Teacher789 wrote:
> Update:
> Had a very positive conversation with HoS, and they are happy to support me
> with whatever I decide is best. They were more than reasonable and very
> sympathetic.
> Phew!
> Thanks everyone for your valuable input.

Good news.

I'm happy it looks like it will work out.

> @secondplace
>
> Not likely scheduling follows the students by class not the IT or even the
> department. It could be done but thats a lot of work to accommodate one IT.
>
> Because the decision in that scenario maximizes the time and opportunity
> for the IS and leader to solve the issue by simply hiring a new IT. ITs
> arent special, they have value and it differs by situation, but fire and
> hire is a very reasonable strategy that increases in success the more time
> a leader has to employ it. If the IT delays until the latest possible time,
> the IS will have fewer options available to them, and thus more likely to
> accommodate the ITs request, because they have to.
>
> Many ISs (especially small ISs) dont have PT ITs/DTs.

We build our scheduling around the courses, the student needs and our teachers. Do we switch things around to accommodate teacher availability? Yes. As a small school, in a country where people can choose to be part time, we have to.

Is this easy? No.

Do we do it? Yes.

If the IT delays until the latest possible time,
> the IS will have fewer options available to them, and thus more likely to
> accommodate the ITs request, because they have to.

Do I personally have a different moral compass to you?

Yes. In fact, I actually have one. And it works.

xxx

> @secondplace
>
> That is utter bunk, no its poo bunk. There is no immigration
> department/ministry that has a check mark or requirement for IB experience
> in an IB IS for a visa. Nor is there an MOE or DOE that would specifically
> require IB experience for a permit in an IB IS. Such a requirement would be
> beyond even what the IBO requires and they are the regulating authority for
> their curriculum and program.

Glad that you're across all countries and their requirements...

Unfortunately you're wrong and it is a problem for us to get visas for non EU teachers without IB experience.

I wish it wasn't but it is.

I know you won't believe me, and I know you'll write an unintelligible reply as to why 'your write and Im wrong'. But trust me, my semi-literate amis, this is a thing.

Sometimes it can be that work permit requirements come into play, depending on the country and the passport of the teacher.

So it may be necessary for a teacher to have prior (in this case) IB experience in order for the school to obtain a work permit.

Depending on the subject/grade level this:

3) There will be a continuity issue in the courses for the students. They will have IT X for 2-4 days a week and then effectively have a substitute from within the department for those Monday/Friday classes because classes are either T, TH, M,W,F, or M-F.

might be able to be worked around by scheduling classes only Monday to Thursday, for example.

Also why, morals aside, early conversation with the school would be best so that all factors can be considered when building the schedule/timetable for the coming school year.

At my school the part time teachers are where we start when making the schedule as their availability is fixed.

From a scheduling perspective having no part time teachers would be best, but that just isn't real life!

As @schoolofrock says it can very much depend on what you teach, and then the capacity of the school to give the classes to someone else. In many locations it would be hard/impossible to hire someone to do the 20% but it could be redistributed within a department.

Primary Homeroom would be the one position we wouldn't be able to consider. Most others could be looked at.

Don't do what @PsyGuy suggests.

It's disingenuous at best, downright dishonest at worst. It would put your school, and other teachers, in a potentially very difficult position. Also, it will most likely be seen for what it is, which will have a negative effect on your relationship with the school.

Be open and honest and talk about what might be possible.

x

PsyGuy wrote:
> Yes, it says your brain is bigger than your morals.

Still waiting for your answer to this:

I honestly can't remember what you've said in the past about your feelings/thoughts about a school doing the same to you?

Do you think a school should act in this way - e.g. drop you like a stone if a better option comes up?

xx

PsyGuy wrote:
> OR after you sign, you can honorably, choose to go, not to go, or go
> somewhere else.
>
> Contracts arent pacts, vows, oaths or promises. They are a document that
> clearly communicates the terms and conditions of obligation and
> responsibility between parties, including how failure to perform those
> obligations and responsibilities is defined and the consequences for those
> failures. They are agreements of communication, nothing more. Nothing
> requiring your character, integrity or soul be put forward.

Still asking - are you happy for both schools and yourself to act in this way?

xx

Heliotrope wrote:
> Luckily a large majority of the international schools will not drop you
> after a contract is signed, and similarly a large majority of teachers
> honors their contracts. The more one side (schools or teachers) stops doing
> this, the more the other side will start doing the same, until no one
> -school or teacher- can be sure of anything until the teacher arrives at
> the school just before the school year starts.

Agreed.

My experience has been this. I've not had schools do me wrong, I've not worked in schools that do that to people and it's not something I would personally do.

Do I know of teachers who have? Yes.

Both sides need to act with scruples and integrity. In my opinion.

xx

PsyGuy wrote:
> @secondplace
>
> Are you claiming ISs dont already do this? Do you know what site youre on,
> because I can direct you to the various and substantial reviews of various
> ISs and leaders.

I'm asking how you would feel if a school did this to you.

Would you just think they were exercising their right to appoint someone better, even after they'd agreed a contract with you?

Does your approach work both ways?

PsyGuy wrote:
> OR after you sign, you can honorably, choose to go, not to go, or go
> somewhere else.
>
> Contracts arent pacts, vows, oaths or promises. They are a document that
> clearly communicates the terms and conditions of obligation and
> responsibility between parties, including how failure to perform those
> obligations and responsibilities is defined and the consequences for those
> failures. They are agreements of communication, nothing more. Nothing
> requiring your character, integrity or soul be put forward.


I honestly can't remember what you've said in the past about your feelings/thoughts about a school doing the same to you?

Do you think a school should act in this way - e.g. drop you like a stone if a better option comes up?

xx

PsyGuy wrote:
> OR after you sign, you can honorably, choose to go, not to go, or go
> somewhere else.
>
> Contracts arent pacts, vows, oaths or promises. They are a document that
> clearly communicates the terms and conditions of obligation and
> responsibility between parties, including how failure to perform those
> obligations and responsibilities is defined and the consequences for those
> failures. They are agreements of communication, nothing more. Nothing
> requiring your character, integrity or soul be put forward.

[img]https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/a06fd4c9-7 ... 8068db55b3[/img]

PsyGuy wrote:
> AND after you sign, you can choose to go, not to go, or go somewhere else.

Or, be honourable.

As ever, your choice...

Good luck xx

interteach wrote:
> I'm in almost full agreement on honoring a contract, but for the first time
> backed out when it was clear I wasn't going to get the help I needed to get
> a complicated visa. Silence, wrong answers, repeated wrong answers, taking
> it up the line didn't do any good - and this was a not-for-profit school. I
> finally decided days before the stated deadline and nearly zero meaningful
> assistance that if this was how they treated my attempts to get there, I
> didn't want to know the rest. It is, ultimately, a two way street. Both
> sides need to show good will and due diligence.


I think this is different. Part of their agreement with you, and part of their commitment to you, is getting you into the country to be able to work.

Individual people - HR or whoever - can make mistakes or not do their job, but overall the school has to meet their end of the bargain and make sure that things get sorted out.

@cms989

Xie xie ni.

It's what I do.

And you know what, it's not even difficult.

xx