(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Dec. 26)

Students' rights

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education's attempt to legislate an ordinance
for students' rights is being met with stiff resistance, particularly from
conservatives.

Last week, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education unveiled a draft text of
students' rights, the first-ever attempt to declare rights of students by an
education office anywhere in the country. The draft of the ordinance states that
its goal is to "guarantee dignity, value and rights of students as humans."
It would be difficult to argue with the goal of the ordinance. After all, we
regard human rights to be universal, and surely, students are entitled to human
rights. It is a bit of a surprise, therefore, that several parents' organizations
and teachers' organizations are condemning the proposed ordinance.
The draft ordinance calls for guaranteeing students the right to choose whether
they participate in classes outside the regular school hours. It also limits
excessive learning. Bullying and corporal punishment would be banned. Students
will be given the right to express their individuality in what they wear and the
restrictions on hairstyles will be removed. Students will be allowed to bring
cell phones to school, but its use may be restricted.
The draft ordinance also guarantees the students the right to peaceful assembly
outside class hours and guarantees religious freedom by banning mandatory
religious classes without offering alternative classes. Students will be allowed
to participate in formulating school policies and appropriate procedures will be
guaranteed when students are disciplined. The proposal also calls for students'
rights advocates to be appointed by the education superintendent.
What the draft ordinance proposes are not extraordinary or outrageous. There may
be some difficulties in finding ways to implement these rights at the practical
level, but the rights of students as human beings cannot be denied for the
convenience of the adults. Indeed, the rights outlined in the proposal are rights
that adults take for granted.
Parents opposed to the ordinance are worried that students will study less - what
if the students decide to exercise their rights to refuse extra-hours classes?
They find the possibility of students dressing in ways that express their
personalities abhorrent - students must dress like students, they argue. The
general argument made by the opponents of the students' human rights ordinance
proposal is that guaranteeing students' human rights would limit teachers'
ability to educate and discipline their students.
More to the point, those who oppose the ordinance are afraid that students will
become uncontrollable, rejecting parental and school authorities. These people
may find the notions that children are not parents' property to be controlled and
that they are individuals with rights difficult to accept. Critics point out that
the proposal is too idealistic and that it does not reflect the realities of
schools today. However, progress is made when we set an ideal and strive toward
it. The ordinance should not be shot down wholesale. There is time to smooth out
the kinks until the final text is presented in February.
Those who are aware of their own rights are more likely to respect the rights of
others. One way to create a vibrant democracy is to educate the members of the
society about their rights and their responsibilities. That education should not
be held off until the children are adults.
(END)