By Na Jeong-ju
More than 65 percent of middle and high school students think they have the “right to sleep” during classes, a survey showed Thursday.
Additionally, 31 percent of teachers said students have such rights.
The survey of 1,649 students and 1,132 teachers, conducted by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union, came amid disputes over moves by liberal-controlled educational offices to change the way teachers treat students.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, headed by liberal superintendent Kwak No-hyun, announced measures last month to enhance students’ human rights, sparking protests from conservative groups advocating teachers’ rights.
According to the survey, 44.5 percent of the students said they were entitled to do other things than just focusing on lessons during classes ― 24 percent of teachers agreed to such rights.
Also, 26.4 percent of the students said they should be able to use mobile phones during classes, but more than 90 percent of the surveyed teachers said their use should not be allowed.
“The survey shows that there is a perception gap between teachers and students over the scope of students’ rights,” a union spokesman said. “That means policymakers should gather opinions from both teachers and students before creating policies on students’ rights so as not to have biased views.”
Most students said their rights are often violated at school.
About 71 percent of the students said school restrictions on hairstyles and clothing infringes upon their human rights, while 45.8 percent said school practices of revealing test scores to other students also violated their rights.
Conservative groups have called for a withdrawal of measures to improve students’ human rights, saying teachers’ authority has been challenged more often at school.
Under the measures, corporal punishment by teachers and nighttime lessons were banned. Also students were allowed to decide on their hairstyle, clothing and mobile phone use.
Some agree that the measures have helped raise social awareness on human rights violations at schools, but others say it has made it difficult for teachers to educate students.