Korean Job Discussion Forums

[R. S. Refugee]

So, I'm finishing my last week of a summer camp. I live in a room on the same floor with the middle school children.

Just a couple of minutes ago (10:30PM), the Korean TAs (all college students) have just finished leading the middle school children in 20 minutes or so of non-voluntary chanting and deep knee bends. The girls are joined together by putting their arms around each other's shoulders have been compelled to do deep knee bends for some fairly long period of time.

I get the impression that group punishment and preventive punishment are perhaps cultural norms among Koreans. As I was standing there outside my door watching this bizarre form of child abuse with a rather jaundiced expression, one of the Korean TAs came over to me and I asked how much longer this was going to go on. She indicated that she knew I didn't like to see such treatment of school girls (or boys for that matter) and so explained to me that "this is just our way, and we can move you to another room if this bothers you."

So, I wonder if these fine folks have ever heard about the Geneva Conventions and prohibitions against group punishment.

Comments?

[Bibbitybop]

Are you sure they weren't teaching the kids how to exercise properly? I don't understand what was harmful to the children, except maybe lack of sleep at night. I've read posts about Korean teachers hitting children. That is bad. Having them bend over is punishment? Maybe if a Catholic priest was around, but it sounds harmless from what you described.

[W.T.Carl]

Silly Canadian,

This is the way Korean students are punished, and just because your culture doesn't approve means nothing. If you don't like it, go home and starve. Maybe if other countries followed the Korean ie Confucian traditions, our schools would be more effective. We know that corperal punishment isn't in vogue in the west any more, and our schools are falling behind in comparison with the Korean system. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two from them.

[VanIslander]

there oughta be a law against squatting

oh, the inhumanity!

think of the children!!

[SHANE02]

[sjrm]

[laogaiguk]

Western education policies have a lot to be desired, and have many flaws. Having said that, there is no way I would put my kids through the Korean system. I would with the Western system, but would make sure I continue to be a parent (actually, many problems with the Western system is because parents nowadays are lazy and expect the school to do what they should). Anyone, and I mean anyone, who thinks the Korean system is superior is an idiot, and I don't use that insult lightly. I have yet to meet a Korean who disagreed with me on this point.

[captain planet]

western education is generally a waste of time, with a very few exceptions.

[Qinella]

[Pak Yu Man]

Did someone actually say "Korean schools were more efficient than western school?"

WTF dude? You're probably working in a Hagwon. Why have hagwons if their school system works so well?

Why are all of us here if their way works so well?

[Juregen]

[The Lemon]

[captain planet]

with the exception of the basics of learning to read and some chemistry items, the entirety of my education could have been replaced with a library card and an internet connection, and it would have taken about one-fifth as long.

[The Lemon]

There's a lot of filler-time in 13 years of public schooling, anywhere. My memory of school from age 6 to about 12 was a whole lot of time-filling and being taught skills like reading and writing that I already had.

One of the key functions of school is to keep kids off of the street, out of the stores, and out of each others' pants while the parents are working. That's why school boards back home are so reluctant to cancel school during snowstorms - parents get upset about needing to find babysitters.

[Novernae]