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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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 Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject: Who is Henry Hurst? |
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Henry Hurst became a Footprints teacher in June of this year and he is currently teaching South Korea with the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Office Education (P.O.E.) and is LOVING it. He is the first foreign teacher that has ever taught at his school and because of this, the Korean Herald (largest English newspaper in South Korea) is writing an article on him. In addition � Henry has been appointed to the post of District Representative for a new Governmental initiative in Gyeonggi-do to oversee the treatment of foreign teachers in the province � CONGRATS HENRY!!
By Henry Allen Hurst
A year ago, coming to South Korea to begin a career as an English teacher gave me this uncanny sense of destiny. I knew that I was going to teach English, but any other facet of my life once the plan took off for Korea was a relative unknown. The beginning of my sojourn in Korea was an emotional oxymoron to say the least. However, a year later, my destiny began to manifest as I became the very first non-Korean teacher at one of Korea�s oldest schools.
Established in 1900, Jinwi Elementary School is one of the oldest public schools in South Korea. Jinwi Elementary, a school with a 500-plus student body, has been educating Korean youth even before the Japanese invasion. This school�s storied 107-year history embodies many of the essence of classical Korea. It also stood as a stronghold for Korean culture during the Korean War. My school is located in the Korean country side of Jinwi-Meon, a small town in Pyeongteak City.
I remember the first time I stepped foot on the school grounds. It was like the calm before a storm. As I approached the school, there was not a soul on the playground. But before I could get one foot out of the taxi, dozens of students busted through the doors and ran toward me; some pounced on me, grabbing my shirt while some grabbed my hair.
The staff and students at Jinwi Elementary have embraced me with open arms. Many of the kids look up to me. On my way to class they greet me with deep-bows of respect throughout the hallways. I�ve never felt such sincere admiration and respect. During my first week at the school, students would stop at nothing to get a peak of me. I literally had to hide just to get some of my lesson plans finished.
One morning, I found myself surrounded by dozens of students begging me for autographs. That�s right! They asked me -- their teacher -- for an autograph. I could literally see their young minds expand through each set of eyes. They wanted me to scribble my name on anything they owned. I spent most of that afternoon writing my name in Korean on the back of my students� hands. I spent my first year in Korea teaching at a hagwon in Suwon, but I never enjoyed rock star status like this. It was only through Footprints that I was placed in this outstanding public school.
READ THE REST OF HENRY�S STORY�it�s good! |
So if I have a complaint or mistreatment I can go and see this guy? Sounds like a step in the right direction employing a foreign representative to help out. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: Who is Henry Hurst? |
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[quote="mrsquirrel"]
| Quote: |
Henry Hurst became a Footprints teacher in June of this year and he is currently teaching South Korea with the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Office Education (P.O.E.) and is LOVING it. He is the first foreign teacher that has ever taught at his school and because of this, the Korean Herald (largest English newspaper in South Korea) is writing an article on him. In addition � Henry has been appointed to the post of District Representative for a new Governmental initiative in Gyeonggi-do to oversee the treatment of foreign teachers in the province � CONGRATS HENRY!!
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I know of a number of teachers who are the first foreign teachers at their respective schools and no one's doing articles on them. And while we are on the subject, why is a newbie being appointed to the position of District Representative? Wouldn't it make sense to appoint a long-termer and someone who also speaks Korean?
I'd add my congrats to the above poster, but it's likely to be a thankless job and one he's not likely to sign on for again after he's experienced a number of foreign teachers complaining...and then in the cases where he can do nothing to help, putting him in the same camp as Wenise Kim. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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Just Googled him. Apparently the Baltimore Sun ALSO ran an article on him. He wants to be a journalist apparently and (this is going to throw many of you) says that he's read that Korea has one of the most efficient public school systems in the world.
Oh Henry! Good luck to you fella! |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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There is no accounting for how some foreign teachers rise to the top in an organization.
The Brainy English clain had a foreign teacher whom they asked to write training materials and speak at conventions.
But alas, they lost that foreign teacher.
He took a trip to Japan and was turned down on the way back because he was drunk. |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| "Ok, kids. This new waegook teacher is going to be in the newspapers. And he's representing all waegook teachers in Korea. Bring out your best." |
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Been There, Taught That
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Mungyeong: not a village, not yet a metroplex.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Henry Hurst wrote: |
A year ago, coming to South Korea to begin a career as an English teacher gave me this uncanny sense of destiny. I knew that I was going to teach English, but any other facet of my life once the plan took off for Korea was a relative unknown. The beginning of my sojourn in Korea was an emotional oxymoron to say the least. However, a year later, my destiny began to manifest as I became the very first non-Korean teacher at one of Korea�s oldest schools.
Established in 1900, Jinwi Elementary School is one of the oldest public schools in South Korea. Jinwi Elementary, a school with a 500-plus student body, has been educating Korean youth even before the Japanese invasion. This school�s storied 107-year history embodies many of the essence of classical Korea. It also stood as a stronghold for Korean culture during the Korean War. My school is located in the Korean country side of Jinwi-Meon, a small town in Pyeongteak City.
I remember the first time I stepped foot on the school grounds. It was like the calm before a storm. As I approached the school, there was not a soul on the playground. But before I could get one foot out of the taxi, dozens of students busted through the doors and ran toward me; some pounced on me, grabbing my shirt while some grabbed my hair.
The staff and students at Jinwi Elementary have embraced me with open arms. Many of the kids look up to me. On my way to class they greet me with deep-bows of respect throughout the hallways. I�ve never felt such sincere admiration and respect. During my first week at the school, students would stop at nothing to get a peak of me. I literally had to hide just to get some of my lesson plans finished.
