Seoul education superintendent begins 1-person protest to defend student rights ordinance

Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) stages a one-person protest at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Wednesday, to oppose the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s move to abolish the student rights ordinance. Yonhap

Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) began a one-person protest on Wednesday to oppose the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s move to abolish a student rights ordinance that has been cited by some critics as one of the major factors infringing on teachers' rights.

The progressive superintendent, who began the protest at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, said he will continue protesting throughout the capital until Dec. 22 when the council is scheduled to wrap up its plenary session.

“Students who are sufficiently respected can grow up into adults who respect others,” Cho said.

“We should not pull back the efforts to boost students’ human rights. I ask Seoul citizens to join hands to block the passage of a bill to abolish the student rights ordinance.”

The student rights ordinance was first enacted in 2010 by a progressive superintendent of education from Gyeonggi Province at the time, and has since been enforced by the Seoul education office and six other regional education offices.

The ordinance aims to boost students’ human rights, banning corporal punishment and discrimination by teachers.

Despite its good intentions, the ordinance has faced criticism for emphasizing only students’ wellbeing, while neglecting the rights and wellbeing of teachers at their workplace.

This criticism intensified after an elementary school teacher in her 20s ended her life inside her classroom in Seoul’s Seocho District in July.

Colleagues and teachers' groups believe that the 24-year-old teacher suffered constant harassment from the parents of some of her students, which led to calls for the abolition of the ordinance.

Ruling People Power Party members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council have since been moving to introduce a new ordinance and abolish the existing one.

According to SMOE, the bill for the abolition is highly likely to be presented during a council meeting next Monday or Tuesday, and passed at the plenary session on Dec. 22.

Opposing the abolition, Cho rather raised the need to overhaul the existing ordinance in a way as to increase student accountability and better protect teachers’ rights and educational activities.

“Abolishing the ordinance unilaterally will only cause conflict and confusion in the education scene,” Cho said.

“I can never agree with some critics who put the blame on the student rights ordinance for the harassment by parents and infringement of teachers’ rights.”

Cho's office noted that respecting teachers’ rights and complying with school regulations will be made mandatory in its envisioned revision to the existing ordinance.

The revision will also prohibit anyone from disrupting reasonable actions of teachers taken to teach and guide students, the office added.

Cho said he will demand a revote if the bill is passed. He also considers taking legal action if the bill is passed again in the revote.

“The rights of teachers and students should coexist and develop together,” Cho said.