The ministry of Education finally has begun to take action against the political agitation on the part of KTEWU (Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union) members by firing people. This follows a raid on the head offices of these pack of losers as well.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not questioning your obviously deeper knowledge of this situation, but could you explain for us why these people are losers? (I’m genuinely curious as to what has you so riled.)
Without an update, this post looks like equally unhelpful agitation. (Not to mention the fact anyone who has followed this story knows that whatever its full English name is, its English acronym is not “KTEWU,” at least not in its own usage and not in the English language Korean news media.)
While Jeon Gyo Jo (KTU) stopped being an organization that works for the better of students and education long ago, the crackdowns(sss) against it have usually been, in part, because of a Confucian and feudal belief that teaching is too lofty to be labor, that a teacher is not a laborer, and therefore teachers have no right to unionize. The first crackdowns, in the early nineties, were commenced on just because they were organizing. They also got themselves in trouble for campaigning against the chonji, the white envelopes of money parents would slip their childrens’ teachers to make sure they got extra attention. Rich and influential parents resented being called on that.
Schools are horrifically difficult places to work, with the headmaster ruling his fiefdom with the same authoritarianism you see in a hellish hagwon or a medium-sized company that doesn’t have to compete, where the work therefore must be done without any innovation offending anyone.
That doesn’t mean Jeon Gyo Jo isn’t a group of self-righteous, clueless, out-of-touch and racist individuals that causes more problems than it’s worth. I think it is largely irrelevant now, and it largely has itself to blame. What keeps it in the news are events like these. I do find the tone of Elgin’s post annoying and inappropriate, given there’s no explanation for what’s “finally” so good about raiding the offices of an organization of teachers because it is criticizing government policy (and therefore treating them as the workers it says they aren’t), however stupid its ideas may in fact be. Ironically KTU is criticizing government policy because it, too, believes that teachers are something special, that they’re conscientious intellectuals who in a society like Korea’s should therefore be taken on their word because they teach. It wants the best of both worlds; to enjoy the Confucian honor and revered status of scholars while acting like the laborers they think they’re better than. Not necessarily a contradiction, but definitely one in this cultural context.
The last three paragraphs of a 2005 Hani editorial discusses the problems with the org, all still valid points.
Actually you are right “oranckay” about the role of the union in regards to helping teachers who have been hammered by principles, for example, that behave as if they were feudal lords. As some teachers have explained to me, the union has been very useful in dealing with this problem however these same teachers go on to confide in me that the union has undoubtedly been infiltrated with “spies” as they put it who pursue a political agenda that is anti-South Korean and does a dis-service to the country by unduly politicizing education by foisting ideology upon the fresh minds of students. They do not encourage critical thinking either, rather encourage what amounts to political dogma. As such, I hold their leadership in contempt as being some of the worst citizens of this country who should not hold positions as educators.
The union needs to cease political agitation and focus more upon helping teachers improve their workplace, as well as make one of their primary goals the cultivation of those who would be the future leaders of Korea — without the taint of anyone’s ideology. I think they need to reconsider Ahn Chang-ho’s point-of-view, regarding education, in greater detail.
With all due respect to Mr. Elgin, I fail to see how this can in any way be seen as a positive step. Without getting too deeply into the opinions of the union (I would certainly be way over my head), I don’t see how any government suppression of what is nothing more than free speech can ever be viewed positively. You may view the leadership as ideological fools, and you may well be right, but why exactly does having an opposing view equate to “being some of the worst citizens of this country.”?
It is troubling that Lee and his cabal is so threatened by dissenting opinions that they react in the most punitive way possible. Paradoxically, by cracking down on what is largely a fringe element in society, he is simply giving credence to their argument. Overblown rhetoric like calling his governing style “authoritarian” seems far less overblown when he starts ordering people to be fired and confiscating computers. Why exactly is he so threatened? Even conceding the old canard that the union is rife with spies and agents provocateur, is the state so weak that this will bring it down?
I don’t think one has to be a conspiracy theorist to find the collection of names troubling. Exactly when in history has a sitting government ever used an “enemies list” to send gold stars and Christmas cards? I am not suggesting that Korea is heading back to the days of the disappeared, but one must be weary of any move in that direction.
