hankyoreh

The "Remembrance Event for Students Sacrificed for School Education" was attended by hundreds of students and regular citizens over the weekend without any major mishap. The reason there were fewer participants than had been anticipated was likely because the authorities had threatened disciplinary action and because teachers were mobilized and sent to the protest site to pressure people from attending. The thousands of police who surrounded the area with an intense presence also contributed to the low turnout. It was a perfect demonstration of the authoritarian and oppressive atmosphere in our society, since the free expression of opinion was labeled "collective action" and blocked.

They say that first year high school students were there in the largest numbers. That would be related their discontent with the relative evaluation-style "high school performance ranking system" that was introduced after their first mid-term examinations since advancing to high school. The new evaluation system was supposed to honor the principle of placing greater importance on students' high school performance, in order to normalize the school curriculum, while reducing the problems inherent in the "absolute evaluation" of the past. One can easily understand, however, that students were going to be more sensitive about the new system. Officials need to do detailed analysis of the problems that showed up in the first examination and of the effects of the new approach.

What should be paid even more attention to is the fact that this was a collective protest against education that encourages unlimited competition to get into university. To adult ears their claims may sound like easygoing talk from kids who fail to recognize the inevitability of competition. It must be realized, however, that their objections are of the unproductive competition that brands the majority, those who lose out, as losers.

These students are not speaking with refined argument, but this is the first time students have taken issue with the whole of education policy. What that means is that it might be the start of a "rebellion of the high schoolers." Reportedly an event will be held in the same spot on May 14th, organized by the online group behind the petition to have the hair length restriction abolished. It is not desirable to have education officials declare that students who participate will be penalized. Students, too, must have channels through which to state their views. There needs to be a change of thinking, and understanding that debate in a public square is also an important part of education.

The Hankyoreh, 9 May 2005.


[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]