[quote="PsyGuy"]

In the classroom grades drive everything, there are parents in parts of the world that expect high grades based solely on the fact that they are paying high tuition. To an owner of a school enrollment dictates tuition, and thats their everything.
[/quote]

Yes, parents can have completely unrealistic expectations. But after being in school for over 13 years, having had numerous parents meetings and reports each year, they should have some idea of what their child is capable of. If parents don't/can't accept it then they should go elsewhere, any good Head/Principal would support teachers in this. Certainly the decent schools I've worked in have always been honest with parents and told them that teachers aren't miracle workers.

[quote="liketotravel"]
I also tip some taxi-drivers, this pisses off everyone I know, locals and expats. I don't care, they are great sources of information and they all have beast of a work schedule.[/quote]

I agree with you there. I always tip good taxi drivers. There are so many ruthless ones out there that try to rip you off by ridiculous amounts, when I get an honest one I can't help but give them a decent tip.

[quote="PsyGuy"]

Personally, Im happy for sites like these, even though some day as our Dip principal put it, Ill have a review on here, because you only need to piss off one person before your clean record is broken.[/quote]

Yes this is a risk for admins, which is why we have to try to write balanced reviews, that are clear and factual. I find many of the school reviews appear to be from very bitter people. Maybe if more people posted about their relatively boring experiences it would help balance it out. But, as is always the case with forums, it's often the angry and annoyed that are louder. The happy and content just happily get on.

[quote="PsyGuy"]You can fire teachers, but you cant fire students. If I have a poor performing student I cant fix the problem and repair the system by replacing the student, the expectation (and rightly so) is that Ill spend more time and work harder to grow and improve that student. Thats a stress you dont have in the corporate sector.[/quote]

But it's not about having poor students. The expectations are based on what you've got. I teach according to the needs of my kids, and the expectations are clear for all: the SMT, parents and children. Surely no-one in education expects all students to come out at the end with top grades in everything. You just expect them to achieve the best that they can and are willing to.

[quote="Skablictady"]

The best way to deal with PsyGuy is to never address him directly. If you could not resist:

1] Always thank him for his posts without disagreeing with him. Once you do, you fall into his trap of making the original post about him and you. Then it becomes a shambolic natter between two 5th Graders.

3] Offer the original posters an alternative idea based on your own authentic personal experiences without criticising or discrediting PsyGuy. He already inflicted an irreparable damage to his credibility.

Our ISR Forum is not about PsyGuy. ISR is about all of us trying to help each other make informed choices.

Limiting our post to 3 in a 24-hour period may be unpopular. But then again, we have to further elevate our profession to a respectable level through solidarity and continued meaningful discourse. Otherwise, the “Blacklistâ€

[quote="fragglerock"] That and the threat of Ofsted and the Ed. Minister suggesting 'bad' (who says?) teachers should be fired with a term's notice for the first offence. [/quote]

But shouldn't bad teachers be taken out of the system? Sure you should give them support, but for some maybe it's just not the right career. If they can't do it why keep them employed? In any other job you'd be let go.

[quote="wrldtrvlr123"][quote="specialed"]I'm pretty okay with people giving rational views about schools. I'm not okay with naming admins and going after them. I guess I find it hypocritical that we are okay with naming admins, but we are shocked and repulsed when admins name teachers.

Of course I also hate the hypocrisy of some teachers who feel their education is over once they have the certification (how is that modeling learning for students?), but that's another story.[/quote]]

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Really? Admins have the power. If they abuse that power, should they not be accountable? Even if it's just on a forum that rational people take with a grain of salt?

If a teacher acts unprofessionally or is otherwise unworthy, then the admins WILL and already do, name and shame them in ways that actually matter: To future employers and to other heads.[/quote]

Good point wrldtrvlr. The admins do get their say. As for the other way round, there are some dreadful Heads out there, how do we avoid them? Maybe we should be able to ask for confidential references from their staff. Saying that, I find decent Heads at decent schools have no objection giving you a staff member's details so you can get some general info.

I know a couple of people that have been signed off for stress, both primary teachers, both getting paid. One seemed to be off for the best part of a year before then getting a v cushy early retirement deal, the other it was only a couple of weeks.

I don't understand it either, not when it's just day to day stuff, fair enough when there's been some major incident. Do people in all professions do it?

