"Homeroom Teacher's Call Asking 'Why Aren't You Connecting?' Treated as 'Spam' - A Lonely Teacher's Day"

"Didn't See the Kids' Faces
Worried Relationships Might Already Deteriorate"

Even When Graduates Visit, Can't Meet
Some Switch to Remote Work

On the 15th, Teacher's Day, Teacher Park Min-young is conducting a remote online class in a 6th-grade classroom at Boramae Elementary School in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Outside the classroom, only Teacher Park's shoes are left alone in the shoe rack. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] "When I call to wake up kids who don't log in, they sometimes treat it as a 'spam call.' Parents also find it a bit bothersome. The teacher hasn't even seen the kids' faces in person yet, so it's upsetting that the relationship is deteriorating." (Principal of A Middle School in Seoul)

The image of a teacher sitting alone in a silent classroom with no students due to the aftermath of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the 15th gave no sense of Teachers' Day. There will be no official Teachers' Day events this year. It is also unlikely that graduates will visit this year. Some schools have decided to work from home because it is difficult to meet even if graduates come.

Notice Requesting Graduates to Refrain from Visiting (Source: Provided by Reader)

After the Ministry of Education announced that it is not considering postponing in-person classes, teachers have become busier. They have to prepare everything from classroom seating arrangements, disposable items for meal times, and measures for break times, while simultaneously continuing online classes.

A middle school principal said, "Since students can come into close contact during break times, we plan to hold classes without breaks," adding, "Once the education office guidelines are issued, we will discuss more specific matters." A teacher with 10 years of experience said, "I acknowledge the need for in-person classes, but the plans that come out of daily meetings are difficult to apply in the field," and added, "Even if in-person classes are held, remote classes must be conducted simultaneously. After students come to school, there are no remaining classrooms, so teachers have to stay after class to record lessons."

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