http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/04/19/2012041901407.htmlYesterday's editorial in the Chosun Ilbo accuses teachers of not being interested in helping their students change.
From my 12 months here so far, I have seen the two extremes of teachers who run their classroom like a military unit, and teachers who without exception write off behaviour as (direct quote): "well, you know how children can be."
A few months back, my co-teacher talked to me about the new measures the government took to curb school violence. Over the course of 2 hours, she revealed to me a few key points why I think the number of teachers who want to take a stand and teachers who do are very different.
-The hierarchical structure in the Korean workplace. This would not be such a big problem if the principal and vice-principals took a strong line on school violence. However, the rotation system here, whereby teachers can't spend their entire career at the same school, encourages ignorance.
A principal or vice-principal are reluctant to do anything about this problem in case the image of their school falls. This reflects badly on them and as a result a principal is worried they will get transferred to one of the less reputable schools. Vice-principals are concerned they jeopardise their chances to make principal.
-Classroom democracy. Even at elementary level, students give feedback on their opinions about their teachers. The problem is that many elementary level students are young and are not going to use this feedback fairly. My co-teacher complained that teachers who had even disciplined their class only once or twice in a term were criticised by their students as a bad teacher. This feedback negatively influences the assessment of the teacher and as a result their reputation promotion prospects at school.
There is nothing physically stopping teachers who want to take action on school violence. But under the current regime, the decision to do so can jeopardise their career prospects, and by extension the standard of care they provide for their family.
The situation can't change overnight, but the changes this year don't deal with the ignorant teachers and the conscientious ones will continue to be penalised. And to add insult to injury, the teachers get blamed by one of the biggest newspapers in the country for a system that they did not design.