I think it is even more troubling that laws prohibiting teachers from engaging in political acts even exist. Laws like this do one thing, and one thing only– empower a sitting government to act against perceived enemies. What, precisely, is a political act? Is protesting a policy political? Is voting political? Is refusing to buy American beef political? Essentially, on its face ANY act is in some way a political act, and allowing any law that is so open to political persecution certainly flies in the face of democratic ideals, does it not?
As for your your assertion that the union should focus on improving the workplace, I agree completely. However, I vociferously object to the idea that there is no place for ideology in the classroom. The mere act of teaching is an ideological one. Show me a teacher that has no ideological bent and I will show you a teacher who ought to find another job. While the Korean system may not reflect this very well, the idea of education is to cultivate multiple viewpoints and then allow the student to make his own choices and form his own ideology. In a day and age when everything from science to language to history has become a polarizing and controversial issue, to castrate the opinions of those who are among the best qualified to weigh in on the matter is lunacy. Furthermore, to ask a teacher to abstain from espousing an ideological opinion is tantamount to endorsing the status quo, and isn’t that simply an ideological opinion in and of itself?
So yes, they may be leftist crackpots, and their ideas may be absurd, but I for one think it is dangerous to sit back and watch them be persecuted based on their ideas, particularly in a culture where fear of expressing ANY dissenting opinion is not far below the surface.
IMO…
So called harmless “fringe elements” do not seek to paralyze the Central Governments, nor successfully organize hundreds, if not thousands, of violent brainwashed youth believing overt lies regarding national issues.
I hold the KTU in as much open contempt as the next (conservative) guy, but if we’re going to cheer on LMB for punishing teachers for making political statements outside of the classroom, it might require some further explanation as to why this is a positive development.
“laughing bear”, teachers are supposed to teach critical thinking instead of panhandling ideology of any strip. The “mere act of teaching” should not be motivated by ideology though this has happened in both directions in South Korea. There should be an end to this and a focus upon developing critical thinking skills, which are needed in any advanced society. Such skills can serve the society best since it is the role of citizens to scrutinize their government and to demand accountability.
As per the title of this thread suggests, I do have some concern regarding the manner Han-nara dang and LMB seem to work. Some of their acts are questionable and heavy-handed but not in the same vein as elsewhere:
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2009/05/15/south-korea-over-reaction-to-free-speech-here-and-elsewhere/
You will notice the striking similarities to the “Minerva” incident and what has happened in Guatemala if you read further.
Nevertheless, I contend that the union has engaged in politics to the extent that they have jeopardized their core mission as promoters of education and have callously used their young charges as political cannon-fodder and this should stop.
have to agree with r.elgin in refuting the notion that teachers should be indoctrinating their students into their way of thinking or espousing any one ideology, especially political, over another. show me a teacher with an ideological bent (and how diverse are these “bents” btw) who advocates it at the elementary or secondary schools, and i’ll show you a nut who doesn’t deserve the position he/she has.
and why would you think that these teachers are the most qualified to weigh in on anything?
pbowers — the teachers weren’t punished for indoctrinating students. They were punished — under civil servant and teacher unionization laws — for taking a signature campaign of other teachers and releasing statements criticizing the LMB administration.
rober koehler – i was responding to laughing bear’s comments. and if i recall correctly, there was some outlandish information being spread in korean classrooms by ktu teachers a few years back. have to see if i can dig that stuff up…
Fair enough, and outlandish stuff is being said by the KTU all the time. My point is that it’s irrelevant to Elgin’s post, which is cheering on the Ministry of Education for punishing teachers for making a political statement outside the classroom. If the ministry was punishing the teachers for using their classrooms to foment revolution, what they taught would be relevant. It isn’t, however, so it’s not.
Amen, pbowers and elgin. Laughing Bear is way out of line here. Teachers need to stop polluting the minds of impressionable young kids who already have 2 strikes against them by virtue of living in Korean society and being subjected to the mind trance-inducing Korean education system. Add ideological prejudice to the mix and you end up with – well, an educated idiot.
Sometimes no education at all is better than what passes for it. Korea should be studied worldwide as a worst-practices example.
You don’t know Korea very well, do you? This is not a simple issue of govt. oppression – rather intolerence on either side of the political spectrum for opposing viewpoints. The left wing teachers (I would not call them “educators”) are every bit as bad as the right wingers.
