Enduring To The End
We talked earlier about fighting the good fight and enduring through the trials and tribulations of life when I gave the quote from Mr McConkie. I think it bears mentioning again and some explanation.
The dogs barking at the heels are the trolls who want us to fail. Those that drop along the way are the people who sell themselves out. My goal has always been to help teachers and the destination has always remained the same, even though names may change and leaders may change. That’s why TEFL School Reviews is continuing the fight.
I have not given up and I will never give up.
TEFLWatch Has Been Forked
Filed under: Information, Protect Yourself, View from the Watchtower
All good projects eventually get forked. If someone stops a project or abandons a project, there will always be someone there willing to take on the project, if the project is a good one. The change allows a group to take this project off in a new direction and it allows me to ensure that teachers are looked after.
The new project is called TEFL School Reviews. It is very much a work in progress and a lot more work needs to be done on it. Thankfully, it will not be work that I have to undertake.
The new project has already put up a forum, The TEFL School Reviews Forum. They were given a database cleaned of personally identifiable information and they are running that ship. They were also given access to the rate this school posts, ratings and comments. I’ve always made it clear that if something happened and I was unable to continue this site, for whatever reason, I would make sure the community could continue it. And that’s what I’ve done.
What lies ahead for TEFLWatch? I relish the opportunity to get my opinion out there on TEFL issues without being the spokesman for a TEFL blacklist site. I may come up with opinions that run counter to the new project and they may have some very negative opinions of me from time to time, but that is part of moving forward. Helping teachers in dealing with bad schools is a project much bigger and more important than I am.
Is There Life Still Left In The TEFLWatch Forums
After closing the headache that was the TEFLWatch Forums, I have been asked on a frequent basis if there was any way that I would restore the forums for teachers to share their experiences. I have mostly answered that I am unable and unwilling to restart the forums. The truth is simple, they caused a lot more problems than they were worth.
But lately, a couple of users have approached me about helping them start up a TEFLWatch type forum site. It is intriguing. I wouldn’t have a part in the new site, but I would be able to ensure that information got out there and that teachers would have access to the information they need.
Hmmm, maybe there still is life left in the TEFLWatch Forums????
Put The Pressure On Them
It’s tough sometimes to deal with an employer who has been less than honest with you. I know when I was teaching TEFL, I had to deal with more than a few employers who were less than honest. This made it very difficult to get a fair shake and led to me founding this site. It is still something I keep in mind all the time.
I am asked to give advice to teachers from time to time who have had problems with their employer. They might not be getting their salary or they might not be getting the things promised in their contract. I advise them to put the pressure on the schools. They should be unrelenting in their pressure until such time as the employer relents.
The Road Forward For TEFLWatch
I have been asked my many people about the road forward for TEFLWatch, especially doing the latest interview with Bangkok Phil of Ajarn.com. I do know that other TW type sites have been started, but I don’t know if they have the style and staying power like TEFLWatch does and did.
I am negotiating with a new team that wants to start up a watch site and I am considering whether or not I will pass some of our data for them to use on their site. I want to maintain the integrity of the user information. From the literally hundreds of emails I have gotten over the last week, I understand how important it is for teachers to have a place where they can make their voice heard and I will stop at nothing to ensure that teachers have that voice. I want to thank all of you for your support.
TEFLWatch continues to provide school ratings and we will continue to provide you with information on how to improve your life and avoid making mistakes. Everything I do is aimed at helping you.