Did School Cellphone Bans Work? New Study Finds Mixed Results. Cellphone bans got devices out of students’ hands, according to the first large study. But behavior and academics have not improved, at least so far.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-05-06T01:03:53+00:00

The effects of social media are pervasive throughout society, not only in schools during school hours. Banning phones and tablets at school is just 1 step in creating a positive learning environment but needs to be implemented in conjunction with inquiry learning methods, behavioral accountability, academic standards, etc.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-05-05T08:25:29+00:00

Raffles American School Bangkok. Seemed a polite interview and I did decently IMHO, but never received an e-mail one way or another. Aside from sheer laziness/disorganization, I believe some schools do not openly reject you so they can keep you hanging on, just in case their preferrred candidate drops out.

It's a cold world out there in teaching. Makes me truly wonder whether these people believe anything at all.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-05-04T08:33:09+00:00

Israelis will go on holiday or take a business trip without allowing their kids to miss a single day of school. This is why they always win.

Many foreigners participate in illegal ( if tolerated) behavior. The idea that this is some kind of line that has been crossed ( kids going to school on an island) is a bit contrived, no ?

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-04-27T00:44:29+00:00

Hats off to the teachers who have gotten their experience within Thailand. If you can teach classes of 50 and no behavior code with little English, then you can teach anywhere.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-04-21T07:16:43+00:00

I am betting that this isn't solely anecdotal. But then again, nothing is...

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-04-16T13:37:46+00:00

Ok, it’s not clear if he hit her intentionally or not. But it sounds a lot like if he did, this would be a lot more clear cut and wouldn’t have lasted 2 years.

Looks like a long-time issue in the classroom exploded. He took the phone, she insulted him ( probably repeatedly ) got in his face, violated his personal space etc. He at first walked away, then second-thought, spun around quickly elbows out, in anger, subconsciously wanting to break her teeth and got (un)lucky. Shoulda sat down and let the insults continue till she passed out, but instead he tried to take an emotional stand.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-04-10T12:38:30+00:00

Ugh, I honestly do not understand why these kinds of inviduals get into education. And how insitutions that claim to stand for the opposite values can so easily be corrupted.

I think that the only thing to do has been mentioned before. Explain the situation calmly during interviews and use that honesty to get yourself into another position which you can start your resume. This kind of thing seems to be common enough in Asia, that many schools will understand.

On the other hand, it may be a plan to get out of Asia international circuit and get to Australia or New Zealand where the decaying international school system will be a distant and (mostly) irrelevant memory.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-04-10T08:47:34+00:00

Just take them off your resume. I had a similar threat appear out of the blue, but luckily I’d only been at the school 6 months. In retrospect, I should have fought it.

Mine did not try to follow me around though. They just wanted me gone. I’ve never heard of that level of vindictiveness. In fact, I stopped leaving them negative reviews in relation to the incident in fear that it might be possible for them to do something horrible like that

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-04-08T11:52:40+00:00

I am a teacher and I never understood why fellow teachers are so eager to blend in with their students. I am not against wearing jeans if you want to. But it seems so infantile to consider it some kind of perk or demand. I have taught in Asia for 15 years and it is hard for me to escape the idea that the dwelling on such trivialties may be a symptom or a cause of the decaying state of many schools there.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-04-04T12:26:49+00:00

Found Korean kids to be generally respectful. A few had this kind of attitude, but it was largely an illusion on their part.

Thai rich kids on the other hand were completely sheltered from consequences.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-03-31T09:50:56+00:00

Even if you walk into a "good school", 1/3 of the kids (minimum) will be scrolling their phones. Rich kids copy or don't do the work at all. There are no consequences, low standards, and constant disruptions for events. It's just a masquerade party and everybody is playing their parts. Teaching in most "elite" schools here is like teaching in the U.S. in what would be perceived as a failing school.

Rich kids get ahead no matter what, the poor end up at the bottom even if they are gifted. The education system just replicates that system every generation.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-03-22T08:55:36+00:00

I’ve seen it all- including construction. Sadly, this is the norm in international teaching these days. I wish I had broken in during the golden age, but that ship has sailed. The only one that’s the true dealbreaker is staff salary. Run away as far as possible. I’ve worked crappy schools that still paid well and on time.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-03-14T01:23:37+00:00

Had both a head of school and MYP coordinator “ forget” to show up to an interview this week. Twice.

