The amount of money he spoke of is for breach of contract. When the school returns your FEC (assuming you were working legally) they are confirming that the contract was honored.

I've never heard of a university paying for the summer AFTER the contract is finished and when a new one is not signed. All payments and consideration must be completed prior to contract completion.

If you've completed the contract, you should have a letter of reference and/or release from the FAO and/or department. If those documents are in your custody, you are able to confirm to your new employer that you completed your contract with your prior employer; your new employer will require that document.

Of course, if you were working illegally or at a corporate school, all bets are off. But in that event, the 'school' dare not contact the PSB about an illegal employee of theirs.

Also, only the university FAO department is usually aware of all these regulations, a university Chinese teacher is usually clueless on these matters. His belief about his ability to bully you are either a result of his ignorance or his expectation of yours.

Your grades conflict with his research. His research is more important to him than educating students and/or the accuracy of their grades (that is, if you accept that there is such as thing as accurate grading, which Chinese teachers most certainly do: it is their mantra).

You must have signed a new contract with the school, otherwise there would be no discussion of "summer pay" or breach penalties.

Adjusting the student grade amounts by some percentage is an hour's work in Excel. If you don't have the exams: tell him. If you do, just email them.

The students don't give a shit. You don't give a shit. The FAO doesn't give a shit. But if you're returning and you want your summer pay, do a few hours work and keep him happy.

If you are now too busy making plenty of money at home, you shouldn't be considering returning to China to be a migrant language worker.

I have just finished a 9 month university contract and now back at home in America. I did everything that my head (Chinese) teacher told me to do when working the university. I have already received my release and recommendation letter and used the plane ticket they provide to fly back home.

He has also made all sorts of threats like I will not receive my summer holiday pay. In addition, I will have to give him my reasons for not finishing all of my duties and he'll decide whether I will be able to receive my summer pay after I complete all the additional work.

So, you departed without your holiday pay. Of course, I assume you got your travel allowance. Maybe you did 'work the university', as you say!

Pull the other one, it's got bells on it!

Your right I am a white man. Thanks for the information about SAFEA and the US Embassy. I will let you know how it goes in the next couple of days.

Stephen,

What you describe, based upon my experiences with varying Chinese headmasters/FAO's in the public sector in China is as follows. He is just trying to make the white man (presuming you are white, if not, I apologize!) jump through hoops and run through his circles. If you stand up to him, and tell him curtly you will NOT be returning and you do NOT appreciate receiving this information while you are at home on holiday attending to personal affairs, you may well see a turnaround in his behaviour.This kind of bullying tactic is a hangover from the mao era, where employees were part of the "dan wei", but it's China 2015, not China 1955, and you are not even Chinese anyway!!

State your terms, and say you will only return on these terms. If not, tell him to sling his hook, those threats about getting you banned from china are just bluster and him posturing. If you said you will contact the US embassy in Beijing, and SAFEA, and have the school inspected, you just watch how his attitude towards you changes. Chinese fear authority, and agencies/governmental bodies snooping around, uncovering dirty linen....stand your ground, or tell him to piss off and leave for greener pastures anew. Let us know how it goes.

SMGS