Scare Tactics by School Against Thai Teacher.

[MartinL]

I don't know whether or not anybody will have relevant information or experience to allow them to offer a reply to this post, but I'll give it a try.

The question relates to my daughter-in-law who is a teacher - Thai - in a well-known (in these parts) Roman Catholic school.

Background first:-

DIL has been told by the school director, who obviously is aware of her dissatisfaction with the school, that she (or any other teacher) will be sacked immediately if said director finds out that she's been looking for a new job or if she attempts to sit exams for a Government teacher position. As a result, DIL is scared to make any moves to improve her position and remains at the school despite being unhappy there. The school has also said that teachers are not allowed to do private teaching on Saturday - if they want to work they MUST teach at the school (for pay, of course, but less than she'd make privately) on pain of the sack if found to be working privately. DIL had a thriving little Saturday school going which she's had to give up now.

Of course, her unhappiness can't be concealed entirely and it's now starting to affect her work.

I get the impression that this school might have employed similar tactics on other teachers over the years since there are still teachers at the school who taught her husband, my stepson who's now nearly 30, in Anubaan/Prathom - he was also a teacher at the same school & was told exactly the same as his wife is being told now. Fortunately, a local Government school came to his rescue.

This is a smallish town and the school would soon find-out if she contravened any of their restrictions.

Is this a common threat made by (private?) schools towards Thai staff? If so, I find it strange since it means teachers will be working under duress and not giving their best efforts. Surely there is some sort of law preventing such blatant scare tactics towards employees - or maybe I'm looking at all this through European eyes.

I'm not a teacher so have no experience to draw on in this situation.

Thanks for any insights or info.

[Scott]

This is Thailand. Many employers don't understand that when you hire someone, they render a service and are paid -- they have not given up their body and soul. One of the schools I assist with has a similar tactic. Anyone sitting the gov't exam is fired, but they can be re-hired. They tried to hold a firm line on firing, but it seems that a very large % of the teachers were taking the gov't exam.

Many private schools are adept at asking people to stay late for a staff meeting, or to come in on Saturday for a variety of reasons, and not on a scheduled basis.

Where I work, the school does want to know the names of any students that a teacher is teaching from our school. That is because of problems with test answers being given to students during private tutorials.

Best of luck to you DiL

[SlyAnimal]

The sounds a bit harsh.

The schools I worked at never did anything similar, at least not that I noticed from the activities of my Thai colleagues, although I've only worked for 2x schools so this isn't representative of all of Thailand.

I'm pretty sure that if they wanted to fire her for doing any of that stuff, it'd need to be explicitly mentioned in her contract, otherwise it wouldn't be legal. As such, she could likely take them to the DoL with a grievence if they fired her because of that (Although of course, if they fired her because she took the government exam, but said she was fired for something which they were legally able to do, that'd be another story).

Particularly as the regulations which you've mentioned, don't have any valid justification. Although the "not allowed to do private tutoring" one could be justified, if it were to only restrict her from teaching her students at the school privately. As this can be a debateable topic, for the reason that Scott gave + others (e.g. Some teachers don't teach well in their regular classes, and so if the students want to do well, they have to do their private classes. As a result, even if teachers are professional and do a good job in class, if the student receiving private tutoring does better than the others, the other students might complain about the integrity of the teacher).

[Deacon Bell]

Knew a teacher in Assumption.

She had been offered a place on a M.A. course in America.
d by Assumption again (and likely implied that they would be unhelpful in her search for work in Thailand in the future.)

She gave up the place and 15 yrs later is still with Assumption.

Perhaps it's a Buddhist thing, or Thai loves Thai thing.

[Scott]

As SlyAnimal has stated, some of this stuff is not legal, but schools have a way of making your life uncomfortable enough to get rid of you.

We had an older lady who taught English and had excellent English skills. She ticked someone off and they tried to get her to quit. She refused. She was demoted to working in the kitchen as a cook. Most Thais would have quit because of the loss of face. She still refused. They then moved her out into the parking lot to be a parking lot attendant. She still didn't quit. She said she didn't care because they still had to pay her!

Eventually they gave up and she was moved back to being an English teacher.

Almost everyone else, however, who gets shamed, just resigns.

[Loaded]

From the school's perspective: a number of their teachers are likely to leave during the academic year because they have been offered government school jobs. This is damaging for the school. Therefore, they tell teachers, don't work for us if you are planning to use our school as a stepping stone; only work for our school if you are genuinely committed to the school and its students.

[casualbiker]

From the school's perspective: a number of their teachers are likely to leave during the academic year because they have been offered government school jobs. This is damaging for the school. Therefore, they tell teachers, don't work for us if you are planning to use our school as a stepping stone; only work for our school if you are genuinely committed to the school and its students.

But in return generally don't back that with good working conditions and decent salary!

At my first school (a municipal school) the younger English teachers were very good. I asked one would she not be better off working at a private school, she laughed and said she has just come from a private school ... why? I asked. Better benefits and soon with time served salary advancement a MUCH higher salary .. oh and a job for life!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Evilbaz]

There is a General who might be interested in this over-bearing intimidation - particularly the govt school test barrier.

[Eddy B]

As SlyAnimal has stated, some of this stuff is not legal, but schools have a way of making your life uncomfortable enough to get rid of you.

We had an older lady who taught English and had excellent English skills. She ticked someone off and they tried to get her to quit. She refused. She was demoted to working in the kitchen as a cook. Most Thais would have quit because of the loss of face. She still refused. They then moved her out into the parking lot to be a parking lot attendant. She still didn't quit. She said she didn't care because they still had to pay her!

Eventually they gave up and she was moved back to being an English teacher.

Almost everyone else, however, who gets shamed, just resigns.

I would love to meet this Thai teacher..................she got balls and a good head on her shoulders. She never lost face but she made sure the people resposible did. Good on her!!

[Mencken]

I have met teachers at my school, 20+ years nearly every one of them. G school.

[WonnabeBiker]

Assumption Anything by chance? Just asking!

Schools need to try harder to retain good staff. Change is an important part of life. sounds like your DIL will be happier elsewhere.

Q: how long has she been working there? Doubt such a rule exists in writing or would ever be enforceable. It's an employee's freedom to look for another job. As it is a school's right to sack people even after decades of good service.

She needs to calculate the severance payment due and be proactive about this. At this point, there is no hope that her situation will improve at this school, JMHO.

[isawasnake]

From the school's perspective: a number of their teachers are likely to leave during the academic year because they have been offered government school jobs. This is damaging for the school. Therefore, they tell teachers, don't work for us if you are planning to use our school as a stepping stone; only work for our school if you are genuinely committed to the school and its students.

If they want that, they need to give giant year end bonuses then, and not just force people to bend to their will.

I honestly think much of the fault of all this falls right into the lap of the Thai employees. They simply are not proactive enough. I know it is harder and scarier here, but if they don't get off their rumps, organize and fight back with these employers, it will stay like this forever.

[swbcare]

I work in a big school just outside bkk. Almost all thai teachers who can leave our school in favor of a government school. In begin les salary but catch up after 2-e year, easier to get loans forcar/house, job for life , and no killing working hours.

Most thai teachers see our school as a short stop in life.