Ah, yes, wouldn't it be nice? Druthernotsay wrote the following:

"If the unqualified teachers would go home and if China would really enforce its own laws the schools here would be be forced to treat the truly qualified FT's with a bit more respect."

I couldn't agree more; however, just to clear some things up a little bit, let me add this quote from middlekingdomlife.com from an article that addresses the current rumor about the "five year rule."

"Here is the bottom line: If your school needs or wants you badly enough and they have established the proper social relationships with the right people (and they always have), it truly doesnt matter whether your particular municipality or province has officially adopted any one particular guideline into law or not. The converse is also true. Even if your local or provincial legislature has not officially adopted any given SAFEA guideline, that doesnt mean that it wont be cited against you if it suits the perceived needs of the school at that time. As Westerners, we spend an inordinate amount of time discussing and debating the existence of various rules and regulations that affect foreign teachers when, in fact, it would be far wiser (not to mention efficient) to discuss how to maintain key interpersonal relationships with those who are necessary for our continued success in China. And, in China, someone is always necessary for continued success. The Chinese instinctively know this, while foreigners naively point to their contracts and suggest to each other that those with problems should call the local Foreign Expert Bureau.

SAFEA guidelines and contracts in China primarily protect the schools, not the foreign teachers. Your best assurance against violations does not lie with government agencies or in the specific wording of, for example, paragraph 31 of your SAFEA contract addendum but, rather and almost entirely, in establishing good relationships with the very people who determine whether you are necessary for the good of the school, the community, andultimatelyChina itself."