Letter Revealed at Large-Scale Rally for Normalization of Public Education
After the death of a rookie teacher at Seoi Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, teachers held a second rally demanding the restoration of teachers' authority. At the rally, a letter from the deceased teacher's father was revealed, adding to the sorrow.
On the 31st, an online post in the form of a letter from Mr. B, the father of Seo Yi Elementary School teacher Mr. A, to his daughter attracted attention. The post was included in a memorial video at a rally held on the 29th in front of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the Seo Yi Elementary School teacher and call for the normalization of public education. [Photo by Online Community]
On the 31st, online attention was drawn to a letter written by Mr. B, the father of teacher A from Seoi Elementary School, addressed to his daughter. The letter was included in a memorial video shown at a rally held on the 29th in front of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the Seoi Elementary School teacher and call for the normalization of public education.
In the letter, Mr. B wrote, "Dad was happy with my beautiful daughter over the past years, but my daughter suffered a lot. Please forgive your unworthy father who could not protect you. I hope you find happiness there. I earnestly wish that place becomes your hope... From Dad."
As Mr. B's letter appeared in the memorial video, the rally site soon turned into a sea of tears. Netizens also commented on the letter, saying, "I cannot even begin to imagine what state of mind you wrote this in," "The teacher was also such a precious child," and "Parents who think only their own children are precious, please wake up," expressing their outrage.
Voices demanding the restoration of teachers' authority grow louder day by day
On the 22nd and continuing for the second week, this rally gathered an estimated 30,000 teachers nationwide according to the organizers (21,000 according to the police). Despite the scorching heat, they denounced violations of teachers' rights in the education field and demanded measures to guarantee educational rights. [Photo by Yonhap News]
On the 18th, A, a second-year elementary school teacher, was found dead by suicide at school. It was revealed that shortly before her death, she had requested counseling from the school due to severe stress caused by complaints from parents. Since A's death, voices among frontline teachers demanding the restoration of teachers' authority have been growing louder every day.
Following the rally on the 22nd, this rally held for the second consecutive week gathered an estimated 30,000 teachers nationwide according to the organizers (21,000 according to the police). Despite the scorching heat, they denounced the infringement of teachers' authority in educational settings and demanded measures to guarantee educational rights. All wore black in memory of the Seoi Elementary School teacher.
On the 27th, a wreath commemorating Mr. A, a private elementary school teacher in Seoul who took an extreme measure six months ago, was placed in front of the Jungbu Education Support Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has launched an investigation, including fact-finding, following the bereaved family's claim that a contract teacher in Seoul took an extreme measure. [Photo by Yonhap News]
At the rally, a "Statement for the Normalization of Education" signed by 102 professors from Seoul National University of Education was also announced. Professors from Seoul National University of Education pledged to share awareness and countermeasures for restoring teachers' authority in solidarity with education and teacher training colleges nationwide, establish an Education Community Human Rights Research Institute to propose effective measures, and urged the education authorities and political circles to prepare countermeasures.
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