"Kids from Well-Off Neighborhoods Are Different..." Heated Debate Over Elementary Teacher's Claim on School District Differences

"Like traveling through a portal, the atmosphere changes"
Netizens debate "Annoying but true" vs "Teachers should be cautious"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] A netizen presumed to be an elementary school teacher sparked controversy by stating that "children from affluent neighborhoods have much better manners" and that "even from a teacher's perspective, there is a reason why school districts with high property values are expensive."

On the 15th, a post titled "School districts really matter" was published on the anonymous workplace community 'Blind.'

A, who identified as an elementary school teacher, posted a controversial message on the anonymous workplace community 'Blind'. Photo by Online Community Capture

A, who identified themselves as a novice teacher in their 20s, said, "I have personally felt why real estate keeps emphasizing school districts," adding, "When students move from schools in villa neighborhoods to schools near apartments worth billions of won, the atmosphere itself changes. It's like the air shifts as if you were surfing a portal."

They continued, "I used to wonder why apartments in good school districts are so expensive when the national curriculum, textbooks, and teacher quality are similar," and said, "Everything is different?from the children's way of speaking to their behavior and expressions."

They added, "The attitude toward classes is surprisingly different. Their clothing is different. The attention parents give to their children is different," and further stated, "If elementary schools are like this, I can't even imagine middle and high schools."

Blind requires verification to post as a member of a specific company. A's Blind account shows affiliation as a public servant, making it highly likely that they are an actual teacher. This post by A spread across various online communities and became a hot topic. Netizens who saw it expressed sharply divided opinions, sparking heated debates.

Some netizens who agreed with A's remarks commented, "It may be unpleasant to hear, but it's true," "The importance of school districts was taught to us as a lesson by Mencius' mother 2,000 years ago through her example of moving three times for a better school district," "It's true. That's why everyone tries to move to good neighborhoods. It's the same in any country," and "Even if you're not a teacher, you can feel it when you move between apartments."

On the other hand, sharp criticisms poured in, such as, "While it's generally true, teachers should be cautious about holding such prejudices," "You should not misunderstand the meaning of school districts. Differences in school districts ≠ differences in character. Differences in school districts = differences in learning atmosphere," and "So what are you trying to say? Are you going to try harder for kids from less affluent neighborhoods? Or are you just going to teach comfortably?"