Topic: Legal action at Potisarn

[los_teacher]

Fair enough comments Nemesis - agreed on all counts.

[ThonburiTim]

Obviously both parties are at fault here -the teachers and the school.  The teachers started the fraud, the school let it fester and become infected.  Teachers who buy fake degrees, as far as I am concerned, have zero business calling themselves anything but liars.  Schools who keep such people on staff, as far as I am concerenced, have zero business calling themselves anything but scams.

As for how to solve the problem, it is as easy as drafting a document for ALL teaching applicants to complete and sign when they first visit the school that specifically authorizes the release of the required information and explaining that any applicant found to have engaged in educational fraud will be immediately dismissed for cause.  Let the candidate know via e-mail or in a phone call a day or two BEFORE the scheduled interview that he will be asked to sign such a document when he comes for the interview, and that the school does check the authenticity of all degrees, and those who have reason to fear will not show up.

Having a candidate sign this up front (and of course making sure you actually do the check) shows you mean business and will weed out most if not all fakes.  The no-show rate with no call or courtesy e-mail is already more than 50% during the interview process, and this will just give the people who are not truly qualified for the jobs being offered another reason to shut off the alarm and sleep off their hangovers.

[los_teacher]

That's a good question.

I would confront them.  Their reaction would determine my next course of action to some extent.

Most likely I would terminate them for cause.  I would do so discreetly and probably would not inform the authorities. 

I would suggest to the 'teachers' in question that they apply to positions at language schools and government schools where a degree isn't necessary.

[Nemesis]

I've split off posts dealing with degree verification to the TEFLWatch Lounge room and this thread:

http://www.teflwatch.org/forum/index.php/topic,1492.0.html

[ThonburiTim]

Again, in typical Thai fashion, Bangkok Area 3 has just sent a command to move the corrupt director of Potisarn to Chinorot.  Good for PS, because the director of Wat Nairong, who has been quite successful in managing his EP, will go to Potisarn.  Sad for Chinorot, because they will get a true nothing of a leader who makes selfish and thoughtless decisions.  And Chinorot actually has a good EP.  Let´s hope that the Potisarn director, who has done his damage to the once great EP at Potisarn and left it it ruins, will learn a bit from that debacle and not be as hard on Chinorot´s program.

The change will be in 2 weeks.  Amazing how quickly things happen when a school faces a law suit.  Probably now the parents will drop the suit and give time for the new director at PS to change things...

[anyonefortennis]

When, if ever, will they learn that giving someone the boot is an option?

A few years back I worked at a school where someone in the admin had be filtering large sums of money into a personal account, the school found out and slapped her wrist..........they didn't even ask for the return of the missing millions FFS, and in this case they didn't even move her to another school. Although given that the money was from the 'travel' budget (overseas holidays and the like) it probably served as much purpose as was originally intended.

Not wanting to kiss ass, but I think you, Mr. Thonburi, have done a grand job in reporting the facts as you've found them - please keep the info flowing.

[phatpharmer]

So much for my idea that the director would go down with the ship.  Note to all, a group of irate parents can move mountains and in this case can move an incompetent director (anyone know his connection to Fulbright?) to a new school.  The Director should have a hurricane named after him as he effortlessly destroys everything in his path.  Hurricane Director: "Coming to your school next!" 

I am quite curious how the new director will handle issues the parents raised.  Will the staff reign in having a new director?  Will the parents be pacified enough now to back down on their complaints on teachers' degrees?
             

[brian_q]

Well, this is Thailand... after all. The entire thread has been sent to several faculty members at Chinorot so at least they know what they are getting.

Brian