Jae Yang
- 2009-05-08
Still waiting to find out if Ms. Ruth Hannegan ever worked at our school? How can someone who has never worked at our location make accusations?
Jae Yang
- 2009-05-08
Yes I had talked to my boss about this, but they had Changed the name from Harvard with an "R" to Havard. Is this a technical infringement? Well it maybe a play on names. However, is it illegal?
This school has never claimed affiliation with the reputable one in the states.
squirrelfish
- 2009-03-30
I stumbled across this thread in one of my constantly evolving google searches, and found the interplay of "he said, she said" quite fascinating. Especially fascinating since this mysterious Ruth Hannegan, whoever he/she may be, has not felt it necessary to continue to defend him/herself, but the school administrator/manager Jae Yang has. (I am not, by the way, Ruth Hannegan, nor am I related to her--ha ha.) As I read, the phrase that kept coming to mind was "methinks he doth protest too much". And when Mr. Yang's story seemed to change slightly in the telling, if one compared his earliest posts to his later ones, not to mention his increasingly defensive manner, little red flags flew up, small warning bells started to sound, etc. Those telling the truth generally have no need to be defensive.
I was interested enough to google the school's name. Apart from reviews such as Ms. Hannegan's and the school's own website (http://www.chinahavardedu.com/), the only other place I can find this school appearing as "Harvard Foreign Language School" online is in an 2007 article here: http://bjtoday.ynet.com/article.jsp?oid=2308035. (I'll include the article below in case readers have difficulty accessing it.)
My reason for pointing readers to this article was that it highlighted a very key point that I had thought was strange had never come up in this thread. Why did the school use the name "Harvard" and, apparently, still continue to do so? The initial post by Ms. Hannegan was written in 2005; the article was written in 2007. For at least those two years (and most likely three, as it seems to be still the case as of Mr. Yang's post in April 2008), the school continued to use the "Harvard" name, which was taken with the apparent direct intention of misleading those considering attending the school. In the bjtoday article, the Harvard Foreign Language school representative "admits" (i.e. didn't volunteer the information but stated it when pressed) that the school "has no connection with Harvard University in America, neither inviting teachers from Harvard University, nor awarding Harvard certificates", but that the name was chosen because the students and their families "regard Harvard as a good name".
I know that China has had and still has great difficulty with the issue of copyright; it has been undergoing a slow and painful process of moving out of the old way of "borrowing" into the new concept of "plagiarism" and "copyright infringement". However, for the Korean community, this should not be the case: I'm not an expert in Koreans' attitude toward copyright, but it seems to me that Koreans should be much more familiar with the issue of copyright and intellectual property, given their longer history of free market economy, at least when compared to China. It also seems extremely strange that a school claiming to be Christian would have no problem in misrepresenting itself in this way. Christians generally claim to hold themselves to a standard of ethics above the "well-everybody-here-does-it", i.e. Christians generally consider themselves morally bound to obey the law. Yet here we have this self-proclaimed-Christian, Korean-run school taking advantage of China's lax copyright environment to bask in some reflected glory (and profit) from the real Harvard University's name.
I have no doubt of the truthfulness of the teachers who wrote praising the school's good treatment of them. They sound like quite nice folks who had an excellent experience and have no reason to dislike an employer that fulfilled the contract and treated them decently. However, as I compared the tone of Ms. Hannegan to that of Mr. Yang, and then added to that the red flags over the whole "Harvard" name thing, I have to say that the school sounds defensive, evasive, and not all together honest.
I have worked for a number of employers like this in China, most Chinese, some Korean. In nearly every situation I have found that employers, particularly small language institutes like this, will like you as long as you please them, but cross them in any way... watch your back.
But that's just my humble opinion. Take it for what it's worth.
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[Note: After writing all that about copyright infringement above, I felt bound to point out that I have included all the relevant information I can find about the article below--and I should point out that this article is not being copied for profit nor being stolen and passed off as my own or another's.]
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(http://bjtoday.ynet.com/article.jsp?oid=2308035)
Harvard in Beijing Residential Community
by Lily Li (03/05/07 21:10)
[photo]
[photo caption: Be careful! Ha Bode is not Ha Fo, the Chinese translation of Harvard. Photo by Lou Ge]
When you check Cambridge on the Internet, the University of Cambridge in England is not alone. There is also Cambridge International College of Canada, Cambridge College in England and Cambridge International College in Australia. As for Harvard, residents in Wangjing residential area, Chaoyang District will tell you there are at least two, one in America and one right here in Beijing.
After seeing a recruitment advert for this Harvard Foreign Language School, one of the residents, Ms. Xu, called the hotline of Beijing Youth Daily. Harvard University is one of the most famous universities in the world but its in America. When did it come to our area? she asked.
The advert says Harvard Foreign Language School offers students a wide range of classes, including ABC Basic English, Childrens English, Primary and Middle School English and Classes for Studying Abroad. It also says Choose Harvard, change your life. But the advert didnt give any clues as to whether the school was related to Harvard University or not.
Located on the first floor of an ordinary residential building, the school isnt as impressive as the ad. In a five-meter-wide room we spoke to Ms. Jin, who refused to give her full name, whos in charge of recruitment and consultation.
