The International Schools Review Forum

"Specialed I'd be grateful if you'd point out any other website or forum where international teachers can get an honest, no-cover up opinion of administrators in international schools. "

I was talking about fairness for the whole last paragraph of my previous post. Where is the site for an opinion of teachers? Shouldn't there be a site that evaluates teachers if there is one for administrators?

I love the idea of people telling me what their opinion of the school is, what the housing is like, what the attitude of locals is to teachers, what it's like to actually teach there - but I'm not interested in hearing someone get slammed regardless of whether or not they are a teacher or an administrator. I realize that I am fighting a losing battle, but hey I still try. In the media I see the hyperbole usage all of the time. Romney "lashes out", Obama "slams Clinton". If I disagree with someone, I see no need to attack them to make my point or if I disagree with them. I can disagree without attacking you. If we verbally attack everyone we disagree with, it would be a pretty sad place. I am also advocating fairness. If they posted a "Teacher Report Card" on the site, there would be a rebellion, yet there is one for admin.

In regards to the "patronizing" part about not honoring contracts, I thought I said that it could be rough to keep your "word" by honoring your contract. If I did not mention that in my post, I apologize, but I thought I did. If you are miserable, you are miserable and I can't say much in regards to what you should do. If you are homesick/having a rough time/disagree with someone, do you leave? If someone is so distraught that they cannot function, maybe they should go home. But do not expect a glowing reference when you apply for your next job. I honestly think that some people in this forum expect a glowing report even if they did leave/cause trouble, etc. What would you think if you went to the local hospital (I'm assuming you are at an international school) and a Western doctor is operating on you, then he/she decides they are homesick, so they leave in the middle of an operation. Are you okay with that? Well this happens with teachers sometimes leaving during a class/overnight/over a break because they don't like someone, they are homesick, they don't like a policy, and the list could go on. I would love for someone to tell me that there is not a significant effect on the students in the class. Again, I never said sticking it out is easy. Try and remain positive, bury yourself in work, take a continuing education class, go out and have fun. I don't have all of answers to someone who is having trouble at school, but I do know that lashing out at someone in a public forum is not one of them. My biggest wish is for people posting a review to choose their words more carefully, think about how those words make you look (I'm talking about their thoughts and not talking about being picky about the grammar), and think about someone talking like that about you in a public forum.

Great posts by the way! I enjoy reading these every once in a while.

Comparing a doctor leaving to return home mid surgery and a teacher not fulfilling his/her contract for whatever reason (homesickness, laziness, unethical hiring practices, failure to fulfill contractual obligations, etc...) is a tiny bit flawed wouldn't you say?

Good for a laugh though this AM. :D

Oh and by the way... if a class is being taught by a really unhappy teacher suddenly has that unhappy teacher leave it might in fact be a good thing. As you may or may not agree but an unhappy teacher is not a good or effective teacher. Kids see and understand far more than you think (read: body language).

The idea that "burying" yourself in work might somehow end the depression or general unhappiness one might be experiencing is... well... insensitive.

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"The idea that "burying" yourself in work might somehow end the depression or general unhappiness one might be experiencing is... well... insensitive."

I give up. I think some people are going to look for the negative no matter what is said. I clearly stated that I did not have all of the answers to someone having troubles overseas. Those were some suggestions. What suggestions did you present? None. Zero. Who is being insensitive? If you want to look for the bad, be negative, whatever. If that's what makes you happy, seeing someone who is unhappy and presenting no suggestions - well I don't know what to say to you. I am very willing to talk with a coworker and do whatever I can to help out. Or should I moan and complain with the person so we feel worse?


"Comparing a doctor leaving to return home mid surgery and a teacher not fulfilling his/her contract for whatever reason (homesickness, laziness, unethical hiring practices, failure to fulfill contractual obligations, etc.) is a tiny bit flawed wouldn't you say? "

My answer to you would be that you probably do see a difference and that also bothers me a little bit. What about a construction company who leaves before the job is finished, someone giving you a haircut, a grocery clerk at a store while you are in line? The list could go on, but I doubt you would see that they are in a way related. I honestly hope that you never get left "hanging" because someone quit while you needed them. Once again I never said that it was easy to work overseas. I never did. It can be really tough working at some places, and I realize that. I am suggesting that a person really think about it, and maybe do some reflection to see how you can make the situation better. In some cases you can't i.e. if someone is harassing you, or if someone is stalking you, there isn't much you can do but get out. I'm talking about teachers who leave and then trash the school for "personal reasons".

I know I will get bashed again so fire away! Negativity rules!

"Despite what's-his-user-name's commentary to the contrary, I would never discourage a teacher seeking the overseas experience. But this aint the US of A or whatever...it's the world, and in lots of places the "laws" are fluid and social mores are a shock. "

Good point Ichiro. People need to use their head and think a little. I too had some interviews where bells and whistles were going off. Also I tried to see what kind of a match i would be before I got to my present school. I am what I am and I was very upfront with the school while interviewing. The school has been awesome to me and I work with wonderful, professional teachers. I do not "love" everyone, but I would have no hesitation in going to a teacher or administrator with a question or problem. I realize that I have more problems than I care to even think about - so I tend to cut other people slack as they say, "People in glass houses should not throw stones." Well I think my house is pretty glassy!

All of your examples are better than the doctor/surgery one presented earlier.

Good work.

Now, if you were asking for better ways to deal with workplace depression than I will give some to you (Who knows maybe you are fishing). Seek the help of a professional therapist, talk to friends from home more often, talk to your director/principal about the problem as you see it or if the contract is not being upheld contact the agency (if any) that helped you find the job and report them, then come on to ISR and share these experiences.

And I have "taken up the slack" from a coworker who quit at the start of the year and I don't harbour any ill feelings at all. They did what they felt was right and I respect that.

Bravo Samuraiwriter! I totally agree that you should not harbor ill feelings towards someone who left early. I also feel that we should not "gang up" on a school just because someone left early. Negative feelings either way really are not very helpful as honest, good people often disagree - even on basic facts. Misunderstandings happen all of the time and I know I have had disagreements with someone, talked it over, and found out I was wrong and misunderstood what was happening. If there is a problem, getting rude and nasty with someone rarely wins an argument, it just makes them want to disagree more. What happened to killing people with kindness?