"Parents in Group Chat Asking 'Are You Off Work Yet?' Teachers Trapped and Subjected to Verbal Abuse"

Various Complaints Outside Working Hours... No Private Life
Increase in Teacher Rights Violations by Parents and Students
Teachers Also Suffering Verbal Abuse from Students
Increase in Lawsuits for Teacher Rights Violations... Over 10 Cases Annually

The photo is not related to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] # Mr. A, a teacher in his 40s, has recently been suffering from neurogenic headaches. This is because parents have created group chat rooms and invited him, constantly asking about students' behavior as well as the direction of lessons. Mr. A lamented, "Answering parents' complaints and questions is exhausting. It is truly tiring." He added, "They also comment on the direction of lessons, which is a clear infringement of teachers' rights."

On the occasion of Teachers' Day on the 15th, infringements on teachers' rights remain a serious issue at the frontline. Some teachers continuously respond to complaints in group chat rooms with parents, and it has been revealed that they are also subjected to verbal abuse and physical assault. Concerns are rising that teachers' rights are being shaken.

According to one survey, many teachers suffer from receiving phone calls or text messages from parents or students outside of working hours.

The Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) conducted a survey in 2018 on 1,835 kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers nationwide regarding infringements on teachers' rights caused by mobile phones outside working hours. The results showed that 79.6% responded that infringements caused by mobile phones were serious.

Examples of infringements include parents calling under the influence of alcohol to curse or complain, making simple inquiries or complaints regardless of day or night, and even criticizing teachers' appearances.

Among the teachers who responded to the survey, 96.4% said they disclosed their mobile phone numbers to parents or students. The proportion of those who received calls or texts from parents or students during or after working hours was 95.8%.

Teacher in class. [Yonhap News archive photo]

As a result, 68.2% opposed disclosing teachers' personal mobile phone numbers to parents or students, about three times more than the 20.5% who supported it.

The main reason for opposition was "protection of privacy outside working hours," cited by 80.2%, followed by opinions that "using a private number for official purposes is inappropriate" (67.3%) and "prevention of infringements on teachers' rights caused by calls unrelated to educational activities" (51.5%).

Citizens express anxiety over the shaken teachers' rights. Mr. A, a mid-30s office worker, said, "The formal stress must be considerable," and pointed out, "It seems there is no guarantee of rest even after work." He added, "I hope people trust and follow teachers well."

Another office worker in his 40s, Mr. B, also said, "The relationship between teachers and students seems very different now compared to the past," and added, "Nevertheless, school days are the most important period in life. I hope students listen well to teachers and, if there are problems, communicate wisely to resolve them."

◆ Teachers Suffering from Verbal Abuse, Physical Assault, and Sexual Harassment

Meanwhile, infringements on teachers' rights by students, such as verbal abuse, insults, and defamation, are also increasing.

According to the "2019 School Year Teachers' Rights Protection and Counseling Activity Report" released by KFTA on the 13th, the number of consultations on infringements on teachers' rights received by KFTA last year totaled 513 cases.

This is 12 cases more than in 2019 (501 cases). The numbers were 508 cases in 2017, 572 in 2016, and 488 in 2015, with an average of 516 cases over the past five years. This is more than double the 249 cases reported 10 years ago in 2008.

Infringements by parents accounted for 238 cases (46.4%), nearly half. Cases caused by fellow staff members were 94 (18.3%), by students 87 (17%), unfair status-related damages from disciplinary authorities 82 (16%), and damages by third parties 12 (2.3%).

Infringements by parents have been decreasing, with 267 cases (52.6%) in 2017 and 243 cases (48.5%) in 2018, but still represent the largest proportion.

The main causes of infringements by parents were complaints related to student guidance at 109 cases (45.8%), followed by defamation at 57 cases (24%), school violence handling at 43 cases (18.1%), and school safety accident handling at 29 cases (12.2%).

The number of infringements by students increased by 17 cases compared to the previous year (70 cases). By type, there were 32 cases (36.8%) of verbal abuse or insults, 24 cases (27.6%) of defamation, 19 cases (21.8%) of class disruption, 8 cases (9.2%) of physical assault, and 4 cases (4.6%) of sexual harassment.

Over the past five years, the number and proportion of infringements by students have been increasing annually: 58 cases (10.1%) in 2016, 60 cases (11.8%) in 2017, 70 cases (14%) in 2018, and 87 cases (17%) in 2019.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

KFTA's litigation support to remedy infringements on teachers' rights reached a record high of 59 cases last year. Over the past five years, the numbers have increased by more than 10 cases annually: 14 cases in 2015, 24 in 2016, 35 in 2017, and 45 in 2018.

In other countries, teachers' rights are legally protected. In the UK, teachers' rights, excluding corporal punishment, are legally safeguarded. According to related laws (Education Act), school principals fully support and take responsibility for the exercise of teachers' rights within their schools.

The UK teachers' and lecturers' union's policy for responding to infringements on teachers' rights is as follows: △ If the perpetrator is a student, the school places the student on suspension, contacts the police, and ensures that the student avoids face-to-face contact with the affected teacher upon returning to school after suspension. △ If the perpetrator is an outsider or a parent, the police are immediately contacted and a formal legal warning is issued.

In the US, the Teacher Protection Act provides a safe educational environment, offers support for legal litigation, and implements preventive measures through school committees.

KFTA stated, "The pattern of infringements on teachers' rights has been repeated over a long period, with persistent malicious complaints and threats, escalating to civil and criminal lawsuits, making it the top concern for teachers."

They added, "Infringements by students cause a different level of shock compared to those by parents, leading teachers with damaged self-esteem to leave the classroom, which is a very serious problem. It is necessary to clearly establish means, methods, and procedures for student guidance to restore and strengthen the broken disciplinary system and protect teachers' legitimate educational activities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.