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Chia Pet
Joined: 23 Jun 2013
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 Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 12:56 am Post subject: Classroom privacy when you teach |
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So I’ve got a job offer at a small hagwon which looks interesting, but one thing I know will bother me is that in the classrooms, the wall facing the hallway is all glass with no opaque film or any other kind of coverage on it. It’s like an "open" environment. There are regular walls between classrooms, but anyone walking along the hallway who passes by the classroom will be able to see right in on everything. This will grate on my nerves somewhat. I like to have privacy when I teach a hagwon class.
Does anyone else feel this way? Is it an introvert/extrovert thing? (I score high on tests of introversion.) I would like to put up posters at eye-level to give myself some privacy, but I’m worried that idea won’t sound good to the director, like I’m going to be lazy or behave inappropriately. A lot of academies have CCTV, but that’s not so detailed, and awareness of being watched on CCTV isn’t two-way. I’ve seen at least one thread where some teachers are like, “If you’re doing your job there’s nothing to worry about,” but I don’t think it’s quite that simple.
Does anyone feel the same way? How could I explain my idea about the posters to the director? |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 2:17 am Post subject: Re: Classroom privacy when you teach |
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| Chia Pet wrote: |
So I’ve got a job offer at a small hagwon which looks interesting, but one thing I know will bother me is that in the classrooms, the wall facing the hallway is all glass with no opaque film or any other kind of coverage on it. It’s like an "open" environment. There are regular walls between classrooms, but anyone walking along the hallway who passes by the classroom will be able to see right in on everything. This will grate on my nerves somewhat. I like to have privacy when I teach a hagwon class.
Does anyone else feel this way? Is it an introvert/extrovert thing? (I score high on tests of introversion.) I would like to put up posters at eye-level to give myself some privacy, but I’m worried that idea won’t sound good to the director, like I’m going to be lazy or behave inappropriately. A lot of academies have CCTV, but that’s not so detailed, and awareness of being watched on CCTV isn’t two-way. I’ve seen at least one thread where some teachers are like, “If you’re doing your job there’s nothing to worry about,” but I don’t think it’s quite that simple.
Does anyone feel the same way? How could I explain my idea about the posters to the director? |
Tell him you don't mind the parents looking through the glass but they'll distract the kids from their studies. |
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Coltronator
Joined: 04 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| Just tape students projects to the glass. Looks good and creates privacy as if the glass was frosted. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Just think of it as something that might help to better yourself if you get used to it.
A lot of university classrooms where I work have large windows in the doors, so people can stop and watch whenever they want. No biggie.
What are you ever going to do if you have to work in a public office? In a glass enclosed office? Look on the brightside and think of this as a learning opportunity. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 4:59 am Post subject: |
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| It bothers me a lot actually, so I understand you. There is CCTV already installed in the classroom, plus everyone can see into your classroom from the hallway. It gets annoying when the director constantly looks into your classroom during EVERY class. If you are like me(introverted), and feel anxiety when someone watches, then I would avoid it. |
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Chia Pet
Joined: 23 Jun 2013
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| PRagic wrote: |
Just think of it as something that might help to better yourself if you get used to it.
A lot of university classrooms where I work have large windows in the doors, so people can stop and watch whenever they want. No biggie.
What are you ever going to do if you have to work in a public office? In a glass enclosed office? Look on the brightside and think of this as a learning opportunity. |
Maybe you were eager to dispense wisdom, but your comment is useless and condescending. I'm in no need of such a "learning opportunity." Where did I say that I would be unable to cope ("What are you ever going to do..."  ), or that I haven't already experienced the situation? I said that it will grate on my nerves, and was looking for others who could help me explain it to my boss. If I were teaching lectures at a university like you, I wouldn't be bothered as much by the clear wall, since lectures are fairly step-by-step and university students are easy to manage. I briefly taught at a crappy kindergarten which was very "open," and it had the worst learning results of anyplace I've ever taught. Interactive hagwon teaching with kids involves plenty of rough patches, and I'd rather deal with that in private. If you think your scenario about an office job is helpful, empathy is not one of your strengths.
| nicwr2002 wrote: |
| It bothers me a lot actually, so I understand you. There is CCTV already installed in the classroom, plus everyone can see into your classroom from the hallway. It gets annoying when the director constantly looks into your classroom during EVERY class. If you are like me(introverted), and feel anxiety when someone watches, then I would avoid it. |
Thank you, somebody who understands. I'm not a fan of psychology concepts, but the introversion/extroversion idea seems pretty accurate and I've read that introverts feel and perform worse in open office environments. I was thinking it might help explain a discussion I saw where some teachers hated CCTV and others didn't care.
| Coltronator wrote: |
| Just tape students projects to the glass. Looks good and creates privacy as if the glass was frosted. |
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Tell him you don't mind the parents looking through the glass but they'll distract the kids from their studies. |
It seems like you guys understand too. It's too bad my best chance may be to make up some b.s. excuse, since telling the truth could make me look "suspicious." |
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