As teachers of young people, they have a responsibility inside and outside the classroom. They should not be fomenting political unrest inside or outside the classroom for partisan political purposes. The question of which side is more dispicable is fairly academic.
This teachers’ union is totally under the control of Pyongyang, which is why the majority of Korean youngsters these days think that the Korean War was started by the USA and South Korea. Go figure.
Teachers can be “left-leaning” and that is OK till they become pro-North and anti-America. These teachers actually told their Junior High student to go out and demonstrate against American beef. What these youngsters know other than to do what their teachers tell them?
These so-called teachers, who are nothing more than the remnant of anti-government agitators’ of 1970s, should be jailed.
Many of them have never traveled outside of Korea and cannot speak a sentence of English. Never watched any American movies or heard American pop song.
A typical frog in the well. A typical Korean Commie.
Many of these Commies tell their students that the US and the USSR split Korea. And, that is why both countries are poor. They like NK totally dismiss SK’s economic advancements.
What happened in Korea during 1950s was the result of Communist ideology. Communism was on the rise and the entire Korea was to be under Communism. Just like NK is right now. A worst form of Communism.
Actually splitting Korea saved the southern half. All Communists moved, except new Commies raised by European Commies in the 1970-80s, to the NK. That saved the half of Korea. Koreans should be thankful that a clear line was drawn to separate the different ideologies.
Otherwise, all Koreans will be under KJI, serving China.
I think the discussion is going far afield. These teachers aren’t being attacked for what they taught their students – they are being attacked for what they did themselves, outside of the classroom, uninvolved with students.
If there is a link between the current attack and a bunch of teachers teaching ideology, you guys should show the link first.
Free speech is life itself.
Previous quote by Salman Rushdie.
“Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too.”
Voltaire
See #13. The missing link is a blue sock puppet.
Good quote, someguy! Sure, I’m not sympathetic to that bunch of idiots, and what they do – inside and outside the classroom is a dispicable abrogation of their role and responsibility, but is it in fact illegal? The administration is indeed treading dangerous water here and should be more cautious and principled.
When you surrender your principles, you compromise the integrity of your argument.
“mate” and “someguy” have valid thoughts regarding their concern with free speech, however these people are not just any Korean citizen but are the leadership of educational organization that has used their clout to engage in the political process in a way that is both unsavory and subversive. Their position makes them liable for additional scrutiny and considering the political aspect of their careers, I submit that this is a unique set of circumstances. These people are targets, not their “free speech”.
If LMB’s administration allowed this sort of heavy-handed behaviour to continue in other areas and sought to stifle “free speech” by the use of election laws or other technical trifles, then there would be serious consequences for him and his party and there could still be serious consequences if he is not careful and does not learn the correct lessons of engaging the public in a respectful manner. These politicians still need to learn to listen and engage the public better.
Elgin,
“Their position makes them liable for additional scrutiny and considering the political aspect of their careers, I submit that this is a unique set of circumstances. These people are targets, not their “free speech”.”
So, where do you draw the line? How about foreigner English teachers complaining about educational policies or environmental issues on their blogs?
Free speech is being attacked by the mere fact that they were arrested under a law that says teachers are forbidden from participating in political activities. Frankly, why would such a law be in the books if it wasn’t to stifle dissent?
Are you indicating that the “right of free speech in Korean society” means the assembly of citizens and young people whose purpose is to promote violence against the Government? The end result making the South Korean nation appear unstable and drive foreign investment / tourism away.
Personally, I do not think you will have a group of foreign NETs assembling in the middle of Seoul with antagonistic signs confronting the South Korean police with violence and weapons. I seriously doubt the NETs would do so over educational or environmental polices in Korea.
“Are you indicating that the “right of free speech in Korean society” means the assembly of citizens and young people whose purpose is to promote violence against the Government?”
That’s a straw man argument.
This is about comments issued by the union and its members signing a petition, not violent protests.
i think i agree that it’s better to let the ktu publicly declare its positions. the more they’re allowed to talk, the more extreme they appear, and paradoxically the less significant their voice becomes. however, what they’re pushing in the classroom needs to come under closer scrutiny, IMO.
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