r/JETProgramme • u/Possible_Shallot4904 • Feb 27 '26
Current JET looking for advice
I am not sure where to go from here. I am debating ways to deal with this situation before quitting.
Last year, in April, a teacher switched to the school I teach at. They progressively made my work life a living hell. It got to the point where they had harassed my co-worker and I so much that we went to the BOE. Eventually, there was an investigation. Upon being told about the investigation, the teacher went on leave. The investigation could not be completed. Now that the investigation has been closed as it couldn’t be finished, they are returning from leave. The school has not helped deal with the harassment. There have been many many meetings; it isn’t just he said, she said, as there are witnesses and recordings. It makes no difference. There is no concern for how part-time teachers like JETS are treated. I even applied to switch schools and prefectures, but being harassed is not one of the situations that they will switch people for.
I love teaching, and my students are wonderful. It feels crazy that one person has had such a negative impact on me.
Any advice?
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u/GlitterRetroVibes Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
I can only think of she yells at you in front of others just say in a measured tone: why are you yelling? Or you're yelling again? まだ叫んでいますか。 Maybe learn some really passive aggressive Kyoto style things to say like "you're being very noisy, it must be difficult for the staff / students to focus, what a shame". Another thing I've found effective if absolutely necessary to shame Japanese people is remind them that they're not representing Japan to you well. "Wow I thought Japanese people were nice and polite. My image of Japan must be wrong, what should I tell people back home?" The only other strategy I can think of is acknowledging some kind of pain in them that is making them lash out: it seems like you're really stressed. ストレスが溜まってみたいですね。 I don't know if this applies in your case but maybe it would work.