School under fire for planning to hold literary contest for its principal

By Yoon Ye-seul

An elementary school in Incheon, west of Seoul, has been criticized for planning to hold a literary and arts contest for its principal who is set to retire in February next year.

The subjects of the contest are different based on grades: “Drawing the principal’s portrait” for the first and second grade students, “Writing a poem based on the principal’s name” for those in the third and fourth grade.

Fifth and six grade students are required to write an essay or draw a cartoon about the principal. The prize-winning work will be included in the school magazine which will be published on the day of the principal’s retirement.

According to the students’ parents, the school sent a letter on Oct. 13 saying that it will hold a literary contest to celebrate the principal’s retirement as well as mark the school’s anniversary.

They are strongly opposed to the event even though the school has said it is just for developing student’s love for the school. “Why is the school holding such an absurd event?” said one parent. “I will not let my child take part in the contest.”

“We don’t force students to participate in the contest,” said a school official. “It aims to teach students how to love their school, nothing more.”