Consideration of Educational Perspectives Through a Teacher-Comprised 'Education Expert Advisory Group' in Child Abuse Judgments
Terminology Improved from 'Child Abuser' to 'Case Management Subject' When Reporting Child Abuse Investigation Results to the Education Office
Opportunity Provided for Submission of Opinions by Teachers, Vice Principals, or Principals
Detailed Consideration Reasons Established for Teachers' Legitimate Educational, Guidance, and Restraint Actions
Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) has identified five measures to address the practical demands and issues related to child abuse reports in educational settings and will implement them.
In response to cases where teachers' legitimate educational and guidance actions have been reported as child abuse, and reflecting schools' opinions that educational expertise was not considered when determining child abuse, the district has taken steps to protect teachers' rights at the local government level by forming an advisory group of education experts composed of active teachers.
On the 30th of last month, the district held a "Meeting on Improving Child Abuse Determination for the Protection of Teachers' Rights," attended by nine elementary, middle, and high school teachers and education office officials, to discuss these matters.
Under the current system, when a child abuse report against a teacher is received, the local government and investigative agencies make determinations. The district's judgment focuses on support for counseling, treatment, and recovery, distinguishing it from the investigative agencies' criminal judgment, although both use the same term "child abuse determination."
In particular, there was consensus that the terminology should be softened because unnecessary stigmatization and harm to teachers occur when the education office is notified of the local government's child abuse investigation results.
Accordingly, the district will replace the term "abuser" with "case management subject (guardian/adult)" and change "notification" to "informing."
Additionally, official documents will clarify that the district's child abuse investigation and determination do not decide criminality but aim for the child's counseling, treatment, and recovery, and that criminality is determined by investigative agencies.
On October 31, an "Education Expert Advisory Group" was formed with 12 active elementary, middle, and high school teachers. The advisory group was composed based on recommendations from each school, and their opinions will be sought during child abuse investigations to enhance fairness and objectivity.
Furthermore, to protect teachers from indiscriminate child abuse reports, teachers, vice principals, or principals will be required to submit statements to provide opportunities to present their views. Detailed criteria have also been established to judge whether teachers' legitimate educational guidance actions regarding children's problematic behavior or class disruption should be considered as mitigating factors in abuse determinations.
The measures also include assigning dedicated child abuse officials from the district office to actively participate and mediate early in disputes between schools and parents regarding child abuse.
A Guro-gu official stated, "Amid social consensus on protecting teachers' rights, we sought roles that the district office can fulfill," adding, "We will do our best so that both teachers and children are respected and happy."
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