This post has been removed by moderator. Please do not attack other posters on this forum that you may not agree with. Remember we are educators. Keep your comments professional and constructive!

To be fair, they offered me a contract in January, and I was not able to sort it all out for this school year. I approached them about the upcoming year, and they wanted it all sent again. So at the time I didn't think much of it. Usually, I send watermarked diplomas and passport copy with the number blacked out.

I'm a fair skinned, dark haired, dark eyed American. I got to thinking, what is to stop them from using my likeness and credentials (up to and including master's degree and state teaching instructor endorsements) to obtain a local teaching license for a more "local" hire at a much less cost? Or selling that information somewhere?

Based on my general description, I could reasonably pass for a number of ethnic groups. I'm pretty generic looking. Do I contact their MoE and politely say that any school or agency purporting to use my name and credentials is not me? Their embassy in my country? Cancel my passport?

The school is definitely legit, and the person requesting the info is from the school. Even if it is not an issue for me, is this an issue for international educators that never gets addressed? Many, many IS schools do not provide faculty lists of their teachers online. You would never know.

Given recent world events, I feel it is important to at least have gone on record as saying, that is not me.

So you apply for a job, they ask you to send your degrees, licenses, and a copy of your passport. Fair enough. You end up not working for the school.

Do you ever wonder if all of this information is being used nefariously somehow? What is to stop a school from using your information to get a work permit for someone else? You would likely never know.

Usually I send my information with my passport number blocked out, but this time I didn't. Now I am wondering...

It would be fairly easy for them to do, and there is no way to check.

Is anyone going to offer any substantial perspective on the OP's question?

I completely agree with you about having a "home office." Sometimes my best work is done in the solace of my flat.

Sadly, my destination is not one of the HP countries, but I love that idea.

I'm all for exploring the nooks and crannies of my destination, but not as a hunter for an elusive supply for my teaching. Not a good use of my time.


peachestotulips wrote:
> As far as pencil sharpeners go this one really is the best pencil sharpener
> I've ever owned. Its non-electric and fairly quiet. Even though its an old
> school crank style sharpener it's well worth the investment and I'll never
> waste money on electrical ones again. I'll buy a replacement blade this
> summer for it. There are plenty of reviews about it that can be found.
> https://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/
>
> As far as printing, I don't bring supplies like my printer or my laminator
> to school. I keep them at home in my office for my own use. I just prefer
> having my own; its definitely a personal preference. Good quality printers
> are easy to sell off when it's time to move as well.
> Check to see if the country you're in is compatible with the HP Instant Ink
> program and purchase an eligible HP printer. It's a subscription service
> for ink that costs as low as $3-10/month. The plans are based on how many
> pages you print, rather than how much ink cartridges you use. So for that
> amount you can get unlimited ink (including color), shipping, and cartridge
> recycling. When you're running low your printer tells HP when to send more
> ink and they will automatically mail you new cartridges in postage-paid
> materials. Since its not based on how many cartridges you use you can print
> as much as you'd like, and the pages you have left will roll over to the
> next month.
>
> It's really the best deal ever considering the cost of ink cartridges
> because there's no annual fees or contractual obligations to the program.
> They're still planning on rolling out the program in different countries
> but its currently available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom,
> Germany, Spain and France. There are also plenty of reviews about the
> program from teachers.
> https://instantink.hpconnected.com/us/en/r

Thank you for all the great suggestions! Keep them coming.

I am allowed to decorate my classroom, and a decent printer for home use will be one of my first purchases upon arrival. Ink is sooo expensive but I like the idea of being able to do what I need when I need to do it. Come to think of it, staplers were an issue for me also. I'll put that on the list. Goo gone is a great suggestion.

Who has time to trek all over a new city searching for an odd item?

I plan on buying a par of notecards that can be used for different purposes.

Glad I am not the only one with a penchant for a particular type of pen.

Down with Comic Sans!

PsyGuy:

My last post was in a rich country, private school that barely doled out pens and paper, printers never worked, we were expected to decorate our classrooms to the nines, none of the tape or post-its would stick to anything, and the teacher supply stores were expensive and fully of downright garish items. Dry erase markers were like gold and constantly "disappeared." This go around, I'll keep mine in my teacher bag.

Laminating? LOL. Getting items printed locally? You kill me, PsyGuy. Ask the parents for simple items like tissues and sanitizer? If you want your head on a platter with admin, have at it.

I'll buy my stickers and pencils in bulk at the Dollar Tree and Target $1 bin. There are so many great items available here, and easy enough to stash with my baggage allowance. I won't make the same mistake twice. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

If you go to certain countries and put up a world religions poster, you need to have your head examined.

So color me jaded, but I'm bringing my own bag of tricks, with great suggestions from the ISR community. Love the idea of a poster tube. Just bought a few metallic pens.

*Double-sided tape (that actually sticks)
*Patterned scrapbooking paper
*Hanging paper lanterns
*Rubber cement or tacky glue

Tell me more...

I know there are scores of YouTube videos on classroom decorations, but there doesn't seem to be much for the teacher who won't have access to a Dollar Tree or other discount store while teaching (not to mention having to haul supplies across the globe).

What do you bring with you? What do you wish you had with you? I'm trying to buy little bits and pieces before I go, because I do not want to spend a fortune, and I have no idea what they will provide me with. Teacher supply stores abroad tend to be...bland and expensive.

Please, give me your suggestions and ideas.