Restoring teachers' dignity is a task that cannot be delayed

SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) -- Controversy over the ban on corporal punishment of students has continued since some progressive educational superintendents announced the measure in July of last year under criticism that the ban implemented without alternative measures would lead to the fall of teachers' dignity.
In January, the education ministry came out with complementary measures, which allow teachers to hand out "indirect punishments" to disobedient students. Defying the ministry's measures, progressive superintendents of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province prohibited indirect punishments, and confusion in schools deepened.
The collapse of order in classrooms has accelerated since the ban of corporal punishment, although the progressive teachers' union and education officials claim the problems have existed for decades.
It is obvious that the dignity of teachers fell further with the implementation of an all-out ban of corporal punishment in schools this year.
According to a survey by the Korean Federation of Teachers Associations (KFTA), the morale of teachers fell further this year. Of the 1,733 teachers polled, 79.5 percent said their job satisfaction and morale had dropped. The rate showed a sharp increase from 55.3 percent and 64.3 percent in surveys taken in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
About 40 percent cited the collapse of teachers' satisfaction and morale following the ban on corporal punishment and the enactment of an ordinance on students' human rights.
The teachers cited as difficult problems the weakening of their control of students as they face disorder in classrooms with students defying instructions due to the ban of corporal punishment and parents' excessive interference.
The education ministry is pushing ahead with a plan to repeal the rights of education board superintendents to authorize school regulations. The ministry's plan would entrust the power of amending school regulations to principals of schools. However, it is not clear if the revision will be made as planned, because progressive superintendents and opposition parties are opposing the revision.
The KFTA suggested in a statement on Monday to organize a consultative body among the education ministry, education board and teachers' organizations to restore order in schools.
To restore order in schools, the restoration of the dignity of teachers is essential. It is desirable to discuss the matter among relevant parties -- the education ministry, education board and teachers' organizations.
The ministry should persuade education boards to make changes before abolishing their rights regarding school regulations. Progressive superintendents should be positive in dialogue with the ministry in order to fix the chaos and conflicts caused by the reckless implementation of the ban on corporal punishment without any preparation.
The fact that the British government decided to give up its "no touch" policy, which bans corporal punishment of students, 13 years after its implementation should be considered a lesson.