The cover story of the Catholic Times this past week were some problems with public education that have recently appeared with the death of an elementary school teacher.
A young female teacher at the school where she taught students she loved took her own life. For the deceased, who became an educator to ensure a happy life for the children and seeking happiness herself, school was a place where she could no longer find happiness. The teachers and students mourned her passing: "We are sorry we couldn't protect you." The teacher left a note: "I hope the school will be a happy place for the teachers and students..."
The sad death of a teacher reminded us of what values families, schools, and the educational community need to regain. Comforting the teachers who cried out: "We must become a school of communication, not abuse of power and complaints," the church presented an alternative called ‘Restoration of an educational community that walks together.’
On August 12, on the road of one of the subway stations in Seoul teachers dressed in black gathered together to demand an investigation into the truth and guarantee the right to education. They called for "normalization of public education that restores trust between teachers and students." Teachers took to the streets every week, and designated September 4th, the 49th anniversary of the deceased’s death, as ‘Public Education Stop Day’ to commemorate the deceased and appeal for the restoration of public education.
The teacher's death was a protest against the collapsed teaching authority. The reality of teachers who have become ‘emotional workers’, some students have become outlaws, parents who blindly protect their children, and the complacency of schools and education authorities who ignore the reality that education has disappeared – all of this is a tragedy. This is why community efforts for true education are desperately needed.
According to the 'Emergency Teacher Survey to Recognize Teaching Rights Violations and Prepare Countermeasures' published by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations on July 27, 99% of the 32,951 teachers in kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide said that 'teachers are emotional workers.' Parents ranked first with 66.1% of those causing stress. As reasons for the increase in parents' violations of educational rights, current teachers cited the neglect of public education due to entrance-oriented education and the social situation in which parents' failure to learn consideration and cooperation in a competitive society is reflected on their children, leading to a child-centered educational system.
The irresponsible attitude of schools and education authorities, which transfers the response to malicious complaints solely to individual teachers, is a factor that greatly worsens the situation. Therefore, teachers point out, if the school system that does not protect teachers is not improved, restoration of teaching rights is far from possible no matter what laws are enacted.
In the educational field, students, teachers, and parents coexist. If power is concentrated on one side and the balance is lost, it is natural for education to collapse. The Church early on emphasized the importance of the educational community.
The article ends with a quote from a Catholic High School principal: "The solution to solving problems occurring in the educational field is ultimately to find the value of love within the community.Teachers, parents, and school authorities, as members of the educational community, must work together for true education. We must make a concerted effort," he emphasized.
