Hi Shadow,

My apologies for not replying before, but yes, we are staying. Ontario is getting ready to go on strike (particularly my home board of Durham as one of the 7), and we just think we can get a better education for our kids here (though the workload is tough).

Sigh, yeah I thought that would be the answer. It's a little frustrating because many of the Master's Degrees I've looked at are just warmed-over Bachelor of Education degrees and its hard to pour yourself into meaningless work that you've already done.

Anyways, onwards and forwards, we still love our decision and wish all the best to you and Mrs. Shadowjack!!

Hi Folks,

Just a general question and I apologize beforehand if my presumptions are incorrect or my situation is not clear. I have a 4-year degree (Bachelor of Arts) with a double-major in PE and history, in addition to a fifth year Bachelor of Education (teachable areas are Social Studies and PE) from Canada. It is my experience that most of my American compatriots achieve the equivalent of my Bachelor of Education in four years, and then usually complete a Master's Degree in their fifth year. Obviously I have many more university credits than the typical American teacher with a four-year degree but we are getting paid the equivalent. Is this a normal situation in most international schools? It seems we are being penalized slightly for a more strenuous teaching requirement in Canada and with my home province of Ontario now requiring a four-year Bachelor degree (with two teachables) and a two-year Bachelor of Education program, this disparity will only grow in the future.

Thanks!!

We found Toronto to be mostly ME schools.

As a person who works at one of the "Faith" Schools in Korea, I would say it is a combination of history (Seoul Foreign School), demand, and offering a pretty good education (YISS). One can't also negate that Christianity has grown in Korea and is popular among the elites here (though how deep the devotion is might be another topic). Seoul International School is a rather large, secular school with a good academic record (I worked there for four years), but it isn't always the best place for kids who are not ethnically Korean (though a darn good group of students to teach!!)

We're happy at YISS (but it is Christian), and did also enjoy our four years at SIS (which isn't Christian)...one thing to take into consideration is if you have kids. Most of the "international" schools have mostly Korean students, which is great for you as a teacher, not so good for your kids.

We are on our second stint in Seoul and can highly recommend it as an exceptionally safe city.

Have had many friends at JIS and the housing has always been exceptional, though Jakarta is not everybodies' cup of tea. We live in Seoul in an apartment, but it has three bedrooms and the neighbourhood is quiet at night.

I"m working at one of those "Christian" schools and wouldn't advise you lying about your faith. Our school, and the other Christian schools, have a very specific mission in mind with education, which would be difficult for you to fulfill if you are not a believer (I'll leave the harsh comments about Christian schools alone). There is plenty of choice for non-Christian teachers at schools in Korea (as a matter of fact there are a ton of international schools here in general). I would look at SIS, KIS, Dulwich...there are also the DODs schools if you are American.

We went to Toronto and thought that we were pretty competitive, but alas came out with nothing. The fair in Toronto is pretty small and we felt that having kids was a bit of a disadvantage (at Boston as well), but we love them regardless and are now enjoying our time in Seoul with them. I got this job through a SKYPE interview.

A follow-up question (I hope I"m not hijacking the thread), but I met with my financial advisor today and he is having a bit of difficulty with the mutual fund companies and their resistance to allow us to invest once we're out of the country. I will take it that most people will send half their paycheque home (a wrong assumption?), that they probably don't let it just sit in the bank (therefore investing it) and that most Canadians desire to be non-residents. I'm curious to know what people are doing with their money sent home to Canada because last time I was overseas I just gave my mother power of attorney, sent the money home, and she invested it no problem. Is it more complicated or did I just get lucky last time?

Thanks!!

For what it is worth, we interviewed with the school but just couldn't afford to make the sacrifices financially that employment would have entailed.

Thanks!!

How many types of choices are there? A choice is a choice whether I'm trying to decide what to order at McDonalds or I'm trying to decide what is the best method of educating a child. While some have different consequences/ramifications, there is still the element of weighing the pros/cons and moving forward with the corresponding consequences whether we weigh that for personal gain, what's best for the community, etc..

You can certainly relinquish your beliefs in the American education system when becoming IB trained. If the system is not "student-centered" you will have to make a choice on whether you move ahead or reject it outright. Most of us will probably use a hybrid of different systems that work given the circumstances of where and who we teach.

I think the hard part of this argument is that we all will make choices and have to to move forward in life. Its the consequences that most of us get hung up on and the part that most of us don't want to deal with. If I am Muslim and want to work in a Christian school I will have to make choices (and each comes with consequences):
a. don't work there
b. lie about my religious beliefs
c. convert

While none of these choices are ideal, who said life had to be perfect?

Thanks!!

Actually I don't think it is much different (if I can play Devil's advocate).

I can [b]choose[/b] to go get IB-trained, I can [b]choose[/b] to become a Christian. I am under no obligation, particularly if I don't agree with the underlying assumptions of either. Both come with consequences however, and to pretend that they don't smacks of stubborness or naivety.

Thanks!!

After all our rejections at IB-schools at Cambridge (I'm AP-trained), I don't know how people can possibly complain that they can't get hired at a Christian school.

In regards to putting the learner at the center of learning, that is definitely a controversial aspect to the IB-philosophy (and yes, it is very much a philosophy/worldview) and worthy of some well thought-out debate.

Thanks!!

Hi Dawson,

Its probably a good idea to stay away from this type of school, because both sides would not see eye-to-eye. To stereotype however Christians to be monolithic in their ways of seeing things really misses the diversity (and yes, the huge disagreements) within the kaleidoscope of the Christian world. As educators, we owe more than stereotypes to our students, a point of grace I would hope you would be willing to extend to any group.

Thanks!!