Elementary Student Slaps Vice Principal to Stop Early Leave and Swears
Parents Claim Unfairness: "Vice Principal Also Swore and Hit"
Elementary Teachers' Union Submits 13,700 Signatures
A petition demanding severe punishment for the guardian of an elementary school student who shocked the community by verbally abusing and assaulting the vice principal who tried to prevent unauthorized early dismissal, as well as stealing and riding neighborhood bicycles, is set to be submitted to the police on charges of child neglect.
On the 24th, the Elementary School Teachers' Union announced that it had collected 13,718 signatures agreeing with the "Petition for Severe Punishment of the Defendant in the Teacher Assault Case and Opposition to the Special Student Rights Act." Earlier, on the morning of the 3rd, at an elementary school in Jeonju, a third-grade student, A, verbally abused the homeroom teacher and assaulted the vice principal who tried to intervene. A’s guardian, B, who came to the school, also assaulted the homeroom teacher.
A video capturing the incident as it happened rapidly spread across social media (SNS) and online communities. In response, on the 21st, SBS's "Curious Story Y" directly interviewed guardian B. B expressed, "I was shocked just by watching the video," but also claimed unfairness, saying, "Only the part where the child hit someone was broadcast, but the scene where the vice principal swore in front of the gym and slapped the child’s cheek was not shown." B further asserted, "The child has been exploited so far in the name of strengthening school authority," and refused counseling treatment offered by the production team.
As the controversy grew, the Jeonju Office of Education reported B to the police on charges of child abuse due to educational neglect. The Elementary School Teachers' Union argued that B neglected the child, citing several points: multiple attempts to contact the guardian regarding the student’s dismissal from school failed to communicate properly; the student’s verbal and physical abuse continued without any response; and despite persuasion from educational institutions, the guardian refused treatment for the child.
The Elementary School Teachers' Union stated, "Guardians who fail to provide appropriate care to students should be severely punished for child neglect, and through this, the health and safety of students must be guaranteed," adding, "We will submit the petition and signed agreements to the relevant police station."
Additionally, the union argued that the Special Student Rights Act, proposed by Assemblyman Han Chang-min of the Social Democratic Party on the 20th, should be repealed. The bill aims to guarantee student rights through a law superior to ordinances, considering the ongoing attempts to abolish student rights ordinances that vary by city and province.
The Elementary School Teachers' Union opposed the bill, stating, "Students already have a high level of satisfaction with their school life, and the Special Student Rights Act could infringe on teachers' educational activities." Citing their own survey results, they claimed, "Children selected teachers as the number one group that 'respects their opinions very much' among friends, family, school, and society," and added, "Students want to be more respected in society and cyberspace, and due to excessive private education, they need more rest and playtime at home."
The union also announced that they submitted opposition signatures to the National Assembly, stating, "We plan to ask who really needs human rights in schools now, and will continue to convey the opposition of teachers, students, and parents to block the Special Student Rights Act and strive to restore public education through establishing the right to educate and learn."
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