Kindergarten Marred by Parents' Offensive Remarks Like "I Graduated from KAIST?"

Public Recording of Phone Calls Between Gyeonggi-do Public Kindergarten Teachers and Parents Released

"How far have you studied, now? I completed an MBA at KAIST College of Business, and aren't the parents who graduated from KAIST the problem?"

Amid a surge of cases involving infringement on teachers' authority following the recent teacher death incident at Seo-i Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, a recording has been released revealing a parent verbally abusing a pregnant teacher at a public kindergarten in the past, causing a stir.

"Parents who graduated from KAIST are the problem" verbal abuse

On the 1st, Gyeonggi Ilbo partially disclosed a phone call recording between Teacher A at a public kindergarten in Gyeonggi Province and Parent B. Teacher A revealed that they had been harassed by Parent B's complaints and threats of reporting in the past, saying, "If I didn't have my child and family, I think I would have written my name in a suicide note and had the same thoughts as the Seo-i Elementary School teacher."

According to the released recording, Parent B suddenly asked Teacher A one day, "Did you tell (my child) to move to another class?" Even though Teacher A was startled and said, "I never did that," Parent B did not believe the teacher and kept questioning, saying things like "Then why is my child crying so uncontrollably?" and "Is my child going to be a complete liar?"

Parent B also repeatedly said they would check the closed-circuit television (CCTV) to understand the situation. When Teacher A replied to review it, Parent B argued, "My child comes first, actually. I'm not someone who protects teachers' human rights or teachers' authority. My child has suffered a lot." They also warned, "We need to attach a recorder to find out whose words are true."

After ending the call, Parent B called again shortly afterward. This time, Parent B said in an angry tone, "How far are you going to deny, how far are you going to drag this, and what are you doing damaging someone else's reputation, to an educated person?"

Then they said, "How far have you studied, now? I graduated from KAIST College of Business and even completed an MBA. Aren't the parents who graduated from KAIST the problem?" When Teacher A again said, "That never happened," Parent B said, "If you keep doing this, it will be dangerous."

'e-Alimi' used, then 'Please be flexible'

Additionally, Parent B once requested Teacher A to take and send photos of their child presenting, but showed discomfort when the school notification app 'e-Alimi' was used. It was reported that Parent B used 'e-Alimi' due to past conflicts related to text messages.

Parent B misunderstood that the photos were sent publicly and said, "You could have just sent those as personal messages; I was surprised." Then, asking the pregnant Teacher A, "How many months pregnant are you now?" they added, "Because my child is more precious and a better being than any other child, I hope you can be flexible even though you are pregnant."

Regarding a complaint Parent B made about a field trip, when Teacher A asked, "If there is a problem, please formally report it to the kindergarten," Parent B angrily said, "Telling me to come to the kindergarten for counseling is very shameless of you, teacher." Unable to endure it, Teacher A eventually said, "I don't want to argue anymore," and hung up first.

"If personal numbers are kept private, they become targets... administrators encourage disclosure"

Teacher A told Gyeonggi Ilbo, "Even when I asked for help, there were no practical regulations or institutional methods from teacher organizations, so it was of no help," and said, "There was an official notice to keep personal numbers private, but if I alone do not disclose my number at the kindergarten, I become the only target."

They also claimed, "Administrators are the same. They say, 'If teachers want to manage the children and send messages occasionally, wouldn't it be better to disclose personal numbers?' and rather encourage disclosure."

They continued, "Parents like this behave the same way in kindergartens and daycare centers and then do the same when their children go to elementary school. That's why incidents like the one at Seo-i Elementary School happen. I experienced it too," and lamented, "At the time, I was pregnant with my second child, and if I didn't have my child and family, I think I would have written (Parent B's) name in a suicide note and had the same thoughts."

Currently, Teacher A is known to have changed their mobile phone number and is working in another area within the province. Teacher A added, "Even if people say to sue, I couldn't because of the child who would be stigmatized and the kindergarten that would be in a difficult position due to the disclosure," and said, "I deeply regret it."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education plans to announce a comprehensive plan to protect teachers' authority this month, including a reorganization of the parent complaint response system. In particular, they intend to release a manual to protect educational activities not only for elementary, middle, and high school teachers but also for special education teachers and kindergarten teachers.