[Opinion] Politicized Teachers’ Union

Article 31 of the Constitution, which stipulates the “political neutrality of education,” is becoming nothing but window dressing. It is because the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers` Union (KTU), is increasingly polluting schools that should remain innocent, with their growing political and ideological activities. Banners urging the ban on American beef will be put up on some 9,000 schools nationwide under the name of the KTU. The KTU headquarters has instructed it to schools with its affiliated society. The KTU also decided to send an anti-U.S. beef school newsletter to the students` families. In schools where principals are against sending the newsletter, homeroom teachers will send them directly to their students’ homes. This shows that, if the KTU can push for its plan like this, the order of ranks in schools has already broken down.

Of course, the KTU’s planned action is against the law. The American beef import issue is no longer merely about food safety. Unfortunately, it has turned into the left-leaning forces’ means of shaking the government, and the KTU is spearheading the movement. As the Teachers` Union Act completely prohibits the KTU from being involved in political activities, this alone is the violation of “political neutrality.” What is more, the installation of anti-U.S. beef banners is no different to the declaration of their willingness to expand the arena of their political activities from streets to schools. They are now even trying to use schools and school newsletters as propaganda tools of their protests against the beef import deal. Are they trying to fill the dwindling number of candlelight protesters with students who will soon have a summer vacation?

Article 14 of the Fundamental Law of Education stipulates that teachers must not instruct or instigate students in order to support or oppose a certain political party or fraction. It is deplorable to see the KTU ignoring even this common sense. Moreover, the KTU reportedly will urge all of its union members to participate in the candlelight rally, which has turned into a political venue to demand the ouster of the Lee Myung-bak administration. As some of the protestors chant during the recent rallies, are they also demanding to “have a round of fight” with the government? If the government does not want to give up the Education Law, it must sternly punish some teachers who have far exceeded the limits.

If KTU members really want to put up the banner, they can do so at their house. Teachers’ political views should only be expressed as a personal opinion and should not be expressed publicly. There is no way for parents to tell whether their children’s teachers are affiliated with the KTU or not. KTU teachers should inform their students’ parents about their affiliation. This will be the least work ethic they could observe for the consumers of education.

Editorial Writer Hong Chan-sik (chansik@donga.com)