One morning, I found myself surrounded by dozens of students begging me for autographs. That�s right! They asked me -- their teacher -- for an autograph. I could literally see their young minds expand through each set of eyes. They wanted me to scribble my name on anything they owned. I spent most of that afternoon writing my name in Korean on the back of my students� hands. I spent my first year in Korea teaching at a hagwon in Suwon, but I never enjoyed rock star status like this. It was only through Footprints that I was placed in this outstanding public school. |
Leaves one goggle-eyed, doesn't it? The heart melts.
Now, gee whiz, I don't mean any disrespect, but I'm more inclined to picture a Henry Higgins directing the Von Trapp singers. Smooth suit, bow tie and all, he'll have them over that slurry, unkempt Korean accent in no time, it seems, and singing English like larks.
The story from the horse's mouth as it stands makes the profile almost too ideal to be believed. Isn't this guy just the Pollyanna whiteface every Korean director expects to hire into being? Not one hint of any realistic outlook in his story.
I myself try always to make the best of bad situations--so far from home, it's an obligation--but I don't try to whitewash the circumstances. Anyone have a parallel experience to Henry's? If so, congratulations. Two of you make a club. But I don't think you'll find too many FT's qualified nor clamoring to join.
The injurious thing here is that the personality has been played up at the expense of the language model. Dear Henry, maybe you wrote down your story in a busy rush, or a heady whirl of excitement, and I hesitate to rein in your leaps and bounds, but the point of your sojourn is suffering a bit of fray.
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| During my first week at the school, students would stop at nothing to get a peak of me. |
For all I know, you're on top of things, but it's apparent your students are in over your head. Etc.
But language use...that's a minor point, hmmm? Beyond that, I have to ask: are you sure you didn't make that left turn at Albuquerque and land yourself in Japan? I always dealt with a much more pedestrian student body/faculty. I don't expect to have near your cloud-walking experience when I return, either. So, again, congratulations that it all came to this:
| Quote: |
| Jinwi Elementary School [,] one of the oldest public schools in South Korea. Jinwi Elementary, a school with a 500-plus student body [that] has been educating Korean youth even before the Japanese invasion. |
I just had one more thought: you mean...you mean, though many just-sprouted and soon-to-disappear hagwons have escorted plenty of FT's into and out of their hallowed halls, one of the oldest schools in Korea has since 1996 somehow missed the boat on ever having a foreign teacher grace its presence? I'm sure there's a reason, and I bow and walk backward out of here.
I should have labeled this whole thing allegorical from the beginning. The point is, probably, that all roads are paved with the Footprints of satisfied foreign teachers and lead to happy hagwons, etc.
But Henry, if you're a real FT with real experiences--and it could happen, everybody!--still, the things I'm reading...unreal! |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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He isn't a whiteface.
Last edited by mrsquirrel on Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:14 pm Post subject: Re: Who is Henry Hurst? |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
I know of a number of teachers who are the first foreign teachers at their respective schools and no one's doing articles on them. And while we are on the subject, why is a newbie being appointed to the position of District Representative? Wouldn't it make sense to appoint a long-termer and someone who also speaks Korean?
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It's just a figurehead position and between the irritation of whiny foreign teachers and deaf incompetence of Kyeonggi-do official, it's probably a very thankless job.
He's probably the only one willing to do it. |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Goodluck to him.
Not something I would want to do but I may need him in the end.
Would be nice if he turned up here and said hello
Can you imagine the number of emails he would recieve and people complaining about things. If the training sessions are anything to go by the guy has got his work cut out for him.
However I still think it's a good thing.
Also says he is one of two foreigners. Who is the other? |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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I'm glad on many counts, they have decided to do the same as EPIK and appoint some mediating person.
But I would rather have someone with substantial experience as a teacher in this position. For many obvious reasons. The biggest problem is not just communication between foreign teachers and the admin -- the biggest problem overrides this and is the slow change of the Korean educational way, regarding English.
There should be foreign teachers in play and position to help nudge this change into being or it will be a long time coming and to the detriment of Korean students and Korea as a whole.
It's not just about crisis management.
DD |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| It's not just about crisis management. |
Is there any other kind of management? |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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| ddeubel wrote: |
There should be foreign teachers in play and position to help nudge this change into being or it will be a long time coming and to the detriment of Korean students and Korea as a whole.
It's not just about crisis management.
DD |
This is what I believe. More important than crisis management is accountability. There is a real lacking of it. Schools use recruiting programs to get foreign teachers, the principal passes down the responsibility of managing the foreign teacher to the youngest English teacher, and that's it. If the FT doesn't work out, everyone shrugs their shoulders and tries again.
Until someone is accountable for foreign teachers, hiring and employing them and making sure they do their jobs, nothing will change. |
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Been There, Taught That
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Mungyeong: not a village, not yet a metroplex.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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He isn't a whiteface.
[Insert picture of Henry Hurst] |
Yes, I jumped to a conclusion based on the usual race-oriented practices. The fact that he is not caucasian is why I'm even more surprised now, but still I will anticipate some depth coming out of this 'supplemental' position he's been given.
From a lot of different angles is becoming the whole thing curiouser and curiouser. But, whatever is of benefit. Is this, and of which? |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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Slightly different topic, but is it just me who think signing autographs and acting like a rock star is a bad idea?
The attention goes away! And you're stuck with, well, being a teacher. |
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Mosley
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:18 am Post subject: |
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So...if I get this straight...he's a first time teacher(in public schools) who's been appointed some kind of arbitrar of other foreign teachers but he's starry-eyed because on his first day Korean kids and adults are kissing his egotistical butt!!??
BTW, sunshine: there was no Japanese "invasion". Korea was signed over to the Japanese due to court intrigues. |
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