Beware. The head teacher said if I left, they'd look for another teacher in HeFei, since the agency I work for won't do anymore business with them. None of the teachers like this headmaster, and wouldn't sit at the same table with him at a wedding we attended. The students all laugh when they see him because he always looks angry. It's a famous school, but it's been living off of it's old rep, but not living up to it.

  Sounds to me like you got stung. Don't reckon there's much you can do about it but move on and learn from experience.

maybe something is wrong with me (pre-coffee) but you don't state clearly what is in your contract and what is not in the contract. you don't state whether they made you do those things as part of a new contract. the way you phrase things sort of seems to be twisting the truth. " they decided to make us move off campus" if it was in the middle of your contract, they couldn't make you. (unless your contract stipulated "no guests" or they must give permission) and you were always free to find another school. and i don't know what in your head but if you are not living on campus why do you expect them to keep paying you a food allowance?

"Beware. The head teacher said if I left, they'd look for another teacher in HeFei, since the agency I work for won't do anymore business with them. None of the teachers like this headmaster, and wouldn't sit at the same table with him at a wedding we attended. The students all laugh when they see him because he always looks angry. It's a famous school, but it's been living off of it's old rep, but not living up to it."

this seems to be more name calling than any factual proof of cheating you out of the food allowance. and in your 2 postings you never state that they violated the contract. you seem to be angry that you can't have your cake and eat it too. (you said they will reimburse you monthly for the apartment, have they renigged on that?)

Attention all other expats: just because some expat claims they have been cheated by a school does not automatically mean they have been cheated. 

tell me what clause in your contract you think they violated. 

telling us that the students all laugh at the headmaster, seriously are we all 12? students are a great judge of character (they still attend the school and they still pay money to the school) give me alll your money and you can laugh at me too.

For those who have problems with comprehending English:

1. My contract states clearly the school would pay 500 RMB per month, which they have done the whole 2 and a half terms. Now that I'm married they've decided not to.

2. The agency will not work with them again because the school is breaking the contract by refusing to continue paying the food allowance, besides being difficult to work with iin the past to get decent flooring for my apartment.

On the positive side, my students and there parents love me. Many students call me Dad and Daddy, and my wife Mom and Ayi. And no, I didnt' "carefully" nor intentioally craft this post to omit key facts. I'll tell you any other facts you think you should know. Or you can accept the job, and see the kind of accoommodations they gave their previous teachers, all from Africa. They had me live in a hotel for 3 weeks while they prepared the apartment for me, because, they said the "flat' the previous teachers had wouldn't be suitable for me, an American. But if you like, "you can have a try." Good luck.

The contract also states that the school will provide a fully furnished apartment on campus or off campus. They preferred me to live on campus before I got married.
When we were told by the head teacher that the headmaster wanted us to move off campus, he also said the school would "of course" continue paying the rent and following the contract as the agency requires. And that's the only way my agency would agree to the move. But after we moved we told told the new decision. Yes, I believe ths was their plan all along--rush us to move out, the apartment owners would require the full year's rent up front, then we'd have to agree to anything. Then they wanted my decision about accepting this new arrangement right away, because they want the appliances back quickly. No problem, we're buying our own things.
Until last winter, I was the only foreigner residing here. Now there are 2 of us. We both love this city. Yes, I'm not one of those complaining expats that hate China. I love my life in China. I love teaching here. I have a wonderful wife, sweet in-laws and other good friends. And we're having much success with our summer classes at a friend's training school.

There was nothing in the contract mentioning marriage. Summer is when we sign a new contract. Up until now, nothing was ever changed from the original. And this decision about moving was not part of a negotiation of a new contract, as far as I've been told by the agency. They haven't given up, and will contact the vice headmaster next week, possiblly in an effort to keep me working here at least one more year. Actually, they've offered to move me to another school every summer I've been here because of, as they've said, the headmaster being so stingy. 

Oh, hell no! That's nothing new here in China..the Chinese trying to rip off foreigners. I echo pogger's words..if all else fails go see the PSB ASAP!

Good luck!

Thanks to all of you for the advice. GuillinRat, I feel the same. I could never trust working for them another year. My reason for continuing has always been my students and teacher friends. But I'll continue living here.

The head teacher said he never was given a reason, but this week they said that the other teachers who marry will expect to be able to remain living at the school. But that excuse doesn't fly, because they don't have the same provisions for Chinese teachers. Single or married, they have to get their own place from the start. 

This is the 110th anniversary of the school, so they're rushing to finish some major reconstruction anticipating many officials visiting. For such a famous school, the playground was in terrible condition. But the headmaster's unfair dealing with me will overshadow the praise he imagined he'd get for finally using the money to make long overdue repairs. 

" But the headmaster's unfair dealing with me will overshadow the praise he imagined he'd get for finally using the money to make long overdue repairs. "

​what planet are you on? you think you are that important?

here is why i'm critical of you. going online and posting negative info about a business or a person is serious. especially here in china, many expats rely heavily on the first hand experience of other expats. so using that avenue to ruin a schools reputation just because you di not carefully evaluate the details of a re-negociated contract. (you said it yourself , you and the recruiter agreed to the whole move off campus, but you claim they made you!) 

"After I married, they decided to make us move off campus... " 

" And that's the only way my agency would agree to the move. "

​You contradict yourself. when you agree to the move you are agreeing to making changes in your contract. and on top of it all you relied on the agency to look over the details. 

here's my proof. have you ever requested arbitration? (why not mention that in addition to all the irrelevant info you mentioned) i bet you haven't because you know you do not have a leg to stand on. you will not go to the psb because you know the school is actually right. 

​don't post negative stuff about schools simply because you have an ax to grind. i have posted negative stuff about a school, you know what i did i posted the proof. all you posted are your opinions and no proof what so ever. you know you are in the wrong so you post nonsense like the students laugh at him, my students love me, the playground is in terrible shape. what does that have to do with your issue? your trying to manipulate people in to thinking bad about him and the school to cover for the fact that they actual are following the contract and you want more than you are entitled to .

Please read your employment contract which may tell you whether their no payment of your allowance is right or wrong. As provided by the Labor Contract Law, a written employment contract is a must for your offering work to the school. If they violate the contract, you may cancel it and claim the economic compensation the amount of which may be high, as the case may be.

Hopefully you have had your dispute with the school perfectly settled.