Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mosley]

You know, after you've been here awhile(over two years in my case, all in public schools), you think there ain't much to surprise you. Or you think you can't surprise yourself. Then a day like today happens.

I have to say off the bat that classroom control has never been a big issue for me in Korea. I have a lesson plan, go through the stages and what problems that may arise are nipped in the bud. I'm assertive, confident...hell, even energetic(even if I'm hungover all to *beep*...shh, it happens in Korea...I can can always slump at my desk when I have a free period). So, it's never been a big deal.

Then today. I teach at a high school. The first class(1st yrs.), admittedly higher level, rocked. Hell, I was on auto pilot. Ah, Mosley weaving his usual pedagogical magic. Then the ten minute break. Where's my co-teacher for the next class(2nd yr. boys that I'd only taught once before this term due to schedule changes for tests, school trips, etc.)? Well, I knew she was due for maternity leave sometime this term. Only problem: she hadn't told me that her leave began TODAY. She's OK in the classroom but rather standoffish otherwise(and w/the Korean teachers too, I heard through the grapevine). So 5 mins. before class I'm introduced to the "sub"-a not unattractive but married lady whom I was soon to find out that had been a French major and English minor in univ. So I said " No sweat. I'll lead the class. We'll do a demo conversation w/these grammar points...yada, yada."

Anyway, these guys pushed my buttons like they've NEVER been pushed before in Korea. Maybe it was the law of averages...my number finally came up. I didn't lose my temper...never have & never will...but they knew I was pissed off. Then I did something I've never done...and had never even considered before: I said to myself "P1ss on it, I'm going to report this to their homeroom teacher." And with the help of a KTE(a delightful chap that I don't get to teach with...natch) I did just that. Soon after he told me that the female HR teacher had been going through depression because of these assclowns and that the class had caused problems for other teachers as well. I thought "Jesus, I shoulda kept my mouth shut and just dealt w/these guys in the next lesson."

So...shortly before the first afternoon class the HR teacher comes to my desk and tells the KTE next to me about the situation, etc. I understood almost nothing. But lo & behold, in the corridor outside the teachers' room, are almost 40 boys from that class on their knees! I go out for the "apology" part. As that's going on, a young male teacher (not an English teacher) comes along, makes a fist, and methodically gives each boy a bop on the the top of the head. And not really a light bop either. The students are then dismissed.

So...has anyone in middle or high school ever gone to the HR teacher to report students? If so, what happened? Did I do the "right" thing? I tell ya, I've been in this game for a while(Japan & Korea) and this is a first for me.

[Bibbitybop]

You won't know if it worked until the next class. If they behave, then who cares, you got the class straightened out. I wish students had more disciplinarians above them than the teacher in the room. You made that happen. Nice-uh

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I did for the first time ever with a grade two middle school class a few weeks ago. They weren't out of control but many were making no effort on what was a fairly straight-forward lesson that the other classes I gave it to found quite fun. I was constantly having to stop and get everyone's attention again before proceeding. So instead of getting to watch the music video that all the other classes who got that lesson did I made the whole class spend the last five minutes of the lesson holding their hands in the air above their heads. That was the first time I've ever punished a whole class like that; I really don't like group punishment but thought in that case it was called for. Afterwards I went and complained to their HR teacher who assured me something would be done about it. I have no idea what happened but after school at about 5.10 I saw a group of them leaving and they saw me walking through the school and stopped to give me a look as if to say 'wow, did we really piss you off that much?'. School normally finishes at 4.30 and I suspect the whole class ended up going home rather later than usual.

Well, because of class cancellations I haven't had a chance to see them since then and was sort of hoping to see what difference it would make the next week. I guess maybe next week I'll get to find out providing there aren't yet more cancellations.

[The_Conservative]

Personally I wouldn't have done that..I'd have punished them myself. The problem here with getting the HR teacher to discipline them, is that they will only respect/fear the HR teacher and you run the risk of looking looking something like a clown in their eyes. If on the other hand you dish out the punishment then they tend to smarten right up when you tell to do so the first time.

[Mosley]

I did not tell/request the HR teacher to punish them-I simply informed her of the situation. As I thought was made clear in the OP, I was pretty surprised to see the boys in the corridor. In any event, we'll see what happens in the next class and if there's any more BS it will be dealt with by myself.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I just stopped by a HR teacher's desk to tell her how good her students were today. I like to keep the praise:criticism ratio at at least 20:1. I think it also helps establish credibility so that the once in a blue moon when you do have a direct complaint about a student or class in general they know that it must stem from an unusually bad situation.