Teachers Angry Over 'Colleague's Death'... Calls for One Day Off in September

On the afternoon of the 20th, mourners lined up in front of Seoi Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

After a teacher at Seo-i Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, took an extreme measure and another teacher was assaulted by a student, collective action movements among teachers are spreading. Even teachers who had not previously participated in labor union activities are increasingly joining in memorials, and there is even a proposal to take a one-day strike in September.

According to the education sector on the 22nd, after it became known that homeroom teacher A at Seo-i Elementary School took an extreme measure inside the school on the 18th, various teacher communities have been conducting online and offline campaigns demanding a thorough investigation and improvements to prevent infringements on teachers' rights.

The day before, a truck equipped with an electronic display board parked in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's main gate repeatedly showed phrases such as "Education is dead," "Can students be happy in schools where teachers are dying?" and "Parents' reckless power harassment complaints, the Office of Education and Ministry of Education must prepare protection measures."

In front of the Office of Education's main gate, post-it notes densely covered the area with messages like "We will unite to prevent such tragedies from happening again" and "Sorry for not protecting you as a senior." Memorial sites were set up at local education offices such as Gyeongbuk Office of Education and Gangwon Office of Education, and many teachers changed their KakaoTalk profile pictures to black ribbons as a sign of mourning.

Among teachers, calls for a strike have even emerged. Since many schools have entered vacation this week, there is growing support for teachers to take a sick day on September 4, after the new semester begins, to hold a strike-like protest in memory of the deceased's '49th day memorial.' Some teachers also posted in communities suggesting wearing mourning hairpins after the second semester starts.

As public outrage in the teaching community grows, membership in teacher organizations has increased since the teacher's death. The Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations has received hundreds of inquiries since the 18th, and the teachers' labor union is reported to have increased its membership by about 10,000.