Korean Job Discussion Forums

[schwa]

Aargh.

Chatting with my boss today (district middle school supervisor) I learned of imminent procedural changes affecting public schooling in my province & quite probably others too before long. They plan to initiate a standardized high school entrance exam starting this new school year. A lot of ramifications.

The university entrance test already imposes more than enough problems for students & teachers. I live in a smaller city & similar I'm sure to small towns across the country all the brightest students move away to larger centers to attend ostensibly better high schools for a better shot at the 'prestigious' universities. SNU of course the holy grail.

So the local high schools are stripped of achievers & mentors. Surprise, suneung scores are disappointing. Official conclusion? Students & teachers are lazy. Solution? More study. What was previously a one-year hell for 3rd-year students extends to 1st & 2nd year now: early morning till late evening study, no vacation.

High school teachers arent pleased. They get paid for supplementary classes but they cant opt out & I'm watching them get more frazzled with each nonvacation that passes. Theyre starting to blame the middle school teachers.

Now the adminstrators see the middle school teachers as underperforming & non-accountable, hence the need for a new 'big test,' i.e. another do-or-die multiple-choice abomination that has nothing to do with learning to think. There goes the few hours per semester of practicing conversational english there. Theyre already planning mandatory extra study classes during future middle school 'vacations'.

I can only speak about Korean english teachers I know, a few dozen, & I can assert that the majority are dedicated & doing their best for the betterment of their own & their students' english. This new step will create burnout & bitterness. There is widespread suspicion that even the sop of supplemental pay for supplemental teaching will be rescinded in future too.

(This is already happening with me. My non-contractual perks are being steadily eroded.)

The screws are tightening on both teachers & students in the public school system. Its in part spurred on by the expensive parental 'obligation' of sending their kids to hagwon but its the ill-considered offical exams that create that problem in the first place. Instituting more? Insanity, in my opinion.

Theres a big union protest slated for this weekend at our provincial education office. So there should be. If you've read this far, I'm interested in your comments.

[mishlert]

Meanwhile, the Jong Ang Daily had this editorial today

Uneducated collegians

One out of four applicants accepted to Seoul National University based only on College Scholastic Ability Test grades this year failed either the English-language ability test or the mathematic skills test that the university requires. Last year, 31 percent of the students failed to meet the English language standard and 14 percent failed the math skills test. The Chinese character examination conducted by the university was "a comedy" according to some who witnessed it. We need to reverse the steady decline in the ability of our students to meet the standards of our universities.
Most of the early applicants accepted by Seoul National University were the cream of the crop at their high schools and in the national college entry examination. If students at Seoul National University, one of our best, fail to pass a basic skills examination, what can we expect of students at other universities? Some universities reportedly even have special tutoring programs in which upper-class students with good grades help students who do not have the basic abilities to follow what is going on in class.
The biggest reason that bright high school students become poor students once they enter college is the standardized high school education system. Because the students were not educated to their individual potential, all have been schooled only to a minimum standard that is not equal to preparing them for college. Some high schools have contributed to the problem by making tests easy or even giving out the answers in order to inflate their students' grades and enhance the school's reputation for placing its graduates in good universities. The College Scholastic Ability Test also drives students to cram for the test instead of developing their mental skills, making them unfit for college.
It is said that only a quarter of all college graduates are ready to be hired as soon as they graduate. Companies have to spend enormous amounts of time and money to educate their new recruits.
We cannot let this decline in educational standards continue. Scrapping the standardized curriculum would be a good first step.

2003.12.28

[Mr. Pink]

Can I ask what province you are in?

Seems like something that won't be country wide. The reason? Already in Seoul they go by a lottery system. That way you have a chance at "winning" a spot at a good highschool in your area.

Kyunggi Do also uses the lottery system.

What you are describing is the way it USED to be. I would be surprised if school systems went back to that system, it is hell.

[schwa]

Thats right. Pull out all the stops to reach an artifical peak & what have you got? A brain geared to one arbitrary test, exhausted, & ill-prepared for any real thought.

There are some really bright kids out there & a few distinguish themselves regardless. But a lot of excellent potential is poorly spent.

[schwa]

Mr P:

Gangwondo. They have a lottery system of sorts in place here, but somewhat dependent on general middle school grades too. This new test will constitute 50% of eligibility.

Families love living here in Sokcho for every reason but one: secondary education. Parents put their own careers on hold to move to cities considered more auspicious for their kids, or ship them off to relatives or dorms. Its a local shame & neednt be. There are fine teachers here.

But small population = dregs, according to Korean mindset. Seoul is the goal.

[Mr. Pink]