Fired for socialising with students.

[kendalbren]

Hi all. I work for a small English conversation school in Tokyo which has recently been suffering financial difficulties.

Last week I had to have a meeting with my Japanese manager (a good guy) who asked me if I had been playing football with students outside of work hours. I answered "yes" as it was fairly common knowledge that several staff members had been doing so. Now rumour has it that the teachers involved will shortly be fired.

There is a clause in my contract which states that members of staff are not permitted to socialise with students outside of work hours. However, I know of the recent Robert Bisom case who was fired by NOVA for getting engaged to one of his students. He took NOVA to the Civil Court and the Judge ruled that the 'not socializing with students' clause is illegal. I have read that he (partially at least) won his case and was wondering if anyone knows any more information about this case.

If I can show some kind of precedent to this kind of case, I'm pretty sure I can scare the President of my company enough into not firing me.

Any further information such as web addresses about where to find information (partiularly on the Robert Bisom case) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[notoierunihon]

Listen, if you come to Japan you play by their rules or you go home. Got it? Why should you NOT be fired if you directly contravened a clause in your contract which you SIGNED. Why should you get special treatment?

[madmaxxam]

Listen, if you come to Japan you play by their rules or you go home. Got it? Why should you NOT be fired if you directly contravened a clause in your contract which you SIGNED. Why should you get special treatment?

Don't be a reactionary knee-jerking idiot. Contracts can be illegal, and this has been discussed before. If a contract contains a clause that is not allowed by law, even signing that contract does not bind you to the illegal clauses. A good example for this is the clause on many contracts stating that you need to give a rediculous notice time (~2 months) for quitting, while Japanese law only requires 2 weeks I believe.

Whereas I know nothing about the specifics of socializing with students, you obviously know/care little about Japan.

[kuro_kitty]

I've been warned about talking to students outside of work. As much as I'd love to be friends with some of my students, I do understand why the law/policy...whatever...exists. Imagine you are teaching a class with a friend student and another non-friend student. There may be a chance of favouritism etc, thus effecting all parties involved.

[notoierunihon]

Again, for all you people who missed it the first time:

THEIR COUNTRY, THEIR RULES, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

[kuro_kitty]

Thanks again for another fruitless response.

[madmaxxam]

Again, for all you people who missed it the first time:

THEIR COUNTRY, THEIR RULES, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Yeah, the point is the Japanese are breaking their own rules. Go back to elementary school and learn some logic.

[The Janken King]

I've been warned about talking to students outside of work. As much as I'd love to be friends with some of my students, I do understand why the law/policy...whatever...exists. Imagine you are teaching a class with a friend student and another non-friend student. There may be a chance of favouritism etc, thus effecting all parties involved.

yes possibly, but in fact some eikawas, (such as AEON) positvely encourage you to see students outside of class becasue bascially it is a value adding exercise (particulary if the gaijin teacher cant speak Japanese well - in effect it becomes another lesson)

also not that it sticks legally but at a discretionary level playing football with students is a lot different to some desperado gaijin `dating` his students

its up to gaijin i think at times to stand up where need be because the Japanese sure as **** dont! (I know of one `temporary` worker at my Board of Education who has been told because of her status she has no work accident cover AT ALL!)

[iwantmyrightsnow]

its up to gaijin i think at times to stand up where need be because the Japanese sure as **** dont! (I know of one `temporary` worker at my Board of Education who has been told because of her status she has no work accident cover AT ALL!)

Have her write to yamahara@generalunion.org

That is crap.