There are still lots of places to post accounts of interaction with schools.

This place doesn't seem to censor out names. Nor does TESall (http://www.tesall.com). Nor does English School Watch (http://www.englishschoolwatch.org). We certainly don't at our partner website Nate's China School Review (http://www.chinaschoolreview.net) and definitely not at our site, Raoul's China Expat Saloon (http://chinateachers.proboards17.com/index.cgi).

Just because certain well-known online Cafe places have chosen to become the personal ## of the commercial ESL industry, please don't assume the rest of us have followed suit. We haven't.

I do agree, though, that too few know about all our sites and don't make enough use of them...

Sadly, most TESOL teachers have no backbone. They put up with all sorts of abuse, meaning guys like me will have a tougher time with this TESOL thing. They also keep their bad experiences to themselves, meaning I will be more in the dark when it comes time to change jobs.
This is just another reason I'm getting out. TESOL teachers don't care enough about each other to tip their brethren off about the minefields.

Rheno,

I agree with the first part of your statement. The second part...well, the fact is that there are damned few places (if any!) which allow posts with things to say about specifically named schools to stand.

Those posts are deleted or never allowed onto boards where posts are approved before the public sees them. Another thing I've noticed is that too few teachers actually use these types of forums. Both of those things will reduce the number of "tip offs" to nearly zero.

I've thought about getting out of TESOL many times from things similar to what you have posted. I'm still here and reevaluating sometimes day-to-day because I think I have things to contribute. You obviously do so I hope you really don't 'get out.'

I agree with Reno and Raoul, a lot of teachers are spineless and the bosses know it, see it.

I just got a call from a 51 year old American woman in China and she says because her 11 classes a week at a Middle School are too crowded (50+/class) management wants her to teach 22 classes next term with no mention so far of more pay or a new contract. She is stressed out and venting to me on the phone but is telling me she "will probably do it because the students like her so much." This is so soft in the head.
People who get abused are usually not masocists, they just don't have the courage to stand up for themselves. They wimp out and swallow their anger. I make it clear I don't get pushed around, so I usually teach at schools just one year. I don't mind this as I know it is the best way and I see more of the world. Why do people keep teaching if they are not paid? Go to a store and you will see the law of the business jungle: No cash = no goods or services.
Why did that guy Mike keep taking jobs in Russian if it is corrupt there and he did not get paid? I guess he finally had enough.

There ya go!

These schools pull this horrible stuff on us because they _can_. They almost always get away with it. The teachers do little to defend themselves, trotting off to their scheduled classes like sheep no matter what the school does, or making a beeline for an airport and a ride home after the contract ends.

This is wrong. This only encourages the school to pull the same excreta on the next guy next year.

The weapons the schools fear most are the very weapons you have at your disposal. The schools hate disruption- as in cancelled classes- and they hate embarrassment- as in bad publicity.

So, if you must, next time you find your passport confiscated, call your Consulate and don't go to class. Sit in the lobby and make a scene. Same thing if you find your contract being materially violated. To either of these, let people start finding accounts of your troubles all over the internet. Keep it up until the situation is resolved. Of course, if you can get ALL the teachers at the school to hang together, this is much more effective...

We come from countries where jobs are scarce...hard-won and hard-kept. This isn't true in the EFL business in many countries, but we keep forgetting that.

By all means, be careful. Be reasonable, fair, and scrupulously honest in all your dealings with the school. Keep a mind open to compromise on the places that can be compromised and negotiated. Try to save face for your owner/manager if you can. Don't use these extreme measures lightly or often. But keep that bullet in your pocket, and use it if you have to.

Mike, as always I'm not pleased and empathize when I hear of a school jerking their teachers around. But further to a thread being discussed elsewhere on this forum, I can't help thinking that too many teachers are partly responsible for their predicament.

As another poster stated, there is no excuse whatsoever for schools to lie, cheat or scam teachers, but why many teachers just sit there and tolerate such practices, I don't know.

For example, you mentioned having to sign two contracts. WHY sign two contracts? You could have simply refused to sign a second, or gone to the PSB or FAO office, and inquired whether this is legally correct, if you weren't sure.

As regards them holding your passport, the answer to that problem WAS quite simple. Don't give it to them. O.K, I know that they sometimes have it in their posession when they process your legal documents, but once this process is fully completed simply ask for it back. DEMAND it back if necessary, but don't leave their office until your property (or the government's property) is retuned to you. One thing is for sure it's not THEIR property, and they have no right or valid reason to keep it. My present school told me that they intended to keep my passport, but I demanded it back as soon as the legal process was complete.

Regarding the contracted hours, that's simple too. The school is obligated to pay you for the hours they agreed to in the contract, as long as you work them or don't refuse to work them. If the school doesn't provide enough hours for you to work as stated in the contract that is not your problem, and you should still be paid what was originally agreed.

When schools are treating us unfairly we don't have to sit there and take it. Use your contract and the law as a guide. If they told you to rob a bank, would you do it? So why give the school your passport? If they break the contract make a stand until they rectify the situation. You are in the RIGHT. If more FTs stood up for themselves, much less of these corrupt schools would be in business.