Dear
Dr. Spilchuk,
I am a teacher
who signed a contract before all the difficulties experienced
by the female administrator from Al Bayan International School.
Though I will not be working for that school, should I be deeply
worried about my own job and safety? With the latest declaration
that 95 contracts will not be issued for ex-pat administrators,
what about regular teaching positions? What is to happen to
us? Are we to experience similar things? Would teachers receive
concrete support form their administrators this coming year
or little if we are not Kuwaiti? Can you respond to the concerns
for general teachers coming there?
Thank you,
Freddie
Dr.
Spilchuk's Reply
Hi Freddie,
The questions you ask are ones ISR has considered with great concern.
My short answer to this serious issue is that I suspect life in Kuwait
will continue in the coming year as it has in the past at the various
International Schools. Teachers will teach; students will learn; parents
will consult. The key difference, I believe, may be a growing attitude
of dissatisfaction with, and possibly even aggressiveness and discrimination
towards Western teachers as a result of the Minister’s ban on
private Western school administrators and the Katherine Phillips situation
that has recently blown in the press.
I suspect this attitudinal change
will become more obvious over the coming year. It will not likely be
readily obvious in the fall of 2007 at the various private schools.
In fact, there may be an immediate move to downplay the situation in
order to have Westerners feel safe and at home in their schools. The
Kuwaitis are astute business people. I believe they understand that
without Western teachers, the private schools will simply disappear.
However, it is clear that there will be a strong push now to begin
replacement of Western administrators with Kuwaiti Administrators,
and at some point, Western teachers with Arabic staff. I can assure
you that this change will certainly impact how the schools are run
and, therefore, the comfort level Western teachers will have in teaching
within these schools.
Your question regarding staff
support for Western teachers in the coming year is very critical.
Again, I suspect this
will depend upon each school, each administration team, each Board
of Directors and each owner but certainly, notice has been served
upon Western staff that common Western practices such as in-school
suspension will not be tolerated in Kuwait. What other practices
may come to
light that also cross over
accepted Kuwaiti culture remain to be seen.
Regardless, a precedence has been set. We understand
now that while the Katherine Phillips situation was not the first
time a Western teacher has faced charges in Kuwait, this was the
first time the situation became so public. The follow-up travel ban
that was placed upon Katherine after she left the country, which
extended to the entire GCC, was in and of itself a strong statement
to Westerners. Not only can and does the Kuwaiti government have
the power to control your movements within its own borders; it also
has the power to control your movement throughout the Gulf. This
whole situation certainly leaves open to question and concern the
status of the regular classroom teacher when a junior school administration
is not safe working in this local.
As to what you should do? Consider the fact that
the world is open for you to explore as an ESL teacher. There are
thousands of schools in hundreds of locations waiting for you with
open arms. I have to wonder why anyone would choose to explore life
as an ESL teacher in a potentially unsafe location.
Take Care and Best to You,
Barbara Contact
Dr. Spilchuk with your response to this month's column
|
