Assembly committee to mull legal changes to stop teacher abuse

The National Assembly’s Education Committee will hold meetings over the week to amend laws to protect teachers’ classroom authority.

Teachers call for the National Assembly to pass a revised bill on the Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes during a rally held in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Saturday. [NEWS1]

The National Assembly’s Education Committee will hold meetings over the week to amend laws to protect teachers’ classroom authority.

“We will respond to teachers’ requests for the protection of their rights as much as possible,” Democratic Party (DP) Rep. Kim Young-ho said during the committee’s plenary meeting held on Tuesday.

Related bills, including amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Special Act on the Improvement of Teachers’ Status and the Protection of their Educational Activities, have been proposed by lawmakers so far.

The revised bill on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act will likely be discussed during the parliament’s plenary session as early as this week.

The revisions aim to protect teachers against false charges of child abuse.

Teachers argue that the current Ordinance of Student Rights, which bans all forms of corporal punishment, leaves them vulnerable to malicious accusations of abuse from students and parents.

The revised bill proposed by People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Lee Tae-kyu and DP Rep. Kang Deuk-ku stipulates that teachers' actions will not be regarded as abuse if they are committed while guiding students, accord with laws and school rules, and inflict no intentional harm.

However, the two parties clashed over amending the teachers’ status improvement act to allow teachers to record disruptive behavior in students' records.

DP Rep. Do Jong-hwan asked the Ministry of Education how it will respond to the amendment, adding that the law would spark countless lawsuits against schools.

PPP Rep. Lee Tae-kyu disagreed, arguing that the ministry could create a legal team to deal with matters and protect teachers.

“Even if it takes time, issues can be prevented if there are procedures to follow,” said Lee Ju-ho, deputy prime minister and education minister.

“There is a need for a national campaign that makes school staff and students respect each other's rights and responsibilities.”

The revised bills are to be discussed during a bill review subcommittee’s meeting Wednesday.

Teachers are warning they will go on strike if lawmakers fail to pass the bills.

The Korean Teachers’ Union said it is discussing designating Sept. 4 a “stop public education day” holiday.

This day marks the 49th day since a young elementary school teacher at Seo 2 Elementary School in southern Seoul took her own life due to alleged conflicts with parents over a school violence case.

Buddhists observe a mourning period of 49 days, the time which they believe it takes for the dead to be reborn.

Under the current law, teachers are not allowed to conduct mass activities such as strikes. However, teachers said they will use sick leaves and annual leaves to participate in the strike.

Some parents also showed their support online.

“I hope my child’s school will be a safe and happy place,” one parent wrote.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO, CHANG YOON-SEO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]