Korean Job Discussion Forums

nasigoreng · Joined: 14 May 2004

I would never succumb to that tempation but I'm thinking some other teacher might have...

i understand it's done all the time at high schools.

Has anyone heard of a teacher that just lost control and smacked a kid? What happened?

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

capa21 · Joined: 03 Nov 2003

One of my students mothers gave me a stick and permission to use it on him. Of course, I never used it but the fact that she even suggested it was really surprising.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Define "smacked a kid".
If you mean punched with a closed fist, No way, and, never!!Madness!!!
If you mean slapped *reasonably* hard (not full force of course)across the face, in anger, then, yes.

After two years of teaching I have 4 smacks to my name, all within my early inexperienced phase of teaching.
*The first three occurred in an out of control class where I lacked any sort of disciplinary support whatsoever. 3 teenage girls rampaging, bullying others, running in and out of class screaming at the tops of their voices, slamming the door, hitting other students and screaming at me. It was a nightmare that I solved by lining up all 3 and slapping each one acrosss the face.
*The repercussions: My boss asked me not to do that again. The kids behavior improved towards me, but they became more nasty to the other kids in a mean, non physical way.
*4th and last: this was a spontaneous slap for a 12 yr old boy who was hellbent on sabotageing each and every lesson, and drawing all attention to himself anyway possible. It occurred after I had restrained him from trying to climb out the window of the 3rd storey hagwon, and he then persisted in playing with the electricity socket.
After the blow, he was not seen in the hagwon for about 2 months. Obviously he had not told his parents about the details, but said he was sick. On his return he told the director, who in turn asked me about it. I replied truthfully of course..the boy wanted me to apologise to him of course which I flatly refused. So he hung arund class to cause more trouble for a few weeks, to no reaction from me, before leaving properly. It was then I proposed to the Director that I be allowed to use a ruler for discipline, which he agreed to so long as I used it sparingly.

Now? No, I wouldn't hit a kid at all. I've learned a bit more how to manipulate and defuse scenarios like that.

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

Never smacked one, but have broken many rulers on open palms. Sometimes, it is the only thing that kids understand in this country. But, it is more the act of doing it in front of the classroom in front of his/her classmates than the physical pain you inflict.

http://www.whatthebook.com

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Professor Beat Students who didn't speak English
"Professor Lee often beat and abused students. He hit students who didn't work for a venture company of Gwangju recommended by him in the face for 20 minutes."
The official of Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology said, "Professor Lee accepted the above facts. He was discharged from a head of the department and a disciplinary measure has been in progress."
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2002091152368

Child Abuse Surges
Child abuse cases like beating or starving children have surged.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200408/200408240042.html

Child Abusers to Face Harsher Punishment
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200405/kt2004050416571611960.htm

canuckistan · Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:47 am Post subject:

I've taught a lot of elementary/middle/high school classes and I've never wanted to or "had to" hit any student for any reason...it's just not necessary if you establish the rules from the get go and stay consistent with enforcing them.
The evil eye, time outs in the hall, and extra copying homework all work for me. Talking to the director/calling parents is a last resort.

Hitting kids isn't cool.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

I have, as well. It wasn't much of a hit, either. A smack. The reason I did it was because all hell was breaking loose on numerous fronts and the kid I smacked knew it and was adding to the melee. To tell you the truth I can't really recall. But it was like a tap and a smack, mostly wrist action. And that wasn't the big deal about it, the actual smack and how hard it was and what kind of sound it made and so on. The main thing that made it such a sensation, stopping time, and having the boss make me apologize to parents, mother and father, who were in his office, was that it was done with anger. That's what stole the show.
I've been in haggies for eight years, maybe. I haven't given a kid a smack in anger, whether it was hard, medium, or soft (whatever) for a year or two. Mostly because of the management, maybe. The kids are high level and well behaved. Or I've developed more class management method. I'm very relaxed at this school because of the managers easy style. And maybe I enjoy being with kids more and understand them more and get a whole lot more out of it. Things rarely get out of control because I have 'spider senses' about nipping stampedes before they start, or getting someone to go stand in the corner. Not alot of madness in class, mine or theirs, these days.
But back to 'the day', when I did give someone a smack and was angry when I did it, mostly reflex action like trying to grab some control, I made a point not to touch kids, period. Horseplay. Horsing around with them, pushing and shoving in fun, whatever, gets one into the habit of being physical with them. So when you lose it there's a physical reflex response.
Totally not cool, smacking kids, but it happens. And the other way, kids hitting teachers. At this school it's happened twice that kids have deliberately rammed into me. One guy was waiting and watching my balance and chose the right moment to knock me off balance. Another time it was the same strategy and a 13 year old girl. I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her and told her not to bump into or touch the teacher and scared the crap out of her. But kids need to have boundaries set, or they aren't kids anymore, they're demons Twisted Evil

little mixed girl · Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Location: shin hyesung's bed~

i think some kids need to have the shit beat outta them.
if i was allowed, don't think i wouldn't do it and enjoy it =)

heck, my mom went through detroit public schools and the teachers then were allowed to hit students. ruler to the knuckles or a spank with a paddle....

ThePoet · Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:10 pm Post subject:

I've never smacked a kid, but I've had to be physical with two students -- both of them refused to leave the classroom when they were being bad in two different classes. I said leave, they said no, and just sat there. I asked again and both times they said no. The first time I went to the door, opened it, then went back and lifted the kid, chair and all, and put him outside the class. Upon putting the chair down he got up and tried to run back into class whereupon I did a hip check and crashed him into the door frame, then a butt check sent him out into the hallway and I closed the door. He was crying at that point either from losing the battle, being embarrassed, or leaving skin on the door frame. He stopped coming to the hagwan a few weeks later.

The second student said no and I again gave him a second chance. when he didn't I went over and grabbed his wrist and began pulling him off his chair. He turned Ghandi on me and just went limp. he slithered off his chair and I dragged him out of the room. He didn't resist, but he sure as heck wasn't going to help.

I can tolerate anything from a student and don't get worked up by it. They can scream or shout or even not do their work as long as they do not tell me "no" when I finally ask them to stop screaming or being disruptive or when I tell them to get to work. Even if it starts up a few minutes later, I'm ok....but to say "no" to my face is, to me, the holy of holies in disrespect and rudeness and the one thing I do not tolerate from a child.

tommynomad · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Location: on the move

Would you tolerate it from an adult?

See, I think kids are kids: they're testing limits, goading, getting into trubs for no reason at all. Adults know better. I see a "No" from an obstinate adult as much more of a rejection of my authority than I do one from some unthinking, reactionary kid. Kids can say pretty much anything they want to me--it's water off a duck's hind end. But an adult who _knows_ about roles and position in this society better play ball, or we're gonna have problems.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I regularly conduct nude spankings in the all-female modeling school I teach English at. Sometimes just have to whip out the stick and pound some sense into them!

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

waggo · Joined: 18 May 2003 Location: pusan baby!

I just grab a finger pinch of their side burns and give that a quick tug.It doesnt leave any marks,it doesnt draw blood...and it really hurts the little darlings for a few seconds.Nice quick crowd control.

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

I teach classes of over 40 middle school boys and I have never hit a student. I use my voice, the evil eye, and the fact that I'm bigger than others to help control the class. Punishments for misbehavior include. Standing at the back of class doing that goofy love hear thing with their arms... or even better doing it in the teachers room. If the class is rowdy all of them have to keep their hands up for 10 seconds of uninterupted silence, or even better I'll add minutes to their time at the end of the session. If you sleep I like to draw on your face wth a marker pen. If your a real pain the butt I'll talk to your homeroom teacher.