Go Tell It on the Mountain

At last, the day I've been waiting for these past two weeks has come:

I have resigned from my position as a teacher in Taoyuan.

To a few of you, this will be old news, as I have solicited your advice during my recent troubles. But after giving my verbal resignation in Head Office this morning, in a meeting attended by Dave Roberts as well as my line manager, Jay, I am now fully free to relate everything that has led up to this day.

A bit over a fortnight ago, I had lunch with one of my adult students. Over lunch, he told me that Ruby had told him she wanted to fire me, and had asked him to do the deed if and when she completely made up her mind. He had refused to have any hand in such a business, he told her, but he told me what she had said so as to give me warning and the chance to consider what I might do.

I thanked him, and resolved then and there that I would have nothing more to do with Eve, Ruby, or the Taoyuan 8 Branch of Shane English School.

The matter could not be disposed of immediately, however, because I was due to leave on my second visa run the following week, and I needed to stabilize my situation in Taiwan first (at least for another 30 days). But I informed my line manager, Jay, of my decision the day he came to do my teacher observation, and he has been generally helpful and sympathetic in getting all of the arrangements made.

We were to have done this last Tuesday, but there was some mix-up about the schedule, and they didn't turn up at that meeting. So today, finally, it took place.

I did not get everything I wanted. But I got an early departure date--my contract specifies three months' notice, but I knew that, given my visa situation, Eve and Ruby would never hold me to that--literally this Saturday. I was gobsmacked (yes, gobsmacked is offically the official word of this blog), though this was not the most suprising turn of events.

Eve and Ruby had the temerity to show up with two attorneys and demand compensation for students I had allegedly "lost". Dave Roberts told them and their attorneys, in no uncertain words, that assessment for loss of students was expressly forbidden by my contract. I suspected as much--who would agree to teach anywhere if he had to pay for every student who was dissatisfied and decided not to continue lessons--but would never have had the presence of mind to say so. But the demand in and of itself was outrageous.

They also demanded that I not say anything about the school or its conduct with regards to my employment on this blog or anywhere else on the internet. Dave Roberts specifically referred to this as my "human rights" when I asked them, essentially, what my silence was worth to them. I asked for nothing more than flight money, for my flight into Taiwan and my flight home. They refused, because of my "attitude", and I made clear that I would say what I wished, where I wished, and to whom I wished, in consequence--that I would go tell it on the mountain if I so chose. And so I am doing.

Eve and Ruby wanted Head Office to supply a new teacher, without having to pay any additional recruitment fee. Dave Roberts stated categorically that this could be done only if it was shown that I had been properly managed, which had not been established at all. He mentioned specifically problems Shane had had with another franchise school five years ago that had completely mismanaged its teachers and done immense damage to Shane's professional reputation. I expect he did so to make clear that, from what I had revealed of the school's mismanagement, he considered their school to be fairly similar.

He asked me to go have a coffee, during which time I can only suppose he gave them quite a tongue lashing about all of the ways they had mismanaged the school. I saw the materials I had given Mark Riley about their mismanagement fluttering out of his binder as I left. While he naturally would not share the specifics with me (and I am uninterested in any case), it's clear they aren't going to get a new teacher for free. That brings a spot of joy into my life--at least it won't be easy for them to replace me.

Before I left, however, he indicated that I might be called back should any point of dispute arise. About an hour later, sitting in an internet cafe in Taipei, I got such a call.

No dispute had arisen, I found out, but Dave Roberts wanted to speak to me to offer some cover work in Taipei over the next couple of weeks (if there is any available), which could lead to my being a "floating teacher"--in Shane parlance, a teacher directly employed by Head Office who teaches at multiple branches--if they got good reports of my teaching. He clearly acknowledged that my inadequacies in the classroom were likely due to a lack of contact with other teachers and a lack of support.

Jay, my line manager, indicated he would be glad to help with lesson planning a bit during this transition period. I am sure I can turn this around, if I put my mind to it.

The only thing Dave Roberts would not guarantee was the cost of another visa run. But, provided things work out, I would have sponsorship for a proper work permit and be able to stay permenently or "permanently" in Taiwan.

But at least, I am free of Eve, Ruby, and all of their rigidity and incompetence. Every other time I've left an employer, it has never been with any sense of liberation or jubilation. But that is exactly what I feel at the moment.