#233, Teacher
On July 20, a young teacher was found dead in her classroom, the result of suicide. The 23-year-old woman taught first grade at Seoul Seoi Elementary School and had just passed the teacher certification exam last year. It was her first full year teaching.
The exact cause for suicide can never be wholly understood, but local media speculate it has to do with the parents of one of her students. The girl's parents spent months bullying and pressuring the teacher. This news comes just one day after another female teacher was assaulted by a sixth grade male student in front of the class resulting in her admission to hospital. She has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
South Korea has seen an increase in the amount of teachers being physically assaulted by students and parents of late. From 2018 to 2022, the Ministry of Education reports that 1,133 teachers suffered such harassment.
Why? What has changed?
To complete this Journal response, address one or more of the following:
(A) Describe your personal reaction to the teacher’s death, (B) Is the balance between students’ and teachers’ rights correct?
Responses with AI-generated text will be automatically deleted.
Comment on a peer’s response.
-Brenden Lee Teacher