Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yesterday]

I noticed the advertisement at the bottom of the Pusanweb site for
"Happy Schools: see - http://www.happyschools.org/about.php

It seems to be a "nonprofit org" with its main objectives being -

[trigger123]

Interesting reading Yesterday. I hadn't heard of this organisation but I will see if I can find out more about them.
There has to be a balance here. I am completely 100% behind establishing full and proper checks of those wishing to teach ESL around the world. We all know the loopholes that exist and the way in which they can be exploited. I am sure that all ESL teachers would agree that the safety of the children in their care is paramount; arguably the most important factor in my opinion.
In a previous life, in addition to sports coaching and teaching in the UK, I managed projects that employed coaches to work with young people. We developed a myriad of checks to ensure the safety of the children in our care. The important statement for us was that our coaches were 'fit and proper persons'.
But simply running a degree check or organising a check of criminal background is not enough, nowhere near. Firstly, those wishing to harm children are by nature sly and deceptive. Coupled with the fact that their crimes are often unreported by the victim this means that many individuals are not even charged or indeed convicted of their crimes. A background check only reveals convictions, and many abusers go undetected and unconvicted for years.
A degree is needed for a visa and and a visa is needed for legal employment. Why should the possesion of a degree mean, even if it is a genuine degree, that you are a 'fit and proper person' to teach? I have never understood this.
Back in the UK, as an employer I was still ultimately responsible for the safety of the children in our projects, for legal reasons and because I had organised them. This duty of care meant that I had an ongoing responsiblity for lesson-checking, training and evaluation of coaches and teachers I had employed. This industry needs to take responsiblity to police itself adequately, on a micro- and a macro-level.
In the current environment, we all know that schools employ 'teachers' on the basis of a telephone interview, a cursory glance at a degree, and the ability to get the individual to the school as quickly as is possible. Directors and School Principals have to take charge of the situation.
I personally believe the Korean government is abdicating its responsibilty in this situation. A University degree should not be the sole requirement for a E-2 Visa. A fully checked degree, Police Record check, checked relevant experience of working with children and references should be. Yes, more paperwork, but shouldn't we be prepared to do that?
But there should be some perspective applied here. The vast majority of ESL teachers are not travelling to abuse children. The Happy School site details around 10 cases from the past year, so compare that to the number of ESL teachers world wide and you begin to see the size of the problem.
I hope that at the very least, the current debate in Korea encourages the government to implement safe and well-thought out codes of practices for hagwons and public schools. Maybe I hope against the odds?

[Squid]

I guess some "make a quick buck" outfit had to spring up checking degrees and running police checks. They're just feeding the beast and no doubt profiting handsomely. Good luck to them.

I just wish they could spell privilege, and no, there is no alternate spelling.

[Yesterday]

[Squid]

I agree that this mob "happy" have probably been adding fuel to the fire. What go-to business wouldn't?

As for some of the people "cleaning up their act"... that's arrant nonsense. If I want to post pictures of the last party I went to I damn well can, and the ruder the poses the more hits i'll get. It's called freedom of expression. If the guy in question is a twit or not is a personal opinion.

Yesterday, who appointed you moral guardian of the masses?

[Barking Mad Lord Snapcase]