That union is a regular target of the Chosun Ilbo, and has been discussed several times here as they were heavily involved in getting students involved in the protests against US beef imports (1, 2, 3). The union is especially active in this part of the country, and Jeollanam-do has, at 35%, the highest percentage of membership in the union out of all provinces and cities in South Korea. In one of my teachers' rooms---we have several---all the teachers are members and receive the paper and monthly journal. The intensively political climate is quite off-putting, actually. We have banners protesting this or that hanging outside the school, and every so often I'll have some promotional materials on my desk. Today it was a sticker on the computer monitor, which lasted about three fucking seconds before I took it down. After almost getting fired for making public my opinions, while union teachers in the area were photographed attending protests with students and have written their opinions in Korean-language publications, I'm understandably not pleased with the organization whose members pushed me around.
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6 comments:
... standardized tests are "suppressions against students' human rights"....
I think, in a ridiculous sort of way, I agree.
Uh . . . yeah, me too, especially with 3rd graders. But considering the work in a profession governed entirely by standardized tests . . .
Like Big Ben taking the week off because football is too violent.
I think it's unnecessary to put "left-leaning" when talking about the teachers' union. It's a naked way of associating the teachers' union, who we all hate, with anyone who thinks of themselves left-of-center.
Their tactics with the mad cow (isolationist nationalism) and with suppressing your speech, to anyone who knows anything about the history of liberal philosophy, have more in common with traditional right-wing ideals.
So constantly attaching "left-leaning" to them when it has nothing to do with the article comes across as dishonest, ignorant or intentional red baiting.
Yes, left and right are topsy-turvy over here.
It isn't "the" teachers' union, there are more than one. Others seem to have less vocal members, so don't get as much attention.
Korea's been cheating at these things for years. In 1996 I was told my the principal of a school I worked at that they had been selected to take standardized tests. I was confused thinking that the schools should be random, not selected. He told me they had a standardized test test that our kids aced to get them the privelege of writing the test. And I saw teachers helping students during the testing. Like GIVING them the answers. No wonder they aced it. I guess they do this because they figure as long as Korea looks smart they don't have to be.
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