Korean Job Discussion Forums

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Do you think the public school system of making teachers change schools every five years is a good idea? Today we are having a farewell party for the maintenance guy (not a teacher, I know) who has been here for 26 years. Someone over in the education office decided he should go to another school because he has been here too long. So on Monday they told him he would start at another school on Saturday. This doesn't affect my poll question, but it is what made me think of it.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I work for a "private" public school and some teachers have been here for decades. All in all I don't think it makes much difference. Some teachers really care and some are apathetic, just like anywhere else. Nepotism is rife and the institution is an old boys and girls club, but I know that there's also a lot of corruption in the public school system, too.

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

As I know it, it's 3 years with an option to extend up to 5.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

A yearly turnover rate of 20 -- 33%? What's so great about that?

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

My public high school has a new maintainance man this year because he had been at his last school 5 years.

The way it was explained to me, the reason for the enforced rotation is to ensure that all schools are equal (no one school can hoard the good teachers). It's one aspect of the weird socialism found here.

I taught for 20 years in the same school back home. I would have resented being forced to change schools.

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:10 am Post subject:

I voted yes.

Not due to complacency on teachers' part, which happens.

But because: Think of the children!

I think two years max for ESL teachers is good for the kids because variety of English pronunciation and teaching styles is good for their education.

I worked over three years at my last job and found it increasingly difficult to come up with new tricks and techniques to engage the students without falling into too set a routine.

But in terms of public schools and teaching only a set grade level, hence only a class once rather than the same students every year? Then, why not? There's enough turnover as it is.

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

It's all 'cas of the bribes people. The Korean public servants are riddled with it.