Although all the signboards and publicity materials in the room give Ha Fo (Harvard in Chinese) as the schools name, on the plaque outside was written Ha Bode. The English names are all Harvard. Ms. Jin said both names belong to the school but she also admitted that the school has no connection with Harvard University in America, neither inviting teachers from Harvard University, nor awarding Harvard certificates.
We took the name because most of our students are South Koreans in this area, and they regard Harvard as a good name, she said.
Wang Jing, lawyer of Beijing Lu Gouqiao Law Office said this school has copied the famous brand name which isnt registered in China, and has misled students and their parents as well as infringing on Trademark Law.
Jae Yang
- 2008-04-07
Regarding San Jie Foreign Language School
Ruth Hannagan, if you can prove that a Ruth Hannagan worked at our school, I will pay you 500 USD. I have this posted on the internet. It is a valid legally binding promise.
This Ruth Hannagan never worked at our school. We had a Miriam Fischer who worked at our school. The reason for a psuedo name is that we had tried to work an amicable solution with her missions board. My boss told me not to black list her and forgive her. I am still contemplating it. My boss asked to drop this mess, but seems that someone hasn't dropped it. As for slander? I really didn't want to give all the dirty laundry out in the open, but let me give the whole story and you decide - tell me what you would have done.
Ms. Miriam Fischer had a roommate. She was unusually close to her - They prefer each other's company - let just say they look like a couple. They have traveled, lived, and worked together for numerous years. Her roommate asked my boss for extra time to work and missions with the bar girls that were learning English at our school. My boss gave her time to do that, we later found out she was just going home and not meeting with them. She was contracted to work 20 hours weekly. Her hours were cut to about 12. I asked if she could work some more hours. She said she was to busy because she was helping with our orphans. I called the orphange to re-arrange times. They said she hadn't showed up for the last 6 months. The part about them not getting paid was due to this. They were supposed to come back after the Spring Festival holiday, they extended their vacation another week without notice. They called in sick, when confronted they said they had 14 allowable days of sick leave a year. Obviously, they were on salary. Also Miriams roommate was calling in sick continously on Fridays and Mondays. My boss had multiple cancelations because the teacher kept dropping classes. Due to these cancelations, the school didn't have the money to pay them. When I confronted Miriam's roommate, Miriam responded with a threat of getting her teachers to quit. They were all her friends that she had hired. She gave them sweetheart deals. Since, her roommate didn't want to work her contracted hours, they both gave me a letter of resignation, due to irreconcilable differences as they put it. This was 45 days before the end of their contract. Since, she gave me a letter of resignation, I was no longer obliged to house them or pay for their airfare or traveling expenses. As a courtesy, I contacted their missions board and told them they would have 30 days to move out of our apartment. Honestly, I felt like kicking them out on their asses for making good on their threat to walk out. We asked for our Work visa back because we need to give it back to the PSB, she refused and then their was this big fight about getting our documentation back. Finally, she turned in our Work permit to the HK consulate after she used it to get her new visa.
One of her sweetheart deal hires, had gone back to America, but after talking with Miriam, he also submitted a letter of resignation. He told us he was being nice to us because he knew we couldn't possibly afford to give him what Miriam had contracted him for. The deal was that good. I thought that was nice of him. I told him as a courtesy, he could stay on our Z visa for the year if he paid for it at cost. He was a new hire and only worked at our school for a month. He said no. he said that we should pay for it and allow him to work on it. Then I gave him my next offer. Told him you had 60 days to get a new visa, and the previous offer was no longer valid since it was rejected. He got angry with me and said, didn't like the way I did business. He said, he would file a complaint with the board of ministry if we didn't give it to him. I told him to go ahead and he did. He forgot he gave us his letter of resignation and technically he was indebted to us for breaking contract. We just let him go after he got off our visa. We paid him for 1/2 month salary for working a few hours.
Take a look at comments with a grain of salt. I know there are some horror stories out there, and some very true, but there are some teachers who probably couldn't get a job anywhere else. Truly unqualified individuals.
If you want a good view of the schools status, ask for e-mails of the teachers or talk to current teachers that they have.
As both Administrator and Teacher, the problems occur both ways. I had 3 teachers I let go due to unsatisfactory performance. 2 of the teachers finished their obligations with no problems and just didn't want to get involved in this mess. Sorry had to get rid of bunch of bad apples. When I first came to that school had 6 teachers there, 4 of them left with the previous manager 1 left after I got some more teachers and another left at the end of her contract. I have hired numerous teachers after that with much better results.
As for the previous manager, her version of teaching English was to read her romance novels while the kids watched a movie. Once in a while for a conversation class ok, but regular basis - says something different. I have let go of 2 other 2 teachers. One for showing up drunk with alcohol on his breath and slurred speech- he taught conversation - I gave him 30 days and multiple warnings before I let him go. I basically made sure he had another job before I cut him, the other for ditching class without notice. Is it too much to ask you tell us you can't do class in advance not 1 hour before class. This teacher came to class had a date later that night showed up for the first 3 but said she was to sick to teach the other one LOL
I think I take care of my teachers, I am laid back and treat them the way I want to be treated. I am also a teacher. I became a teacher administrator so I have seen it from both sides.
