"I am also someone else's precious daughter" Defying the Teacher... Giggling While Filming the Video

"Current State of Teacher Authority Decline" Sparks Fierce Criticism from Netizens

A video showing a female high school student arguing back at a middle-aged male teacher at a domestic high school has sparked controversy.

On the 21st, a video titled "Female High School Student Talking Back to Teacher" rapidly spread across various online communities since the previous day. The video captures a loud argument between a female student, presumed to be a high schooler, and a male teacher in a school hallway.

In the video, the teacher shouted at the student, gesturing "Go inside." The female student retorted, "Why are you yelling at me? Am I not also a precious daughter in someone’s home?"

A video showing a female high school student confronting and arguing with a middle-aged male teacher at a domestic high school has sparked controversy.
[Photo source=Online community]

The teacher appeared flustered and did not respond, just looking at the student. The student then said, "I'm not someone you can treat carelessly. Why did you grab my hair?"

The teacher explained, "I grabbed your bag. Your hair was tangled in the bag strap," while pointing to the student's head with his hand. The student protested again, "(You) grabbed my hair," emphasizing her point. The angry teacher said, "Is this fun? Enjoy it then," and tried to leave. However, the student followed him, sarcastically asking, "Teacher, did you enjoy grabbing my hair?"

The teacher shouted, "I will report this to the committee (Teacher’s Rights Protection Committee) as it is," and left. The student responded, "Go ahead and report to the committee," ending the video. A female student, presumed to be filming the incident, was seen giggling as if finding the situation amusing.

According to the description accompanying the video, the student was caught by the teacher going to the school store during class. The teacher tried to stop her by grabbing her bag, and the student's hair got tangled in the bag strap.

Netizens who saw the video lamented, calling it "the current state of teacher authority decline." Comments flooded in such as, "The teacher probably grabbed the bag to avoid physical contact in case it becomes a problem later," "Society has become one where teachers can’t even point out students’ mistakes," "Basic respect between teachers and students has disappeared," and "The student giggling while watching is just as bad."

One netizen sharply remarked, "Teachers are also precious sons and fathers in someone’s home."

Ministry of Education Announces 'Notice on Teachers’ Student Life Guidance' to Protect Teacher Authority

On the afternoon of October 14, the area in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, was filled with teachers participating in a rally urging legislation to normalize public education.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, after the death of an elementary school teacher in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and rising demands for protecting teacher authority, the Ministry of Education announced the 'Notice on Teachers’ Student Life Guidance' last August. This notice defines the scope and methods of teachers’ authority in student life guidance, including the ability to separate students who exhibit problematic behavior in the classroom. Accordingly, frontline schools must reflect this notice by the end of this year by establishing life regulations and revising school rules.

Additionally, the National Assembly passed the 'Teacher Authority Protection Four Acts' in September to protect teachers’ legitimate educational activities. The legislation includes provisions that prevent teachers’ rightful life guidance from being considered child abuse and allows legal action against parents who interfere with educational activities.

Nevertheless, surveys indicate that teachers still do not feel the protection of their authority in educational settings. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Federation of Teachers’ Associations from the 25th to 30th of last month targeting 5,461 teachers nationwide from kindergarten to high school, 55.3% responded that there has been no change in schools after the passage of the four laws and the implementation of the student life guidance notice.

The reasons cited include "continued anxiety over indiscriminate child abuse accusations and reports" (28.4%), "lack of support from the Ministry of Education and education offices in terms of personnel and budget" (16.4%), and "limitations in applying detailed life guidance due to unamended school rules" (15.8%).