mortensorchid Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 I got a job teaching at a language center at a university nearby. I was super excited about it because this was the place I wanted to be. The staff was nice, the students were as well for the most part, etc. It was a disaster how disorganized everything was. I tried hard to make it work but they gave me little to no training. The other teachers were nice enough towards me, two of them took the time and energy out to show me how to put grades into the gradebook, show me grading rubrics in the binders, etc. But ... Students weren't showing up, they weren't doing their work, they were abusing the Zoom call situation because they said they had COVID, etc. I have reached the point in teaching now where due to the confusions and craziness (pre or post COVID), the best thing to do is to pass everyone. They were paying peanuts, I earned for 25 hours for the first 4 week session and 52 hours for the second. I finished my grades, put in everything as instructed, checked with the director for everything possible. Then I got an email on Friday night at 7pm saying they were not going to have me back because I was disorganized, was letting people out early, wasn't teaching writing as best I could. I also blew up at someone because they were on their phone, I went to the director about it and said I was sorry I did wrong and the situation was etc. But I PASSED EVERYONE. So bad. But, I realized something rather quickly being there : there was only one guy who had been there for a long time (he was in his 70s and had been there for 20 years). Everyone else was brand new or doesn't stay there long. Why? Bad pay is the primary reason. I don't know, I was depressed all weekend over it. Link to post Share on other sites
glows Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 That’s very frustrating especially to be emailed at 7pm on Friday. Link to post Share on other sites
Author mortensorchid Posted February 1, 2022 Author Share Posted February 1, 2022 Yes it was. Moving on. Link to post Share on other sites
Alpacalia Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Sorry OP. I think the transition from in-class meetings to online has been tough all around. My in-person class half my classmates don't show up and I kind of feel bad for the professor because you can tell how passionate he is about teaching and some of the students are on their laptops watching movies. Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 On 1/30/2022 at 11:51 AM, mortensorchid said: ...the best thing to do is to pass everyone. Is that ethical to just "pass" everyone even if they haven't earned their grade or done the work?? On 1/30/2022 at 11:51 AM, mortensorchid said: They were paying peanuts... I assume you knew what the pay was prior to taking the job and you agreed to that lower pay. You had a responsibility to teach your students. Pass the ones that did the work and fail the ones that did not (regardless of the pay). 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author mortensorchid Posted February 1, 2022 Author Share Posted February 1, 2022 4 hours ago, Happy Lemming said: Is that ethical to just "pass" everyone even if they haven't earned their grade or done the work?? I assume you knew what the pay was prior to taking the job and you agreed to that lower pay. You had a responsibility to teach your students. Pass the ones that did the work and fail the ones that did not (regardless of the pay). It is not, but if you have to deal with people's attitudes and stupid excuses as to how/why they aren't doing their work, you find out quickly that you should. You'd be surprised how many teachers end up passing people because it's the easiest thing to do. I did not know what the pay was before taking the job. They were only going to pay me for the time I was in class with them. So that meant I was pulling in 15 hours a week. Little to no training, just thrown into it. And the students were all writing in chicken scratches. But hey, it's what it is. Life goes on. So much for my dream job. Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 1 minute ago, mortensorchid said: It is not. If it is not ethical, then you don't do it. I quit one job when the owner was doing some ethical things. I didn't want to align myself or be part of anything unethical. At the end of the day, you are the one looking back at yourself in the mirror. 4 minutes ago, mortensorchid said: I did not know what the pay was before taking the job. Going forward, I think the salary/compensation needs to be discussed BEFORE you agree to take the job. Personally, I don't discuss salary in the first interview, but I definitely bring it up if I am brought in for a second interview. Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 19 minutes ago, mortensorchid said: And the students were all writing in chicken scratches. Then you fail them... I took one English class in college and the teacher was very strict about using proper English. And yes, she failed anyone and everyone that didn't utilize proper English in both their verbal and written presentations. Link to post Share on other sites
glows Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Would you take another teaching position, OP? Or try something else? Career change? Link to post Share on other sites
Author mortensorchid Posted February 2, 2022 Author Share Posted February 2, 2022 2 hours ago, glows said: Would you take another teaching position, OP? Or try something else? Career change? I am back to driving instruction (in car) and subbing, plus teaching online on my computer at night. I am hurting but I am back to normal. Someday, I tell myself. I am moving forward. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
glows Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 14 hours ago, mortensorchid said: I am back to driving instruction (in car) and subbing, plus teaching online on my computer at night. I am hurting but I am back to normal. Someday, I tell myself. I am moving forward. It’s good that you have alternatives. I’d continue applying for other teaching positions if you love to teach. Don’t give up on that dream easily. I might also look at other ways to further education. If you have conversational ability in another language why not do a few courses and polish it up. Tutor and teach other languages too. Link to post Share on other sites
Author mortensorchid Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 On 2/2/2022 at 10:24 AM, glows said: It’s good that you have alternatives. I’d continue applying for other teaching positions if you love to teach. Don’t give up on that dream easily. I might also look at other ways to further education. If you have conversational ability in another language why not do a few courses and polish it up. Tutor and teach other languages too. I am exhausted with what I have been through in the last few years. I am going to just lay low and be happy from now on with the subbing, the driving and the teaching online. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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