But he should say that he is a manager.

Okay, I'll say it . . . I am not a manager. Someone, somewhere says I'm a "manager" and 12 people suddenly believe it? I'm a full time teacher in a department in a school. I get paid for teaching a variety of language arts (Spelling, Phonics, Reading, Reading comprehension, writing, grammar, oral English, etc.), Math, Science, Art, Computer word processing, Dramatics and Music . . . to one group of students all day, every day. In my "free" time, I create and keep organized the yearly order for all the textbooks our department needs every year. As we are growing by two classes each year, that is certainly a daunting task, but I do it happily. I also order other teaching and art supplies to last us for the next school term. My only "managerial" chore is to help the department director observe and offer feedback, mentoring, and advice to new teachers. Believe me, the school recognizes good teachers, average teachers, and totally "oh-my-god-we-hired-that?!?" teachers. They don't need much help from me. I do set the curriculum for our department and the school ultimately has to approve it. For example, our 5th grade next term will do away with their twice a week "Spoken English" class because most of the students are quite fluent now. We are switching to World Geography, physical and cultural.

Here's what I don't do: I don't hire new teachers and I certainly don't fire teachers. If you want to know the truth, most "angry" teachers that have been talked about here are USUALLY given the opportunity to finish their contracts in whole. Some decide not to return on their own accord, some are not asked to return based on their performance. There have been a few in my time there that do leave in mid-contract either of their own volition or the school asks them to go (usually after they've been "sick/hungover" for the 12th or 13th time or after they've slapped a school official in the face - - oh, well that 98 pound woman must have been asking it from that 6'2" man, right?). One REALLY has to be a major screw-up for the school to ask them to leave before the end of a contract. (PS: Not all our teachers are "angry" teachers - - we have/had many, MANY contented teachers who have actually posted their thoughts here and elsewhere. Really? How did we miss those? Oh, they must have all been from me under an alias! As if I actually have the time to run from computer to computer, IP address to IP address and post the massive amounts of positive posts in all these many threads! See below.)

I don't write contracts. I don't help the school decide what to put into a contract. I don't negotiate salaries. Wait, I lied - - I do negotiate one salary and one contract . . . mine. I don't deal with housing or housing issues. I've recommended exactly one teacher to this school and have passed along a contact email to maybe three others. I don't set school rules or policies. I don't plan the menu in the school cafeteria. I don't suffer fools gladly. I don't drink and I don't do drugs. I only have one name on this and one other EFL forum (Dave's ESLcafe if you want to check me out). I have asked for one post to be put at Raoul's China Saloon and it's ALSO under the name kev7161 (see, my name is Kevin and my birthday is 7-1-1961 - clever, eh?). I have the same name at Wizard Magazine's website forum as well (a website for those into comic books and comic-book related items, like movies). I'm not Jerome, or teacher@sfls.com (or whatever) or any of the other dozen or more posters that support me and/or my posts. But I do appreciate their comments. I would think the names "Turino" and "Turnoi" would be much more highly suspicious than anything else. I don't pretend I'm a woman posting with a woman's name. I don't pretend I'm French when I come from New York City (I don't come from NYC, I'm from Kansas). I no longer run a Pizza Hut but I still eat there from time to time (have you seen their menu lately here in China? It's really diversified these days!).

I do get small monthly and larger twice yearly bonuses from my school if they feel I do my job well. I get awards from my school honoring my teaching skills and work ethics. I get a good salary from my school and I seem to be appreciated by most parents whose children I have taught. I do get squeals of joy when I run into any of my students out in the world: "Mr. Kevin!" and then a run up and hug.

I am not a perfect teacher. I am not the best teacher. I feel I am a good, solid, dependable teacher working for a good, solid, dependable school. I get angry at my students but I also laugh with my students and have a good time with them. We sing, we have parties, we have good student-centered activities and group work. In this final week of school my students are giving puppet shows based on Aesop's fables. Also, they had a take-home Science project based on classifying groups of animals within the vertebrates or invertebrates groups.

If you will notice, I have listed my email address link on most all of my posts here. Not one person has bothered to email me and say, "so, what's the REAL skinny on all of this hoopla?" and that's fine. Form your opinions, believe what you think you know and then state them as if they're facts. Slam me and "my" school and the other positive posters here and elsewhere and then slap each other on the backs for "job well done!". I'm guessing that most who have followed these absurd little posts have been shaking their heads in wonderment that there are some real lunkheads out in the internet world. My final thought is that some of these mean-spirited people are just a little envious with those of us that are making a good living in this difficult EFL/ESL world. Now, if anyone REALLY wants to communicate with me, shoot me an email and I'll be happy to get to know you one-on-one. Good day and good-bye.

Kevin