Despite the scorching heat with daytime temperatures rising to 33 degrees Celsius, the voices of tens of thousands of teachers demanding the guarantee of educational rights and the normalization of public education filled the streets of Jongno.
On the 29th, near the Seoul Government Complex, where a heatwave warning was issued as the daytime temperature reached 33 degrees Celsius, 30,000 teachers dressed in black (estimated 21,000 by police) strongly urged the establishment of measures to secure teachers' rights, filling 4 to 5 lanes of Sajik-ro.
They gathered voluntarily, not as part of any specific teachers' union or organization movement. For two consecutive weekends, following the 22nd, they took to the streets. Recently, all wore black in memory of Teacher A from Seocho-gu, Seoul, at Seoi Elementary School, who took their own life on school grounds.
Teachers took turns ascending the podium to share cases of violations of their rights, calling for the creation of a safe educational environment, the guarantee of teachers' educational rights, and the revision of the Child Abuse Punishment Act. The organizers stated that 1,900 teachers from outside the metropolitan area came to Seoul by chartering 45 buses. The buses were distributed as follows: 3 from Gyeonggi, 2 from Gangwon, 7 from Gyeongnam, 6 from Gyeongbuk, 8 from Jeonnam, 4 from Jeonbuk, 9 from Chungnam, and 6 from Chungbuk.
A teacher who has been working as an elementary school teacher in Gwangju Metropolitan City for 21 years revealed that they attempted suicide last year after being reported for child abuse. They appealed, "Please listen to the voices of teachers shouting for the guarantee of their right to survival."
A high school teacher in Seoul also appealed, saying, "When guiding students on career paths and college admissions, I advise them not to go to education universities or teacher training colleges," adding, "Basic human rights are not even protected for teachers. Verbal abuse and personal insults against teachers are acts that kill the dignity of teachers and simultaneously trample on the dreams of students who will become future teachers."
At the rally, a statement for the normalization of education was also announced by 102 professors from Seoul National University of Education. Professors from Seoul National University of Education pledged to share awareness and countermeasures for the restoration of teachers' rights in solidarity with education and teacher training colleges nationwide, and to establish an Education Community Human Rights Research Institute to propose effective measures. They also urged the education authorities and political circles to prepare appropriate measures.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
