Teachers from all over the country gathered in large numbers in front of the National Assembly dressed in black and chanted, “Protect teachers.” This was the seventh rally held two days before the 49th anniversary of the death of a teacher who was found dead at an elementary school in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 18.
On this afternoon, in front of the National Assembly building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, an estimated 300,000 people gathered at the ‘500,000 Teachers’ Uprising Memorial Rally’ led by the ‘People to Protect Education’ group to commemorate the deceased Seocho-gu elementary school teacher and call for revision of laws related to teaching rights.
Teachers filled all lanes and sidewalks from the eight cars in front of the National Assembly to part of Yeouido Park. 20 minutes before the rally began, the 12 areas declared as assembly areas were filled, and the staff guided the teachers to the shade of Yeouido Park. Even after the rally began, the teachers continued to walk.
Teachers designated the 4th, the 49th birthday of the deceased teacher, as ‘Public Education Suspension Day’, and when the Ministry of Education announced strict response policies, including criminal charges, to teachers’ attempts to go on a ‘circumstance strike’ by taking annual leave, etc., teachers gathered in large numbers. It is solved. Teachers who went on stage that day also encouraged a round-trip strike several times. The management team announced that on this day, more than 600 buses were chartered from across the country, and airplane support was also provided for teachers in island areas such as Jeju Island.
A teacher who revealed that he was a graduate school classmate of the teacher who died in Seocho-gu went on stage and said, “Please take the lead in creating a school environment where you can teach safely,” and “Please thoroughly investigate the truth about the deceased’s death.” A former teacher who left the teaching profession called for an improvement in the system, saying, “I have continued to talk about the reality of being focused on work and complaints rather than classes, but this society has turned a blind eye, and the problem has festered, leading to some people being driven to death and others leaving the field.” Teachers either cheered or wiped away tears at these remarks.
Even though the temperature was around 30 degrees, teachers held 토토사이트signs that read, “Immediate revision of the Child Welfare Act” and “Strong response to malicious complaints.” “We protect education,” “We do not give up,” and “Protect teachers who are pushed to the edge.” They stayed in their seats while shouting slogans such as: While avoiding the scorching sun with a brimmed hat and umbrella, I couldn’t take my eyes off the electronic display boards in each area.
Teachers unanimously said, ‘It could be my job, not someone else’s.’ Mr. Cha (30), a 5th grade teacher at an elementary school in Gyeonggi Province, said, “I also have experience receiving malicious complaints. My close friend is taking psychiatric medication. This is not just an elementary school in Seocho-gu. “It’s my story, the teacher in the class next to me, and my friend’s story,” he emphasized.
Mr. Kim (41), a 14-year teacher who came to the rally with his two elementary school children, said, “The problem of malicious complaints has been around for a long time. This is approximately 1 to 2 out of 3 students. “Every time, the school made a fuss about it, and it eventually festered and exploded,” he said. “When the educational field collapses, ordinary children ultimately suffer. “I came with the thought that our children should know, too,” he said.
In addition, teachers could not hide their anger at the Ministry of Education’s announcement that it would discipline teachers who took leave during the 49th school year. Mr. Choi (28), who came from Daejeon with about 1,000 teachers, said, “It’s been a month since the elementary school teacher in Seocho-gu passed away, and nothing has changed. I think they participated more because they were angry (even at the Ministry of Education’s policy).” .
Professor Hayo-sang Hay of Gongju National University of Education (Department of Education), who saw his students struggling in the field and decided to come out, said, “It is urgent to protect the teaching rights of many students and teachers,” and called for a revision to the law. It gave strength to the teachers’ remarks.
On this day, teachers announced a policy request containing eight points, including revision of the Child Welfare Act, strengthening accountability of students, parents, and education authorities, guaranteeing the right to education for separated students, establishing a unified civil complaint handling system, and mandating teacher participation in the process of promoting education-related laws and policies. . In particular, they requested the revision of Article 175 of the Child Welfare Act, which prohibits emotional abuse that harms children’s mental health and development. Also attending the rally on this day were Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Ahn Min-seok, Do Jong-hwan, and Kang Min-jung, members of the National Assembly Education Committee.