How not to victimize our teachers

Instead of wrestling over ineffective and controversial ideas, the government must come up with measures that can work immediately.

The People Power Party (PPP) and government discussed measures to enhance protections for teachers. The outline includes an immediate separation of the assaulting student and the victimized teacher and state coverage of the medical care and litigation cost. They also discussed the idea of granting teachers immunity over charges of child abuse if the teacher’s disciplinary actions were for educational reasons, and putting student’s unruly behavior on individual school records if it violates teachers’ rights.

Teachers’ dignity demands urgent restoration, as a survey by a teacher union has showed 99.2 percent of elementary school teachers experienced infringement on their authority. They even face physical threats and assaults from students. Some of the language is overly vicious and personal.

Even a small disciplining act can invite a report for child abuse. According to some of the accounts filed with the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Association (KFTA), parents accused teachers of “emotional abuse” when their child did not receive a sticker for good work or blamed for “assault” for touching their child while stopping a fight. To avoid the hassle, teachers neglect disciplining guidance and turn a blind eye to problem children.

Reports of child abuse by teachers that only numbered 16 in 2012 hit 2,154 in 2019. Half of them, or 53.9 percent, found the teachers not guilty or pardoned them without a prosecutorial action, sharply higher than 14.9 percent for total child abuse charges.

Since the administrator has a duty to report, the principal or deputy tend to report to the authorities even on speculation. But the teacher is immediately removed from the post and must endure a lawsuit that take up to a year. Even after being found not guilty, the label as an abusive teacher sticks for life.

A doctor is immune from liability for medical activities if their fault is not grave. Teachers also must be exempted from child abuse claim if their disciplinary actions are just. Upon serious assault, the aggressor and victim must be separated immediately. Upon suspicion of false accusations, the education office must help with legal procedures through its lawyers. If teachers must cope with lawsuits, no one would dare to discipline students. Students will feel the harm.

Putting unruly activities on school records might not be of any help, because parents have emerged as a bigger threat to teachers. Writing down the behavior of parents on students’ school records is ludicrous. Dreary lawsuits can surge as in the case with school violence. Instead of wrestling over ineffective and controversial ideas, the government must come up with measures that can work immediately. The governing and opposition parties must share wisdom if legal revisions are needed.