Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

Me and my co-FT's caught news from our director in a meeting that there is a new big concern going on via the media about male English teachers sexually assaulting school children as it is said to have happened once recently which led to turning in the teacher to the courts rightfully so. We were told not to hug the kids and only thouch them when it is necessary to restrain them from hurting themselves.
The problem I have is Korean parents just lost trust in us and are looking to stereotype male teachers since school is traditionally taught by women like in America which our director pointed out. This kind of stereotyping looks to be a by product of westernization of Korea.

Anyone else hear anything about a case of child sexual harassment occurring involving a foreign English teacher in Korea?

Since kids are also catching wind of national news of concern, is it possible they may say lies to go against a teacher? Is it possible a school that would rather get rid of you instead of paying you your severance pays, could just talk trash to the courts to out you? These sorts of things already happened in America a number times stemming around the politics of sexual harassment.

Like in America, this concern brings concern to all parties involved; the school, the teachers, the parents, the kids, and communities which leads to finger pointing and even using this as a weapon against schools, teachers, and parents in a number of ways. Many of us know how it works in American culture and would not teach there due to the social corruptions.

[seoulsucker]

[RACETRAITOR]

I haven't heard anything but isolated cases wouldn't surprise me.

If they want to catch sexual predators who have a thing for kids, just stake out an elementary schoolyard and and wait for the "Burberry men" to show up. And no, I'm not talking about chavs.

[Scotticus]

[Benicio]

More "all foreigners are bad" crap!

Koreans do absolutely nothing about Korean pedophiles and "burberry men"!

Check this out: http://www.brokeinkorea.proboards46.com/index.cgi?board=Look&action=display&thread=1177057755&page=1

[RACETRAITOR]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If you have a good relationship established with your school and always get good support from them you should have nothing to worry about. If you don't, well, it's one more potential trick up their sleave.

I'm far, far less worried about such accusations over here. I do some volunteer work with kids, some of whom come from troubled backgrounds, that I would never, ever do back in Canada for liability reasons. I'd never help at a foster home in Canada for a variety of reasons - being falsely accused of something being one - but have few such concerns in Korea.

One guy in my school district was accused of teaching a student swear words, something that was later proven false. He was furious about it. I just told him look, in England she would have been accusing you of groping her, so count your blessings.

[Guri Guy]

It's a sad situation. I am all for criminal background checks. If they are genuinely concerned about Foreign paedophiles entering this country to teach English, that should catch most of them. Just another xenophobic reaction from an irresponsible Korean media.

[pkang0202]

I give high fives to my students all the time. Sometimes I'll pat them on the back or on the head to congratulate them if they did well.

Just keep to common sense. Don't do anything stupid like have kids sit on your lap.

[dogshed]

I worked with a guy who did a lot of work with
organizations his daughters were in. One organization
had a three person rule. Never be alone with a child.
There should be at least two children old enough
to give a clear story should an accusation be made.

[billybrobby]

When has an English teacher ever been caught doing anything pedophilic? I only know of one incident and it was a gyopo.

I've always felt that that's a little controversy bomb waiting to blow up. I mean, with all the thousands of English teachers, one day, one sick bastard is gonna do something (a kind of thousand monkeys on a typewriter theory of pedophilia), and I don't think Koreans will be as "forgiving" as Americans were with Kill 'Em All Cho.

[vox]

[khyber]

Funny,

You should mention at your hagwon meeting that you recently read in the news that 800 men raped a middle school student. Perhaps you should tell your boss to seriously reconsider hiring Korean men since, obviously, they are all pedophiles.

[Morton]

Hey
Things like this do pose a problem but just act smart.
Don't hug kids. The most i do is pat them on the back.
If you are in a classroom alone with a kid leave the door wide open.

Don't do anything that could be misinterpritated. I've heard some teachers do some pretty stupid things. Remember you're not the students friend. You're their teacher.

I'm just glad my school did a police check on me. It takes off the pressure of these situations.

[Doogie]

It makes me pretty sad to read this. My little kids come up and hug me all the time.....just because I'm really close to them. I guess if it has happened before, then they do need to keep their eyes open.