An appeal to TEFLers everywhere
I would be grateful if you could help me and TEFLers everywhere by sparing ten minutes to read this and do one of the actions suggested below
Some background: 2 weeks ago a certain Paul Lowe of Windsor Schools/Windsor TEFL came out of nowhere and into my life by threatening to sue me and the owner of the site my blog,TEFLtastic, is on. Obviously boosted by the success this effortless method had in shutting down Sandy McManus’s TEFLtrade blog and Wally Windsor’s site, he didn’t even think it was worth spending a few minutes checking what TEFLtastic had to say about him before firing off a threatening email. I can say that with full confidence because before I reprinted his email mentioning legal action there was not one reference to Paul Lowe or Windsor Schools on my blog.
So, why should you care? Apart from the specific loss of a couple of blogs, I would argue that there is a major principle at stake here, one that could affect all of us and one that we are approaching a critical period with.
The TEFL world on the Internet is rapidly changing from one where a quick Google search can bring up a full and colourful range of views from teachers, students, trainees and the occasional crank, to one where any TEFL related searches will find you yet again on Cactus TEFL or i-to-i TEFL. My accidental brush with Mr Lowe has helped me come up with a plan to tackle that loss of our influence. Whether it will be a successful last stand or not I can’t say, but here’s how to go out with our guns blazing:
My proposal is to make a lesson of Mr Paul Lowe of Windsor Schools/Windsor TEFL that other school owners and TEFL training organisations can learn from by making sure that everyone who searches for him on the Internet hears what we have to say, and making sure there are enough of us saying it that he has to give up the use of unjustified threatening emails to silence us. As diversity of voices is the whole point, I won’t even suggest what you could say about him, but here are some simple and time efficient ways of using this opportunity to show the TEFL big boys we won’t be gagged:
- Paste this and/or your own comments into an email and send it to everyone you know, especially people in TEFL
- Leave a brief message of support here or anywhere else he or his school get a mention
- Google him or his school and only click on the pages that give an independent viewpoint
- Give links to such pages in your blog, MSN page, Facebook page, email signature etc.
- Paste this post and/or make a comment in your blog with suitable tags, or in any of those other places mentioned above
- Start a new thread on this topic in TEFL and other forums
- Start a suitably titled new blog with info and links on Paul Lowe and Windsor TEFL-it takes literally 5 minutes to set up a free blog on Blogger or Wordpress,and if I can anyone can!
- Write to Paul himself at paul@windsorschools.eclipse.co.uk and let him know what you think
I hope I have convinced you that by making our voices heard in this way we can all benefit in the longer term, or at least that I am genuine in my attempts and worth 5 minutes of your time to help.Any help at all would be much appreciated
Thanks
Alex Case, TEFL teacher and blogger.
TEFLtastic blog- ‘All the truth that’s fit to teach’- www.tefl.net/alexcase
March 14th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
[...] to add to the potential google hits here’s a complete cut’n’paste of an article written here, which all started off here after a completely unwarrented threat of legal action. I would be [...]
March 14th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Consider him blogged: http://boredlaura.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/lending-a-hand-to-teflers/
March 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Thanks Laura
March 14th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Let’s all get behind this and tell the world about Paul Lowe of Windsor Schools and Windsor TEFL.
When I taught for him a few years ago, I asked why teachers were being encouraged to mark students as present when in fact they were absent - some almost never came to lessons, but were still being helped to apply for student visas through the home office! There was no answer to my question except a muttered threat.
That seems to be the standard response from Paul Lowe when anyone questions his grotesque behaviour. At least it’s all out in the open now, and potential teachers and trainers can see it in black and white.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:44 am
It’s catching, this Paul Lowe virus. There will be several more anti-Windsor TEFL blogs appearing in cyber space over the next few weeks. I’ll keep you all updated. Watch this space for further news of the Windsor Weasel Euthenasia Committee’s activities - for the good of all humanity!!
March 15th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
However, our intrepid crusader from Windsor Castle (WC) is still on the lookout for teachers, as this recent advert proves…
EFL teacher and TEFL trainer required
Windsor Schools is currently interviewing TEFL trainers for its Summer Course and EFL teachers to teach an advanced-level class of foreigners.
The EFL position is part-time, of approximately 6hrs/week, but “ad hoc” teaching might be offered if required.
Please reply this email preferably with a copy of your CV, or call 0044 1753 858995 to enquire.
Many thanks.
Kind regards,
Stef
Managing Coordinator
Other contact: Paul Lowe, Director
Date: 7 March 2008
City/Town: Windsor
Location: Berkshire
Wage/Salary: Negotiable
Start: Immediate
Duration: Long Term
Type: Part Time
How to apply: Any
Company: Windsor Schools
Contact: Paul Lowe
Phone: 01753 858995
Fax: N/A
Email: info@windsorschools.co.uk
March 21st, 2008 at 11:42 am
I have made a post talking about the problem with more on other blogs coming over the next few weeks.
Truth About Windsor TEFL
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
[...] asked readers to publicize this however they can. Read Alex’s post on Paul Lowe of Windsor Schools [...]