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Q: Flag-raising Ceremony
Hi guys, hope some of you can share your thoughts on this one. I've been working at the same school for the last ten years. It's a good place to work, or it was a good place, until a new headmaster took over. He has been making many changes around the school. One of which involves getting the foreign teachers to attend the flag-raising ceremony every Monday morning. I'm reluctant to attend this because i feel it's really none of my business. Why should i stand to attention and listen to another countries national anthem!! Am i over-reacting? What would you do? Anyone had the same experience?
8 years 3 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Mr johnjay, I think you are over reacting.
Who cares? Certainly not the students and neither should you.
It is just a new hoop for you to jump through to make the new head feel powerful. Let him think that to make your life easy. Fighting it will only make them think you are a douche, which you are probably not, and he will find new ways to make your life more difficult.
It isn't as though you are pledging allegiance to a foreign country. Just treat it as a small gesture of respect for the country in which you are a guest. Nothing more.
I seriously doubt that the FEB would even care about this issue. And neither should you.
Call FEB in your Province, and tell them about your retarded boss.
Hotwater:
And what are they going to say? They'll be patriotic and support the nationalistic head.
I'd suggest you change the record....your current one is scratch and keeps repeating itself.
icnif77:
I guess, my comment was a bit harsh early in the morning. I find it very unreasonable to ask foreigner to attend raising of domestic flag.
OP would might need to change his job, if complain would be filled with FEB. Not worth it, after 10 years at the same place.
Mr johnjay, I think you are over reacting.
Who cares? Certainly not the students and neither should you.
It is just a new hoop for you to jump through to make the new head feel powerful. Let him think that to make your life easy. Fighting it will only make them think you are a douche, which you are probably not, and he will find new ways to make your life more difficult.
It isn't as though you are pledging allegiance to a foreign country. Just treat it as a small gesture of respect for the country in which you are a guest. Nothing more.
I seriously doubt that the FEB would even care about this issue. And neither should you.
It is a photo-op to give the school "face."
As iWolf said, it is not a major deal but you could play off the occasion by asking for time off in lieu (e.g.: four ceremony attendances per month = 1/2 day off w/pay).
Or, if there are enough FTs from various countries, suggest that it's only fair that each country gets to raise their flag with the anthem played as well - could make a day of it.
You are over reacting.
You also don't say if you are being paid for the time or not.
I'm split on this.
The flag raising ceremony - in ALL countries - is a sign of patriotism. We, clearly, are not patriots of China (even if we can be called "ex-patriots" of our own country). Therefore, attending such a ceremony and "showing respect" would be somewhat pointless. I don't think there should be a "love me, love my flag" mentality going on.
Also, this 'respect' being shown may be construed as something it's not.
However, not attending may be taken as a sign you really don't give a flying toss... and, of course, you'd be defying the new boss... Also, yes, in some ways, some respect ought to be shown, as much as you'd expect (or hope for) the same with regards your nation's flag & anthem.
I acknowledge, though, that discussing this logically is really a waste of time, and it really only comes down to face and childish ego...
Imagine if the boot was on the other foot and your countries schools had a flag raising ceremony with a foreign teacher who refused to attend. I'm guessing it wouldn't go down to well.
In my mind, attending doesn't neceserally mean anything. It's not groveling to the Chinese or anything like that, it's just normal. However, not attending almost seems like a consiouse decision to say "screw you" to the Chinese. I'd just suck it up and go.
Shining_brow:
That really depends on where you're from. In Australia, even most Aussies wouldn't attend :p And if a Chinese person was teaching, we'd completely understand - it's not their flag, they have no need to pretend to be patriotic. (most of us don't even know the national anthem past the first few lines :p)
ScotsAlan:
@shining. I honestly cant recall what the oz anthem is. The only time I hear it is when the olympics are on telly :-)
icnif77:
I agree with Shining. It's stupid to ask foreigner to attend raising of the domestic flag, but TIC.
Shining_brow:
@Scots - in that case, I'm surprised it hasn't been burnt into your brain already, given the number of times you must have heard it! 
ambivalentmace:
i have stood during a flag ceremony and sometimes i am asked about it, i simply say i have worked in several countries and it was expected and then i tell them a few of those country flags are not around anymore, this usually ends the conversation. if you really want to get under the skin of the new boss, tell him going to the flag ceremony is no problem and much easier than going to the japanese flag ceremony twice a day when your worked there and they only paid you one extra hour a day for the trouble.
Attend. About half-way through the anthem, turn around, drop your pants, and moon the flag. You will go down in History!
