Here we are, betwixt Christmas and Chinese New Year (CNY). For those of us East of Suez this is a somewhat short work period (usually about four weeks) between lovely holidays. For those in Chinese employ there is an immanent CNY break. We, in the English Schools Foundation, have but one week, those in local schools two. Ah, for teachers their holidays never seem far away...
I know, I know -those of you in real work will most likely be rolling your eyes, tutting at the prospect of lazy teachers getting yet another week's paid holiday and possibly fuming at increasing fees and decreasing standards. All I can say is, if you can stand the heat, don't mind a cap on your salaries and like the idea of some extended breaks throughout the year then teaching might be just for you.
In a recent Guardian story, "teachers in schools in England and Wales are still working "unacceptably" long hours despite a national agreement to reduce their workload." Amplify this somewhat and you get the picture of teaching here in Hong Kong. Admittedly we do not have classroom behavioural problems within ESF schools, but many colleagues will be working each evening, over the weekend and during holidays. High-achieving students bring their own demanding problems. No-one stops at the mythical 3.20 end-of-the-school-day, although work may be postponed until later. In addition, many of our working days may consist of 5 one-hour stand-up teaching lessons, sometimes before unwilling and (God-forbid unappreciative) audiences where your communication technique is as important as your subject matter. You can't stop and have a break when you flag. I have known some in other industries positively wet their pants at delivering a mumbled 15-minute PowerPoint!
So the prospect of a few perks, such as three major holidays in the year, are not simply welcomed, they're bloody well necessary! Bring it on: Phuket beckons...
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