"Current Education Only Breaks Parents' Backs"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Gayeon] Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the Future United Party, sharply criticized the Moon Jae-in administration's education policy, asking, "Should we continue to stand by while the government and education authorities are devoted to the 'National Crayfish Project'?"
On the 6th, Yoon posted on her Facebook, saying, "If you are entrusted with children, schools must do their best to nurture the qualities and talents of all children, whether from wealthy or poor families, so that they can lead their own lives independently."
Yoon pointed out, "Online, posts claiming 'The government's true policy intention is to cut off the ladder to home ownership and increase tenants to keep them within their voter base' are gaining popularity. It is regrettable that our government has come to be suspected in this way. But such suspicion is widespread not only in real estate but also across the social ladder."
She continued, "This is especially true in our education system. Former Minister Cho Kuk's sentiment that 'Not everyone needs to become a dragon. It is important to create a world where crayfish, frogs, and carp can live happily' is beautiful, but the role of education is to pave the way for crayfish who want to become dragons, to nurture crayfish who strive and grow so that no matter which stream they flow into, they have the capacity to find their own happiness."
She added, "Teaching children 'It's okay if you can't do anything. Society has an obligation to make you happy no matter what kind of crayfish you become' is likely to create unhappy crayfish. Moreover, if the reason for holding children back like this is because teachers or schools want it easier, or because the government does not welcome more citizens with the will to improve, then this is a great sin against the people and history."
Yoon stated, "Recently, the proportion of students below basic academic skills has exploded. The phrase 'a former educational powerhouse, a powerhouse of people' is becoming meaningless," and criticized, "What is most shocking is that the education authorities and government have no response to this national decline."
She went on, "They are not only uninterested in nurturing the potential of children who want to become dragons, crayfish who want to play in the big waters as lobsters, but also unwilling to make efforts to lift up crayfish who are ignored even by their crayfish friends in neighborhood streams. The current banner of our education is 'Go to private academies and learn more on your own or not; only children from wealthy families get better private education and become dragons or not.' So, only parents' backs are bent," she added.
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