what this means for SMOE or EPIK, but today my head teacher said that there will be "no high schools" with foreigner teachers. I don't know if that is 100% true (as there might be one or two specialist high schools which will retain foreigners). But basically, if you work in a SMOE high school and plan on renewing next year, prepare for a transfer to either a middle school or an elementary school. (I don't believe the latest election will have any impact on this, as it has been the plan for several years) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| He's a social activist with NO experience in public administration whatsoever. He's a former lawyer and civil rights proponent but there is fear that he will appoint a bunch of civil activists with no administrative experience to key city posts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: New Seoul Mayor. Good, Bad or Indifferent News for Teach |
|
|
| brento1138 wrote: |
| However one far-right co-worker at my school called him a "Communist." |
Did he call him a Bbalgengee? Literally means reds in a rude way. A lot of old people, especially in the Gyeongsang provinces, will consider anyone who supports the Minjudang reds. Ironic, considering that Park Jung-Hee was once arrested by the Americans because he was once a communist. And turned in other communists, probably to avoid torture.
Very common among overseas Koreans, especially ones that emigrated pre-80's. In Canada almost every older Korean I've met consider the NDP communists and would never vote for them. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mmstyle
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: wherever
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: New Seoul Mayor. Good, Bad or Indifferent News for Teach |
|
|
| brento1138 wrote: |
| Richardjw84 wrote: |
| The question is in the title! Just curious if the election of Park Won-soon will have any impact on SMOE and teachers working in Seoul... |
I talked to my Korean co-workers about this. In general, they say Park Won-soon is left-wing-leaning, and in their words, "he thinks the poor are better than the rich." Hehe... I think they mean he is a little bit socialist: give to the poor, create more social programs, etc. They also say he is very open-minded. In general, they seem happy.
However one far-right co-worker at my school called him a "Communist."
I have no idea what this means for SMOE or EPIK, but today my head teacher said that there will be "no high schools" with foreigner teachers. I don't know if that is 100% true (as there might be one or two specialist high schools which will retain foreigners). But basically, if you work in a SMOE high school and plan on renewing next year, prepare for a transfer to either a middle school or an elementary school. (I don't believe the latest election will have any impact on this, as it has been the plan for several years) |
It is 100% true. Paperwork landed on my desk today (I am not in high school). It says all high school teachers will transfer except for 3 schools, which are listed. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| He wants to bankroll that school lunch program that is taking money away from the foreign teacher programs. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It's been really hard to pin down his policies in the dailies, because they've seemed far more focused on the politics of it all.
I've heard...
He wants to cut the old ppl cleaning up the roads and planting flowers... And then add funding for new jobs growth for the young. And example of a new industry mentioned was "vegetable sommelier"
He wants to make sure all school kids have a free lunch.
He wants to stop all big civic construction projects. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Got to admit Korean politics are really interesting. Strong possibility an independent candidate can win the next presidential elections. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My wife says this is good news for English teachers.
She believes he will expand education for the poor which could equal some budget for English Ed? (I don't ask her to explain why anymore..  ) Let's wait and see. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bekinseki
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Sounds like SMOE is going to discontinue having English teachers in public schools next year. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 5:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bekinseki wrote: |
| Sounds like SMOE is going to discontinue having English teachers in public schools next year. |
I'm assuming you're referring to High school teachers - changes already noted. I've never heard of a broader cut back ie. all public school teachers. Then again, who knows? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
88Sparky
Joined: 02 Oct 2011
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| All this means is that the political momentum for independents is growing. We don't know for sure if that affects teachers or not. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
