School, "Student Reflecting" Review Result Sparks Controversy
Teacher Undergoing Treatment for Anxiety Disorder and Others
An elementary school student who made a finger gesture insult toward a teacher mediating a dispute was referred to the Teacher's Rights Protection Committee, but the school judged that it was not a violation of teacher's rights.
On the 16th, the Daejeon Teachers' Union and the education authorities reported that Teacher A, working at an elementary school in Nonsan, Chungnam, was insulted with a finger gesture by student B from another class in December last year. Previously, Teacher A called students B and C, who were arguing because B allegedly used profanity, into the hallway and guided them by saying, "There may be some misunderstandings between you, so please be careful from now on." However, B insisted that he did not use profanity and expressed his grievance. Ignoring Teacher A's suggestion to talk after some time, B swore "Aish" and entered the classroom, where he made a finger gesture insult toward Teacher A in front of classmates.
Teacher A reported the matter to the administrator and the counseling teacher, and later the school counselor met with student B and his parents to propose an apology to the teacher. However, the response was, "I did nothing wrong, so I will not apologize." Teacher A applied for the Teacher's Rights Protection Committee (Gyobowi) to be held, but the school announced the review result that "there was no violation of teacher's rights." The main point was that the student reflected on his behavior so as not to repeat actions that should not be done to teachers. The school also added that "an educational plan will be established and implemented to prevent such incidents from occurring."
Since the incident, Teacher A, who has been receiving medication for feelings of humiliation, anxiety, and sleep disorders, said, "Not only was there no apology that would have naturally been made if there had been reflection, but I cannot agree with the committee's judgment that it was not a violation of teacher's rights even though they recognized that it was behavior that should not be done to a teacher." He also claimed, "There were procedural problems in handling the case, such as making decisions without hearing statements from necessary witnesses for the review."
An education authority official explained, "Currently, the Gyobowi duties have been transferred to the Education Support Office, but until last year, they were conducted at frontline schools. The claims of the teacher and the student were completely different, and the judgment was made after comprehensively considering them." Teacher A's side said they are currently undergoing an administrative appeal process regarding the review result. A Daejeon Teachers' Union official urged, "The school, which should respect and protect the teacher's rightful guidance of students, is causing secondary harm to the teacher despite clearly recognizing the student's problematic behavior. We urge the Chungnam Office of Education to properly implement teacher's rights protection that the school has overlooked."
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