Also, according to some of the UK papers it's just too easy for people in the UK to get away with doing nothing but still have a very nice life.

[quote="BocaJrs"]

For example: I took my kids to a doctor's appointment today (I'm in the US)and something that I thought was just a quirkiness of their pediatrician happened with yet another doctor and has me thinking it might just be a common cultural trait. What I'm talking about is greetings. These doctors seem good enough at saying hello but are not as good at saying goodbye, meaning they just don't do it. I'm never sure if the appointment is over and we are free to leave or if the doctor will pop back in. So I wait, and wait and wait until it's obvious no one is coming and then inevitably feel a bit of a fool.
[/quote]

That's just odd. Surely Americans know how to say goodbye. Guess we have to wait for an American to come on and fill us in.

Fenway, my reaction was pretty similar to yours, November is really early to be making decisions about staying or going. Luckily I've never had to say before January, and even that has been early for me. I've often been quite jealous of friends who haven't had to decide until March.

It's interesting reading this, as I think there are a few not so good schools that try to get in there early, in the hope of getting some good teachers that are concerned about being left jobless. I have seen some good schools advertising early, but many of them have been re-advertising recently too, so maybe it was just too early for teachers to be thinking about their next post.

I also know of a few good schools that don't advertise/interview until later (Feb/March) which can be a real pain as there's no knowing whether they'll have any vacancies or even that you'll get the job, and by that point there aren't so many fallback options. I think that a good school is always going to attract good candidates even if it's later in the year, I'm sure a few teachers jump ship if a better offer comes their way.

I've never done the fair thing, I was put off many years ago after hearing about them being like cattle markets, oh that and the fact that many of the schools I've been interested in haven't actually been at fairs. Maybe I'll try one out at some point, I can see the benefits.

Fenway, def good advice for job hunters to be ready in October. It's always good to get your cv and letter sent off early to a few places if just to see if it needs tweaking. If you're not getting any response in the early days at least you have time to fix it before the busier Jan/Feb period.

[quote="PsyGuy"]
If its so wonderful why cant they staff their school in November

Highly desirable schools fill staff their schools early.[/quote]

Any opinions? (re schools that have a year from Aug/Sept-June/July)

I've found that the peak season for good British int schools is still Jan/Feb. It's always been one of those gambles in January, give up a good job not knowing whether the one you want will come up, or that you'll get it.

I've seen some good schools advertising before this, but even they often don't actually do the interviews until January.

Is it only rubbish schools advertising after Christmas?

Yes, some people may have hated Cairo, just as some hate London, New York, Rome... By all means say you had 2 lousy months in Cairo and it wasn't for you, don't then use that to assume that Cairo or the whole ME is shithole.

The point is, as soon as you start commenting on things you don't have firsthand experience of it becomes hard to believe anything you say.

Also, what's this business about "why cant' they staff their school in November?" How is that a sign of a good school?

And as for people never returning to the region or coming away saying they've had a great time there, I have quite a few friends returning there this year and others that have really struggled moving to SE Asia from the ME, it's taking them quite some time to adapt.

Anyway, this thread's gone off course now, sorry OP. Back to Qatar, what are the 5 best/worst schools?

Good grief Psyguy, can't you just learn when to stop, your experience of 2 months in Cairo is pathetic. I can also speak from experience. I hated Cairo when I first moved there and really didn't think I'd last until Christmas, however after a few months everything turned around and I ended up having to drag myself away after quite a few years. I know a lot of other people that went through the same thing. The point is that 2 months in a place is not long enough to make an informed opinion of what it's like to live there.

Out of curiosity, how long were you teaching in Qatar?

Seriously Psyguy, stick to commenting on what you actually know. I'm finding it harder and harder to believe anything you say about anywhere now.

ABC international school? I have a mate that's been there a few years n is happy enough.

In my experience your contract is for 1 or 2 years and renewable as many times as you like. Some people stay put for many many years. However, sometimes benefits may stop at a certain point, for example gratuity may have a limit and after 5/10 years it may stop increasing. Also, I do know of a school that doesn't renew contracts after 4 years or so because you are then too expensive and they'd rather hire someone cheaper.

It generally doesn't look good if you're hopping around all the time. I've been pretty surprised at people on this forum who seem to have taught in just about every country and yet have only been teaching for 6 or so years. Generally 1 year in a school is ok but 2 is better, and you may get sick of moving that often anyway.