Dear all,

This is my first time to write on such a message board. I have been researching this school since I am considering joining next semester. From reading all the different message boards, (which all seem to be populated by many of the same people, and containing mainly mud-slinging comments rather than actual helpful information for fellow teachers) it is difficult to come to any kind of decision on the school.

Suffice to say, I have received a copy of the contract. It is slightly different to the one that Silverboy posted on here and dissected. I cannot agree that is the worst contract that I have ever seen. I have seen my fair share of Chinese teaching contracts and it is no where near the worst of the lot. For example, I have seen clauses such as being charged 4 yuan per minute if you are late for a class!

This clause for example is in the SFLS contract:

In case of illness or absence, Party B is obliged to inform Party A in written form beforehand. If Party B fails to inform Party A, Party B shall be liable to breach penalty of 500 RMB per day. If Party B repeats such act, Party A has the right to terminate the employment contract and ask for compensation for Party Bs breach of contract.

I agree that it is a little ridulous to inform them in writing because you can't know in advance that you will be ill. But then if you are concerned about it then you clarify with the school (as I am going to do). Perhaps a telephone call/email would suffice? If so I will ask the school to amend said clause to state this. If the school refuses to make such a small amendment then yes, I would agree something is up and I would not join the school.

My contract (unlike Silverboy) states:

'The contracted working hours for Party B shall be up to 2022periods (40minutes each) per week during 5 weekdays. Party B shall share the class teachers duty with a bilingual teacher appointed by Party A. The duty includes attending all the class activities during the weekdays, meeting with the parents on Friday afternoons and helping solve the problems occurring unexpectedly during the class. Teachers are reminded to be at school during the work-time in the five-day work week even when they have no classes. Teachers are also reminded that the teaching schedule may be modified to accommodate examinations and holidays.'

As you can see it does not say on mine about teaching assistant teachers or recruiting new students. I think that meeting with the parents should be considered a good thing if you are at all concerned about being a good teacher. And the fact that you have to stay in the school throughout the day - if you are work-shy and don't like it then it is stated there in black and white so don't join the school. In fact I find that it is quite unfair in the school's where I have worked previously that the Chinese staff must stay for the whole day and the international teachers can waltz in and out as they please (while being paid much better wages). I think this equality in the school is something that makes it more favourable to me, not less.

Another clause that Silverboy mentions:

'Party A shall provide Party B with free medical treatment in Party As campus clinic. If necessary, Party B can go to the local hospital designated by Party A. Party A will only reimburse Party Bs medical expenses incurred at the designated hospital. The maximum allowance for medical expenses is RMB500 per semester and Party B is responsible for expenses that exceed the maximum allowance.'

This is very similar to other schools I have worked at and it has never been a problem. Of course you should have your own private insurance as well - when you live in a foreign country you would be an idiot not to in my book!

Anyhow, I am still trying to be open-minded about the school. Obviously the school may not stick to the contract in any event, making it not worth the paper it is written on but that is the risk that you always take when teaching abroad.

I shall be visiting the school myself and talking to actual international teachers who are there now to get the real information and see things for myself. I am very much used to the way things work here and I am sure to come back and have a much clearer idea of what the school is really like.

I will come back to you and tell you what I thought after my visit.