2-3, the principal, and me

So, I've got this one awful class, right. 2-3, the science track kids who don't think English is important to them in the least. They may be right, but they don't treat me very well. All of my classes are wonderful except this one, which is awful. I dread going to this class because, honestly, it intimidates me. The boys grumble in Korean, the girls sleep, they skip class, lie, and never do their homework.

Last Wednesday was eventful. This was the worst class so far, 12 weeks into the semester!

1. 5 boys came in 10 minutes late and didn't apologize (including the class captain)
2. 5/30 students completed their homework that I specifically said would be on their final exam
3. those who didn't do their homework thought it was funny
4. when I tried to start the lesson, students continued talking and doing other homework
5. when I repeatedly tried to silence the class, they were rude and ignored me and sassed in Korean

I had it! I made everyone stand up and hold their chairs for the entire hour. At first, this was funny to them. I was silent, trying not to overreact or cry. As they chatted with their friends and read newspapers, I kept thinking This isn't punishment to them. They hate my class. They're glad to not speak English or listen to my voice. And having been silent trying to collect myself before, I said in a deadly tone, "Quiet." -silence- They stood like that for 20 minutes in silence.

At the end of the hour, I told them to sit down. They did and I said, "I'm really disappointed in you. You were so disrespectful today. I know some of you hate my class. That's fine. You have a right to feel that way. But there are some students who WANT to learn English, and this class is making it hard for them to do that. Believe it or not, I really like you guys, even though you don't treat me with respect. I expect you to complete your homework for the next class period, and I'm going to talk to your homeroom teacher about your behavior today." Then I packed up my stuff and walked out the door. I spose I should've done this differently.

I then typed up a page-long letter to my co-teacher. I couldn't find him, but felt I must tell him about the problem. Once before this semester I told him of my 2-3 troubles, and he spoke to the students. I wanted to inform him that they had not improved their behavior. I also wanted to use him as a mediator between me and the homeroom teacher. Perhaps the homeroom teacher's influence will straighten out the students for the remaining 6 classes of the year.

I caught up with my co-teacher just as I was going to leave. I asked if I could talk to him, and he was shocked, but said, "Of course." "2-3 was awful today." "Oh really..." he lowered his voice. "Here's a list of what they did wrong today. The most upsetting was that they were really disrespectful to me. They don't treat me like a teacher. They treat me like an inconvenience." Mr. Lee's brow furrowed with displeasure. He scanned my letter. I knew he couldn't read that much in that little of time, so I added, "I'd like your help. I think talking to the homeroom teacher would be good." He said, "Yeah, yeah." Then looking down at the paper again, he grunted. Looking me straight in the eye, he said, "I assure you this will not happen again." "What should I do?" "Just go home, enjoy your weekend, and I will fix this problem." (It was a 4 day weekend for Buddha's birthday.) "Are you sure?" "Yes, yes, enjoy your weekend." "Ok, thank you so much for helping me. I'm sorry to bring you such bad news." He nodded, and I left.

Here's where it gets tricksy.

I believed Mr. Lee would talk to the homeroom teacher, who would then pass along the message to his class, or perhaps punish them. This is not what happened.

Mr. Lee pulled me aside on Monday to tell me what happened. I was shocked!

Mr. Lee told the principal, who was furious. Now, in the Korean school system, the principal rarely intervenes in student matters. To bring the principal into it was NOT my intention, nor did I wish for it to happen at any time. I thought at the most, the vice-principal would get involved.

Mr. Lee said, "First of all, I'd like to apologize for the students behavior. They are my students too, and it is my fault they were bad." "No! Don't YOU apologize. If anyone should apologize it should be me. I'm their teacher and it's my class and I shouldn't have any problems. It's my failures as a teacher that led to this." "If I were in America, I would feel the same way too. The principal was very angry. He said you are a diplomat and the students should treat you as such. He talked to the students and they will be better in the future." I didn't know what to say at that moment. "Th-thank you," I sputtered. "What should I do now?" "Just act naturally." Act naturally? "It's so nice to know that you support me." He inclined his head, I bowed and muttered, "Kamsahamnida," and went back to my desk.

Well, I thought the principal had lectured the students and felt ashamed to have brought that upon them. I don't know if they deserved it or not. Getting yelled at directly by the principal is a terrible thing in Korea.

This is not what happened.

What REALLY happened was this: Mr. Lee told the principal, who turned around and yelled at the homeroom teacher! He blamed the homeroom teacher for not controlling his students! [This is an utterly humiliating thing to happen in the Korean school system. I had absolutely no intention for this to happen.] Then the homeroom teacher yelled at his students during lunchtime yesterday. The punishment is 3 hours of clean-up service on Saturday for BOTH the students and the homeroom teacher.

I was stunned. I haven't seen that homeroom teacher since Monday, even though there are 30 teachers in our school total. I'm SO embarrassed. I want to apologize to him.

It gets worse.

2-3 students are furious and feel betrayed. They think I deliberately skipped all steps in the hierarchy and went directly to the principal. They think that I wanted to get their homeroom teacher in trouble. They think I overstepped the bounds of reasonable response to the situation. The view Mr. Lee as a hero because they think he mediated from me to the principal and lessened the blow.

Who did I learn this from? A student. My wonderful Pu-reum, who has intelligence only surpassed by her heart. Yesterday, we took a walk during lunch because she heard about my class troubles. I told her exactly what happened and told her what Mr. Lee said. She said, "But that's not what happened. The principal didn't yell at the students. He yelled at the homeroom teacher. The homeroom teacher is now yelling at the students." I gaped and looked at the 2-3 classroom windows. "What did he say?" I asked. "I don't know because he's yelling at them now. But I'll tell you tomorrow when I hear."

Today, she came to my desk and told me what happened. She said, "You have a problem with the students because they think you went directly to the principal. They say you speak too fast and they didn't understand. They are frustrated with you. I tried to tell them what happened, but they are angry." Oh no. Maybe they'll be worse now. I don't WANT them mad at me. I want them to respect me. I love Pu-reum. Had she not told me this, had I not told her what happened yesterday...it could've proven even more disastrous as it is now.

I wanted the class to wise-up and do their homework. I wanted them to quiet down when I ask and to come to class on-time. I did not want them to feel even more antagonistic or that I'm their enemy. Shit.

Today, in 1.5 hours, I'll enter the 2-3 classroom. I've got a lot of explaining to do.