Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Times30]

The philosophy of kids being kids is insanely flawed and permeates to this generation of children. And we, the teachers, are to blame. I've noticed this insane trend that kids who have parents and teachers who decided to buy their kids things, permit rude behavior, and play have absolutely none of the long term "likeable" or good characteristics of a good person.

So you may ask, why is this OP talking about this?

I've taken a huge undertaking to discover what has made my "good kids"... so likable and good. And why my "bad kids" are so bad. I ask a lot of personal questions and connect with their lives. Here's the trend. The "good" parents almost always did not bribe their kids. One in fact, did but ultimately never gave the reward. (Kind of like a real lesson about life lol). The other "bad" kids, apparently were rarely punished or not given high expectations to behave well in the home (not exactly Sherlock Holmes here). In addition, the parents almost ALWAYS gave in to a kids begging or complaints. Essentially, compliant parents... Sound familiar teachers?

As an example, my worst kid in all time history who also spoke English well, had an ipad and brought it to school. She never tried hard, never did anything but was disrespectful. She actually shared facts about her life and all of it was about getting something for doing nothing. Well, that was her expectation. Somewhere in her head she thinks "I don't have to work, it's all provided for me". I also knew her previous teachers and all had this trend for buying candy and allowing whatever the _______.

Which got the thought going in my head, Why do we let kids "be kids"? Essentially, why do we give kids permission to do the things they wouldn't be allowed to do as an adult? Why would you ever let a child tug my clothes or cry about candy? Would you accept this from any adult without smacking him in the face? Imagine how absolutely annoying it is to have a co-worker whine about work and say "no", it's all about ME! (Sounds like that show sweet 16) And know what? I HAVE seen it from 23ish year old kids in Korea. Are they ready for the workforce? Ready to make a great change on humanity? Jesus no.

Know who created these self-entitled maladjusted children?

We Did

All teachers need to start making a stand against all this games and candy. I'm sorry, but what the end effect is that we're keeping kids in a bubble of comfort. We're stunting growth. We're suspending adulthood and instead creating a new generation of "man children".

Have you ever wondered why Gen Y is the generation of man babies? Probably because we grew up with everything given on a silver platter and no work. We're essentially ruining children by giving them the expectation that life is about fun and games (literally).

I came in and subbed in for a teacher. Almost 10 minutes at the beginning of class I was asked, "Hangman teacher! Mafia game!" I was livid. These kids are middle school. Alright, games are ok once in a while, but if it gets to the point that children have EXPECTATIONS of games, they have some corrupted expectations of life. Games in a classroom is an expectation? Try working for Samsung and then ask your boss, "Hey yo, Boss MingSu, I demand we play Othello now". You don't expect a substitute teacher to start playing games. And furthermore, you shouldn't have the gall to even request or make such a demand. These are middle school kids, it's really not long until they hit high school and then college. Some argue, well... they are only kids for a short time, they will learn eventually. But that's not the case... if ever. We could make that argument for everything. Why learn English as kids? pfft, they can learn later. Why go to school? Pfft, they can learn it later. Make them strong, teach them the values they need NOW.

Life is not a game, there has never been a time where drawing a dying man and a whole bunch of missing words has ever given me skills for life. So why do we teach it? To fill up time? To make them happy? To keep your job?

The values are misplaced. Our focus as educators is to make sure the students are adapting for REAL life. A life with a job, a life with a family, and a life working for the betterment of human kind. We are not doing a good job. We are telling kids, hey... if you whine and are unhappy, teacher is going to give in, buy you pizza, candy and make sure you are happy... because that what really matters kids! We even go to such lengths is to make class entertaining. Think about it... Have you ever had a 9-5 job and your boss said, "It's important to me that you guys are entertained!!! So for all your reports I want you to draw me pretty pictures!!!" We are MESSING up kids. They go out into the real world, and suddenly it's not about them. How do they deal with it? They don't. They cry, they moan, and they have no idea how to deal with disappointment. They expect (because we made these expectations) that life is easy, and someone is going to bail them out. But guess what? No one will. And your kids, they ones YOU taught, will fail in future life. Because we spoiled them now. And for what? So you can feel like a good teacher? So you can get the pleasure of making them happy?

Teachers, do not ruin your students. If you truly care about them, then you don't care about their happiness or if they like you. Caring about being liked is a selfish act. The true goal is to get these kids ready for life. So don't paint fairy tale pictures of the future. Don't tell them that English is a bunch of games, candy or pizza. Stop it now and start teaching the real skills that make good workers. Produce CEOs, thinkers, harder workers, good employees, and managers.

As it is now, we're only producing babies, because that's how we treat them. So let's get some real work done. We need a movement, even as young as elementary.

No more games, no more candy, and no more "I want to keep my job so I will let your rude behavior slide".

[YTMND]

[transmogrifier]

[Times30]

It's not in reference to the entire school system.

I specifically mean US, the foreign teachers, not the public school system.

[transmogrifier]

Anyway, I think games and candy aren't problem. It's not being able to do anything else, or not being able to clearly link games/candy to specific achievement goals in both the teacher and students' minds that is the problem.

You are attacking the external manifestation of an internal problem (lack of teaching skill)

[northway]

[Times30]

[YTMND]

[bobbybigfoot]

Op,

I understand completely where you are coming from, but you are a little misguided in your solution:

(1) "Games" are not the problem -- it's the kind of games played.

(2) "Rewards" are not the problem -- it's the kind of rewards offered.

Class MUST be fun. They SHOULD be fun. There is NO REASON not to have them fun.

AND

* disrespectful behaviour CAN and OUGHT to be eliminated
* that horrendous whine utterly smashed
* selfishness destroyed

Shaping our students into "future leaders" + "having fun classes" is not a mutually exclusive concept.

On the contrary.

But I like where your head is at, Op. We need more teachers like you in Korea.

[cedarseoul]

[transmogrifier]

[plchron]

I am one of the teachers that gives kids candy and plays games. I like to think of myself as promoting education through positive incentives. Obviously the kids don't think of the long term benefits of being bilingual.

As far as effecting their personalities, I see each student for 40 minutes a week. I doubt I have any impact on their behavior or personality outside of my own classes.

It is true what you said about parents and spoiled brats being the bad kids, but the cause and effect of those personality traits come the family unit (a primary unit of socialization), not western NETs (a secondary or even tertiary unit of socialization).

[goreality]

Learning like working is best done when you are having a good time.
The best teachers are the ones that spend all their time playing games and giving out candy, it works, it looks good and with some creativity you can actually use these strategies to teach a lot. I like to say I'm not in it for the money I'm in it because I worry about where society is headed.

[edwardcatflap]

[hogwonguy1979]

Hello Steve, seems like you got a little down time in Cambodia or have you gotten run out of there?

do you still OWN THE CLASSROOM???