I have few problems in the classroom thanks to our reward system (when did learning start needing to be induced with carrots?), but the bullies still shakedown the younger kids for money, snacks, and toys leaving them shaken and in tears quite often. They are smart enough not to do most of it in the classrooms, or in front of the owners, so it happens in the stairwells, restrooms, and elevator.

A lot of these problems are caught on our classroom video cameras, but I think fear of lawsuits prevents a lot of good that could also be accomplished with the video footage. Like I said earlier, we had a family do some serious damage at the school and terrorize the kids and teachers, and the footage is being used as collateral to keep them away. I guess if it came out in a lawsuit, it could also damage the school’s “face” or reputation.

This works well up until middle school. By this point students know their lives are hell, and want to do nothing but sleep in class. As long as you don’t give them a hard time, they don’t give you a hard time.

It was rough for me dealing with these subjects back home in the states, but here I feel awful that my hands are tied and not being able to do anything about these situations.

My involvement happened when I stepped in between an irate adult male who was screaming and cussing at a child after tossing furniture and other items around the classrooms. I did not know about my lack of status and rights here had I been involved in the fight until later that evening when I was advised by many (including a lawyer) to leave before things get worse. This I could not do. My boss and his family are some of my best friends now, and my leaving was what this family wanted. To see the school suffer and close. Just the other day, one of these family members physically (bodily) ran into me as hard as they could to try and get a rise out of me. I grabbed the students I had been talking to in the street and ushered them quickly upstairs into our office and away from the situation.

Before this happened, I was planning to stick around for at least three years, but now I will try and finish out my second year and leave now knowing just how close I came to ending up in jail through no fault of my own.

If I had known about the judicial process in this country beforehand, I probably would not have come here. Finding out about it in this fashion has really made me sick, as has the ongoing situation involving this family. At least now, things have calmed down inside the school as the family knows that they will be sued (the great deterrent) if they return, but this doesn’t keep them from still harassing the kids and teachers in the street in front of the school.