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August 22, 2005
Workplace Issues - Students At What Cost?
Hello everyone!
Tell me if this sounds familiar.
You have a young student in your class who just isn't keeping up. You've worked with him overtime to help him, but quite simply, he just needs a slower paced class. You approach the administrator to let them know that the student needs to be moved to another class, but your request is ignored. You wait weeks, and when no action is taken you ask why. The answer? The school doesn't want to risk insulting, and then losing, the student.
Sigh.
Sometimes it's difficult to make peace between teaching and the politics of the school. I imagine that this varies widely, depending on which culture you're teaching in, but I've experienced this type of scenario both in Mexico and Japan.
As teachers, we want to give the absolute best to our students, but oftentimes we're restricted by the rules and opinions of the schools.
But that still doesn't make it fair.
Is there a perfect school? I doubt it. But are there schools that put the student's needs first, irregardless of what it means to their pocketbooks? I imagine that there are a few.
But since most of us work in environments where tuitions come before learning, we have to make the most of the situations. And for me, that means a lot of overtime tutoring slower students and paying special attention to those who feel overwhelmed because they're simply grouped together with others who are ahead of them.
Any ideas about how we, as mere teachers, can change the minds of our schools? Let's rally on this one and come up with some solutions that we can all use individually!
Until next time,
Michelle
Posted by msimmons at August 22, 2005 07:23 PM
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Comments
I do not have a solution for this problem but my advice would be, not to fight it. Generally, it is due to the culture of the country in which you are teaching and therefore, you will be fighting a losing battle. As long as that student is not causing trouble in the class, then you just have to do your best.
Posted by: kenneth at August 23, 2005 07:36 AM
I agree with Kenneth. Also, with private schools in my experience the owner is not a teacher and doesn't care about education but is more interested in the bottom line.
This can also affect the teacher if the students complain because the teacher doesn't play "games". Generally this kind of *** has to be dealt with when you are the replacement for an ESL cowboy rather than a real professional.
Posted by: EFL Geek at August 30, 2005 10:20 AM
Dear Michelle:
I would like "hearthly" reconmend the book " DonΒ΄t Say Yes when you want to say NO" There are limits that should not be broken by your students, your boss, the school policy or anybody.
It is up to you to find out if it is "reasonably" or not to withstand the situation and for how long.
Finally, you should not expect schools to change their "money making" policy. They wonΒ΄t, theyΒ΄re business people not teachers.
Posted by: John Mainst at October 16, 2005 03:56 PM