I didn't think it was fair for our school to get this kind of treatment. I have over 12 missionary teachers who you can refer to as reference. We trained them as teachers and taught them Chinese that have come through since Ms. Miriam Fischer has managed our school. Any school seeing this person watch out!!!! She poses herself as a Christian - She thought our local church was theologically wrong so she decided to hold her own services for her people. She has one of those power egos and is vengeful type. I wanted to black list her from China but my boss said to forgive her and let her go.
I am more than happy to give a list of my current e-mail addresses of my 10 current teachers that I have right now.
As for posing as a Christian group, you can talk to the orphange that we sponsor or the numerous teachers that we have trained as ESL teachers and given Chinese classes to if we are living up to our standards. I am an equal opportunity employer. I hire Christians, Non-Christians, Women, and various non native ethnicities. To be honest, the only teacher that screwed our school was a wolf in sheeps clothing. Her management nearly bankrupted the school. Basically, she told my boss, if you don't do it the way I want you to do it, I will close your school. Obviously, this soured relations with the Missionary Board that sent her, although I can't blame them. Her previous missions board let her go, not sure if the one she worked at kept her- I heard the let her go too.
My e-mail, if you want my current teachers opinions. Saiops@hotmail.com
Address to Jae Yang: Current Academics Coordinator, Grammar Teacher, MLA Writing Teacher, Phonics, Lexis, Conversation, and TOEFL/SAT Teacher.
Artemas Wang
- 2008-03-05
I am a teacher here at this San Jie, Havard English School. Simply put, this school is the best out there 110%. The administration is cordial, polite, competent, and warm; anyone who thinks otherwise is a pessimist and is therefore an inadequate teacher for this esteemed establishment anyway. Those doubting my credibility, please review the following:
3 year University of California, Irvine graduate.
Degree: Political Science
1 year employment at Heston and Heston -- Attorneys at Law.
Newport Beach, CA. USA
1 year employment at Wang Controls -- Engeering Imstrumentation
Walnut, CA. USA
As for Ruth Hannagan, who are you anyway?
Regards.
Jae Yang
- 2007-06-26
Hey anyone believing this bullshyt from disgruntled teachers, you can talk to anyone of our 14 foreign teachers that is currently working for me right now. I have another 6 who just left our school. They finished our contractual obligations with our school.
The teachers I screwed over, were doing that blackmail thing with our school. If we didn't adjust the schedules to fit their schedules, the manager and her roommate teacher threatend to quit and close our classes.
Guess what, they gave me a letter of resignation for forcing them to work 2 more hours. They thought working 15 hours a week was too much. They were contracted for 20 hours a week. Multiple absences on Friday night and Monday mornings got a bit too regular.
As for this Ruth Hannagan, she isn't even a teacher at our school.
I let 3 teachers go from our school, during the change of management tussel that occurred. 1 was the previous manager, her roommate, and another teacher that was hired by them.
I have multiple teachers that are working here now. Free to ask any of them, what it is like here since they are gone.
Our old manager and her roommate nearly bankrupted our school. Did I fire them, no they quit, got copies of their resignation. Did I pay them for violating their contract under blackmailing conditions, what do you think?
Be careful of this school. San Jie Foreign Language School (Also sometimes known as "Harvard" or "Havard" Foreign Language School) is located in Wang Jing Xing Cheng, Block 3, Building 314 Rm 101 in Chaoyang District of Beijing. They also have a branch office in the Jing Xin Mansion on the third ring road near Niu Ren Jie.
San Jie is owned and operated by Koreans. They claim to be a "Christian" school, at least as far as the owner is concerned. However, they have lost many teachers because they did not pay them. Not only did they not pay their teachers, but when the teachers exercised their contractual right to cancel the contract if their employer does not pay them, the school's reaction was to attempt all kinds of lies and threats to "punish" them. For some teachers, they attempted to steal their personal belongings and if they had not had the foresight to keep all the reciepts for everything they had ever bought, the school might have succeeded. The school also contacted various friends and relatives--whoever they could find--of the different teachers in an attempt to discredit them. They attempted to blackmail one teacher, telling that teacher that if they were paid, they would allow this teacher to keep the visa they had and remain in China. (This is illegal). They also promised this teacher all the money that was owed to them, by a specific date. This teacher refused to be blackmailed, and told them that simply what was owed was expected. The school immediately began accusing this teacher of "blackmail," attempting to accuse the teacher of trying to get them to let the teacher keep the visa, and give the teacher a one year extension on the visa. (This while the teacher was in the process of having the visa changed, in accordance with Chinese law). They have made all kinds of rude threats and demands that are not in accordance with China's law. Upon investigation with the Beijing Foreign Affairs Bureau and the Chaoyang District Foreign Affairs Bureau, it appears this school may have even had their license cancelled a year ago and is now attempting to employ foreigners illegally.
Be careful of this school. The managment are very friendly on the surface, but have proved themselves to be willing to lie, blackmail, slander, distort people's words and even make attempts to steal at a moment's notice.