Although the supervisor that worked there when I was
there is no longer there, I assume that some of the
same problems exist. The school is big on the
"Korean" teacher/"Foreign" teacher concept. If you
are Korean American, you are treated as a "Korean"
teacher. (At least while I was there). They told me
that they could not offer Korean Americans housing
because the parents did not want to pay for it. If
they could provide housing, the Korean American
teacher would have to pay for it. They also refused to
provide medical insurance. (Eventually, this
changed.)
There was a lot of focus on image, and what the
parents thought. The administration would constantly
tell the teachers contradicting things, and then get
mad if certain duties weren't done. I did receive my
letter of release and full pay when I completed my
contract.
SLP - Kangdong
In the time I was at SLP - Kangdong I saw a turnover
of approximately 12 teachers, half of those being
within a six month period. Basically about a teacher
a month would leave, and not because their contract
was ending. They either quit, or were fired for
various "reasons". The teachers that left did so
because they had problems holding the owners to
promises made in their contracts. This includes
housing, medical insurance and overtime pay. As far
as pay for the teachers who left, it was a little
suspicious in how they added up their last paychecks.
Most teachers were "charged" money for what their
utilities bills would have been if they had stayed the
whole time. One teacher who completed a year contract
was not paid severance, or the promised ticket home.
The main problem with this SLP is the owners' abuse of
power and use of intimidation. Slowly, more and more
"extra" duties are asked of the teachers with no
compensation. Surprisingly, I was paid in full upon
leaving, as well as received compensation for a plane ticket.
Anon 7/01