Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tancred

I always try to let the korean teacher in my class do the disciplining. Sure, i'll occasionally flick an ear raise my voice, but anything major is always left to her. The reason for this is two-fold. First of all, it always makes me look like a big softy, and secondly, my korean teacher is probably feared more in my school than the anti-Christ, so even so much as a look from her would suffice to shut a kid up or get them to stop whatever it is they were doing.

But now, here's my quandry. She is a good teacher certainly. The students aren't just afraid of her, they learn from her and respect her. She is horrendously overworked at my institute and i really think the stress is starting to get to her. Her anger is usually quite apocalyptic. She screams in an octave i've never heard of before and is certainly not beyond the occassional ruler-to-the-hand method of discipline. But recently, things have been getting even worse. A few weeks ago, she dumped a table full of food on a kindergarten child and last week she got so angry she smashed a kids' pencilcase to bits.

My part in all this is usually consigned to just watch, cover my ears, and hope for the best. After the tyrant leaves, i usually console the child to the best of my ability. Now don't get me wrong. The kid usually deserves some form of punishment, and when she's finished with them, God knows they never do whatever it is they were doing wrong again. But sometimes it's as simple a thing as not being able to draw an "8" properly.

I hate being the foreign guy who comes to a country and thinks he knows best. I've always detested squirmy teachers who think even the most mild discipline is something to inform the authorities over. I'm not against discipline...in fact, i think it's necessary. I think the system in Canada is far too lenient. But at my school here in korea, i'm starting to wonder if i should maybe say something to the director. I mean she's never actually hit a child in the face or anything, but her rage is such that i wonder if it isn't a possibility. And if i'm not there to do something at that point what may be the result? This is taking things to the extreme of course. She really is a good teacher and she does, i think, really care about the kids. I think the real problem here is that she's just so overworked that the stress is really getting to her. Does anyone have any advice or have a situation similar to this? Is this the usual discipline practice in korea?

I was thinking of asking her to tone down her discipline a little but the truth be told, i'm a little scared of her too.

t.

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

She seems like not a nice person. Or maybe she's just good with controlling kids.

You work at a Wunderland?

Confused

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Tancred

Tancred

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Marathe · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: Spider Hole

at my school the discipline for hte other teachers is handled by one manager (a korean woman as well) - literally beats the hell out of 7 year olds with a ruler if they've been talking in class.

Tried to walk into my classroom the other day when i was having a problem with two of them - ready to hit - stopped hte class and told her to leave.

Kids looked at me like i'd just hung the moon.

okay so its not relevant but still had to add it.

snoogans

HardyandTiny · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

Why doesn't she take a few days off and use some of her annual leave? Smile

Jensen · Joined: 30 Mar 2003 Location: hippie hell

Marathe, your comment sounds relevant to me...do you still have a job?

Lord knows what kind of hooks are into a freaky co-teacher. I knew a middle-school English teacher who got pressured by her principal and a couple of "senior" male teachers into going camping with them. It was a "mandatory staff event" and she was the only woman there. She left the kid with her mom, lied to her husband about where she was going, and spent a weekend in close quarters with these jerks. She claimed she didn't have to actually put out, but they kept trying to get her drunk..."relax a little, you're a very pretty woman." And of course she had to smile cute and pour the booze and cook and clean up etc. etc. Any wonder why a lot of Korean husbands don't want their wives to have a career?

She also had to pay her principal a regular "private" cash payment to keep her position. And she was expected to lean on certain kids hard (hit them and gave them bad grades) until their folks came in with little white envelopes to make the problem go away.

Still, anyone who "beats the hell out 7 year olds with a ruler if they've been talking in class" needs to have her tonsils ripped out.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Be happy with things the way they are. Kids do actually need a deterrent- seeing as you, the waegook, arent allowed to discipline the kids too much- just let her do it. If she's as scary as you say, she's useful to keep in reserve for when the kids really get out of control.
Incidentally, i ruler kids on the hand on a daily basis. Its acceptable.

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

re: Rapier's point about kids needing discipline. My own experience has been that practitioners of corporal punishment, far from being steady-nerved, no-nonsesne disciplinarians, are themselves usually emotionally retarded bullies with little or no control over their own behaviour. The teacher in Tancred's example does not seem to be someone who follows any set procedure for discipline; she gets mad and starts throwing food at people, or smashing up their personal property. These actions seem like those of an overgrown schoolyard bully, which, in my experience, is what a lot of teachers basically are.
All that said, its their country, and if beating a kid becasue he can't draw an 8 properly is what all the loving parents want from their schools, well, ours is not to wonder why, now is it?

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

Somewhat related to this thread:

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2003/07/12/200307120073.asp

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

I hardly think the deaths of two officers in the testosterone filled environment of korean anti-riot squads, are relevant to the discipline of children to remind them to pay attention.
If i was akid I'd opt for a quick ruler on the hand (lovingly dealt) rather than some of the ridiculous drawn out psychological punishments I've seen espoused on this forum.
I'd rather silence a kid rapidly with a quick smack, than break up the lesson entirely,- to force him into the circus act of "holding a chair over his head" or the chasing your tail variety of teacher v pupil mind games etc etc... A quick smack, and its over. And then, get on with teaching.

HardyandTiny · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

Tancred · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 2:28 am Post subject:

i agree with rapier to an extent. I think corporal punishment is acceptable when dealing with kids, but at the same time OTOH also has a point, because i would hardly say the teacher i'm referring "lovingly deals" these blows...they are usually in a fit of rage. I think i'm going to hold off on anything until the next big event and then see if i should take any action.