Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.
Students' rights ordinance up for change
By Kim Bo-eun
Moon Yong-lin speaks after being inaugurated as superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in downtown Seoul, Thursday, a day after he won the by-election for the top education post in the capital. /Korea Times
By Kim Bo-eun
The newly-elected Seoul education chief has vowed to amend a controversial ordinance on students’ rights in a move to scrap his predecessor’s liberal policies.
Moon Yong-lin, a former education minister, won the race for the superintendent post of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education by garnering 52.6 percent of votes in the by-election held Wednesday.
On Thursday, the conservative superintendent announced his plans to restore the authority of teachers which he claims collapsed due to the ordinance drawn up by former superintendent Kwak No-hyun.
The ordinance prohibits corporal punishment and checks on students’ belongings. It also gives students freedom to choose hairstyles and clothing. Enacted early this year, it triggered a strong backlash from teachers.
In his inauguration speech, the new educator said he would strengthen public education through restoring the authority of teachers.
“When I visited classrooms I noticed that students listen to their mp3 players during class. Students also have cigarette packs and lighters in their pockets, but the ordinance requires consent from the students to check their belongings, which makes it impossible to conduct these,” said Moon in a press conference that followed.
“As a result, teachers are experiencing difficulties guiding students. The focus therefore will be on amending parts of the ordinance that are causing this problem, such as the ban on checking students’ belongings,” he said.
He also mentioned his plans regarding the free school meal, another policy implemented during Kwak’s term.
Moon said a large part of the budget for next year has been allocated to free school meals and that this leaves little room for other crucial expenditure on facilities such as restrooms or cooling and heating systems.
“It will be my job to negotiate with the city and district officials so the budget can be appropriately allocated to meet the needs of schools,” he said.
Moon also spoke of new policies that he would implement during his term. Among the main measures is a plan to abolish exams for first-year students in middle school, to eliminate the over-competitive atmosphere at schools, and to provide students with more time and opportunities to explore their talents and dreams.
However, Moon’s tenure only lasts one year and six months, because he is serving Kwak’s remaining term of office. Kwak was stripped of his post in September before his four-year-term expired. He was convicted of bribing a fellow contender to withdraw during the race for the educator’s post in 2010.
Regarding the question of whether he will be able to achieve his plans in such a short time span, Moon said, “My aim is to sow the seeds of my plans and create possibilities which may be expanded on later.”