Elementary School Teacher: "Seoi Elementary, It Could Happen Again Once Public Opinion Calms Down"

"Despite Consensus on Protecting Teachers' Rights... No Change, Feeling Hopeless"
Calls to Amend Child Abuse Punishment Act That Hinders Teacher Guidance

A teacher currently working at an elementary school said that although a social consensus on protecting teachers' rights has formed since a teacher at Seoul Seoi Elementary School took an extreme step, there has been no noticeable change yet.

He said, "About 30 related bills were recently introduced frantically, but as you know, the August National Assembly session ended, and not a single one was passed," adding, "I thought, even after all these weeks, there is no response."

Speaking anonymously on the MBC radio program 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 30th, he said, "Change does not happen all at once, so it is difficult for us to grasp it," but added, "Teachers are feeling the current situation more bleakly."

On the afternoon of the 19th, participants were shedding tears at a rally held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, demanding a thorough investigation into the death of a Seoi Elementary School teacher and the immediate revision of laws related to child abuse. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 4th of next month, the 49th-day memorial for the deceased teacher at Seoul Seoi Elementary School, a 'Day to Stop Public Education' will be held as an indirect strike through collective leave to commemorate the occasion.

He said, "Teachers did not expect such a severe situation to occur, but in fact, more than half already knew. Schools are becoming increasingly difficult these days," adding, "For several years now, schools have been unable to control the students, students do not listen to teachers, and parents do not help, so it is literally just polishing them up to graduate. Because of this, various problems continue to arise."

He conveyed that there is a sense of crisis about the decline of teachers' authority throughout the education sector. He said, "Recently, I heard a young teacher say, 'We are working hard for the future of those of us who will remain in the teaching profession the longest,' and it was very heartbreaking," adding, "Also, a senior teacher with more experience than me said, 'I felt very sad as if the education we have done so far was being denied.'"

He said, "Although people are cautious now, everyone knows this will not last forever, which is the problem," expressing concern that if public opinion quiets down and interest fades, similar problems could arise again.

He emphasized the urgency of revising related laws, saying, "The Elementary and Secondary Education Act or the Teachers' Rights Protection Act are just tools, and what we want is an amendment to the Child Abuse Prevention Act." He is calling for a revision of the law so that legitimate guidance by teachers is not punished as child abuse.

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