“We did not choose to end our careers in international teaching .
Our careers were ended for us by a one-sided hiring process.”
Verbal agreements made at recruiting fairs have little value, and in some cases neither do written contracts. Most schools are reputable but some do bend the truth to lure candidates into situations they would otherwise avoid. Imagine arriving at your new school to discover your singed contract has been voided. Then, when you refuse to accept a different & blatantly disadvantageous contract you end-up fired and black balled. It can and does happen! Go to complete Article.
Your situation greatly concerns me, not only because I feel so sorry that you had to endure this treatment, but also because I have four more days to fax in my letter of intent to a school which also does not give a contract until I reach the country (China). I’m 60 years old, so I’m afraid if I don’t accept the position, I won’t get another offer. Could you share with us the name of the school or country? How could a recruiting company neglect to hold these clients to higher standards? Outrageous.
I had a similar experience in Guatemala. Upon arrival I learned I would be paying 50% for each of my kids’ tuition and taxed at a higher rate than I was told at the interview. I paid $12000 in tuitions and then lost another $4200 to taxes. Pretty much it worked out that we basically forfeited my wife’s salary. We left after the first year. The school threatened to black ball us but we threatened to go to the newspaper and tell the truth about parents coming in and negotiating for grades. I wouldn’t leave home unless you get it all in writing, and even then you just never know.
I had a similar experience with China. I too was 60, with 20 years of experience teaching at universities in Latin America, the US, and public schools, at the time I went. They told me they had “all the curriculum that they wanted me to teach; all they wanted was a foreign expert to teach it. I might add this was a major university. Not only did they not have any curriculum, but after arriving I was presented with a new contract, in Mandarin (I do not know Mandarin)and which superseded the contract which was sent to me in the States. When I pointed out the discrepancies between what I was told and a contract which I could not read, I was not contacted for 2 and 1/2 weeks and then only because they advised me to get a ticket and get out. None of my emails were responded to nor information as to what was going on.
Accepting this “contract” cost me $4500 for airfare, setting up my apt, and medical expenses to get to China. Needless to say, I will not be going China. It has been a learning experience.
It seems to me that one has to do his/her own research and ultimately, take a leap of faith; just be sure you can physically get out of where ever you go if you find that in spite of your best efforts at screening the employers you have been deceived.
Unfortunately the International teaching circuit is littered with inept, corrupt and unprofessional operators – this is possibly why they have set up overseas in place of their own countries! Having said that it is important to note that there are some reputable operators who work within the law of both the host country and country of origin and are a pleasure to work with and for. Having spent 6 years on the international circuit after over 20 years in both government and private schooling on three continents I can only echo the sentiments already expressed – check everything very carefully before signing anything and make sure you are happy for the good and bad which you will find in any job situation. Some set ups are in what can only be termed ‘hardship’ settings but this doesn’t mean that they won’t be ethical or a good placement – it all depends what you are looking for and expect. From an administrators point of view I have been amazed as the expectations some teachers have, more than they would expect back home, with regard to not only the logistics of their placement e.g. salaries, perks, housing etc. but also school managment and teaching conditions themselves. Children are children everywhere, classrooms are classrooms everywhere, colleagues are colleagues everywhere and it is not just because they are in an international circuit setting that they don’t necessarily behave the way we might expect, they would be the same ‘problems’ back home! Every situation is what you make of it – go in with your eyes open and be the best you can in and through it. If it turns out not to be right for you bite the bullet and get out as honourably as you can – keep your own integrity intact and let them worry about theirs, and the consequences of theirs. What I’m saying is don’t let bad expereinces poison your own soul and put you off what can be a rich and rewarding lifestyle. To the over 60′s out there watch out in Asia as not all governments in this part of the world support the hiring of ‘foreign experts’ over 60 and schools need to show why they need to employ them. This has made a lot of international schools close their doors to the over 60′s, some to the extent where they won’t renew contract with you. Others use age to find something/someone where they think the grass is greener!
This makes me wonder if there is any legal action that could be taken against said school. It would well be worth looking into,
Name and shame the recruitment agency/ job fair organizers. This is outrageous and should be publicized to us as teachers at the very least.
I am starting to wonder if people should go to recruiting fairs at all. It seems as if recruiting fairs have a lot more to do with the blackballing, than the actual schools themselves.