Ministry releases new rules to protect teachers' classroom authority

Teachers call for the protection of their classroom authority in a rally held in Jongno District, central Seoul, last Saturday. [YONHAP]

Teachers will be able to kick out disruptive students from classrooms starting in September.

The Ministry of Education on Thursday announced new education rules regarding teachers’ guidance to students in classrooms, aimed to protect teachers’ classroom authority.

The class policies, set to go into effect on Sep. 1, came as teachers called for the protection of their classroom authority after a 23-year-old elementary school teacher took her own life last month due to suspected conflict with parents over a school violence case.

The new rules allow teachers to separate students within the classroom or even outside of the classroom if they cause trouble in class.

Teachers can ask other teachers for help in separating the student, if needed.

They will also be allowed to physically restrict students when students attempt to harm people or vandalize properties.

However, this does not mean that teachers will be able to physically punish the students, the ministry said.

According to the current Ordinance of Student Rights, any form of corporal punishment for students is banned, hindering teachers from responding physically to students.

According to the ministry, teachers will only be allowed to hold and stop students from committing harmful actions and will need to immediately notify the school principal if they use physical force against students.

The principal will then contact the parents regarding the matter.

Teachers can warn students regarding their use of phones in classrooms and even confiscate them if needed.

Teachers will also be able to discipline students by making them write a letter of apology and clean up any messes they have made.

But penalizing students with cleaning will not be allowed.

The new set of rules included guidelines on consultations between parents and teachers.

Parents and teachers can meet on an appointment basis only.

Teachers can reject consultation sessions during non-office hours or if they are unrelated to educational matters.

Students’ guardians will also be deemed in violation of teachers' rights if they refuse to let their students go through a test or attend counseling sessions two or more times despite urging by teachers.

"The new rules are expected to become a significant momentum to restore classroom order and make schools a balanced place for all students and teachers," Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said.

The ministry will also ask local governments to amend the Ordinance of Student Rights regarding rules that go against the ministry’s newly proposed rules.

Teachers' associations welcomed the ministry’s newly announced rules but stressed that further amendments are needed.

The Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations said it expects the policies will be able “to protect teachers’ classroom rights and students’ education rights.”

But the union stressed that other related bills, including a bill that protects teachers from unjust reports of child abuse, should be passed.

Teachers have been demanding legal revisions, especially to the Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, claiming that parents take advantage of the law to blackmail teachers and protect their children from legitimate punishment.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO, CHANG YOON-SEO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]