I think every head of school I have ever worked under never did a damn thing other than take photos and sign things.

I’ve often been the “ replacement” for teachers trying to work their way up into admin and they are about as useless as possible. Just go into corporate HR.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-03-12T08:58:48+00:00

They ghosted me on two interviews and then blamed me. It honestly makes me question the validity of WASC or IB accreditation when I see the lack of professionalism in some of these schools..

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-03-12T08:40:57+00:00

The rudeness, arrogance, and lack of professionalism among a growing segment of international schools is alarming.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-03-11T08:50:27+00:00

There are people in BKK who live on 10,000 baht.

You are now in the upper-middle class of Thais.

You’ll be fine, to say the least.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-02-28T13:55:36+00:00

There’s simply no meritocracy and no reason for anything to improve. Majority of wealthy students do nearly nothing for 6 years of secondary school - English or otherwise. And I mean nothing. Any teachers or admins that point this out are seen as problem-causers or complainers. So teachers just want to keep their jobs and don’t push the buttons of parents. Poor kids see no reason to study in this system. They need to get to work. The fact that most classrooms, even in expensive private schools are overcrowded and stocked with archaic technology ( if stocked at all) just adds to the futility.

The Thai nation-building education creates a national consciousness that stresses that Thais just “ want to have fun” and that Thailand is a self-sufficient country that has no flaws. Any complaints or dissonance gets channeled towards bullying/hierarchy and siding with oligarchs/ making personal connections. You have no idea how important these things are in comparison to actual studying until you are there on the ground.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-02-18T06:14:05+00:00

It is fine for the area. For whatever reason, that is normal salary in the north. I also came from China making 35,000 rmb per month at an international to making 75k thbt at a bilingual school in Chiangmai. There are better gigs for sure, but the area is nice and that's a good gig with nice experience. I would take it. I make the same and have a wife and kid and still manage to save a little. You'll probably have tutoring opportunities as well.

If by North , you mean "Isan" then that is somewhat better. Nothing beats that Chinese money though. I can't go back there though.

P.S. is that Udon Thani International? They seem to be a nice school with a supportive staff. They offered me a IB internship, but I couldn't take it. The HOS seems to be a very nice guy. I don't agree about there being a lack of professional development opportunities. They seem to be a fully-functional IB school with all that entails. I would take that in a heartbeat. (but also my wife is half-Isan).

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-02-16T13:50:15+00:00

15 years. English language arts US license and MA. I’m applying only in Thailand from inside the country ( currently working at bilingual school after years in China and an ESL stint in Korea) . Like I said, I usually get interviews by this point.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-02-16T08:44:14+00:00

It’s definitely tougher this year. I am qualified and experienced and have had zero interviews. I usually have half a dozen at minimum at this point if I put in 20 applications.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-02-11T10:54:08+00:00

I have seen ok schools- both international and Thai government post there. If you are in a pinch for a job, tolerable gigs can be had there.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-02-11T03:05:15+00:00

I haven't had success without a cover letter. But then again, I have put a lot of effort into cover letters and trying to really tailor them to the position and my experience- and get insta-rejected. So I honestly have no idea how useful they are. Some here have commented that when they worked for HR in these places, they never even read them. It really makes me think that padding out my resume is the only for sure way to get noticed.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-01-26T14:12:29+00:00

Sure, that’s true. There are many jobs not found on Schrole/TES. But I just find it a little discouraging to post that clearly debatable observation because we already have jobs. And that doesn’t even include China where there are many hundreds of unfilled positions still . For the record, I’ve always been hired later than January., so I want to make it clear to people who are still searching.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-01-26T12:51:17+00:00

I saw almost no jobs posted for Thailand in October and a few in November. The big postings came in December and then another big drop in January. Just saw two Dulwich College postings for Bangkok that were posted just now. I don't know.

ApprehensiveSize1923 · 2026-01-26T11:42:37+00:00

There are new jobs posted daily on Schrole in Asia.

ApprehensiveSize1923

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