So, I've had tons of issues with my vice principle. I'm sure I've mentioned some of them before. But it's usually just things like, my co teacher will tell me that I'm supposed to get something, like a day off or be able to go home early or something, and then she'll tell me, "oh, the vice principle decided that you shouldn't be able to do that." So, I've never really been sure if she's really intentionally mean, or if it's just that I can't talk to her directly, so I don't get a full explanation.
But, I have heard other teachers mention that they don't like her. For example, my head teacher came in crying after having talked with the vice principle during one of these times when they were going to let me go home early. And they also mentioned that things were so much easier and casual while she is away on business trips.
Today, the new conversation teacher, who just started working here about 3 weeks ago, just told me that the vice principle is a "b----", and I said that that seems to be how most people think of her. She said that from the day she got here, the vice principle has been telling her that she's "unqualified" to teach because she doens't have a korean teaching cirtificate,even though she has a masters in teaching ESL from the US, where she lived for like eight years. Her English is better than almost any other English teacher here. But the principle continually reminds her that she is unqualified because of her lack of a particular piece of paper that says she's certified as a teacher. But the thing is, that her particular job is some kind of "supplimentary conversation teacher" kind of thing, so it doesn't require a teaching certificate. So, if the vice principle felt so strongly about it, then why didn't she require it in the first place. Well, the truth is, that it's not up to her, it's up to the district who hired her.
So, the conversation teacher just came into my room fuming, asking if I minded if she called someone in here (because anywhere else the other teachers would understand her, and she obviously wanted to let off some steam, and I wouldn't understand her anyway). Of course, I said no, I didn't mind, but I asked her what was wrong, and she just kept telling me that the vice principle was such a B-word. Apparently, she was supposed to have a day off tomorrow like the rest of the entire school does (except office workers, and stuff) because of Chuseok national holiday, and that it had been approved long ago. But today, she had asked if she could not have to supervise the mid-term tests next week, because she wasn't technically supposed to, according to her contract. The vice principle refused her, angrily, asking why she had a problem supervising the tests.
So, afterwards, the vice principle came up to her office, and in a raised voice and in front of everyone said that she was an "unqualified teacher", and that her day off tomorrow was no longer approved. For absolutely no reason. This is Chuseok holiday we're talking about, it's like Thanksgiving, and it's probably the most important family holiday on the korean calendar. So now, there's nothing she can do. I asked her if she could complain to the district about the vice principle, and she said: no, there's nothing she could do. Apparently their jobs are basically secure until they retire, and the district gives the principles and vice principles nearly limitless power over their own schools.
Luckily, she can't speak directly to me, and this is probably the reason that I've avoided most of her wrath, but occasionally it makes its way to me in various ways. It's really unfortunate, because everyone else at my school is really great, and it's probably the only thing that's keeping my experience here in Korea from being just perfect.
