Reforming the sleeping overnight system
A long way to go
By 16th waver Kim Seung-Jun
Sung Hun-Jae teacher, head of student management, gave an important announcement about the change in policy next year regarding the sleeping overnight system during the morning assembly in the gymnasium. He warned that indulgence of some of the students is harming the true meaning of student autonomy.
Sleeping overnight system is one of the things that best characterizes Korean Minjok Leadership Academy (KMLA). Unlike other ordinary high schools, students in KMLA are allowed to engage in various activities during the weekend from volunteer work to eating out. Of course, this system was created to encourage student autonomy and based on the premise that all students are going to take responsibility to their actions.
Unfortunately, many students have misused this system. They took advantage of the loopholes in the sleeping overnight system and pursued their own pleasure at the expense of student autonomy. For example, some students signed up for returning home during weekends in order to miss honjeong and shinsung. Even several months ago, these irresponsible actions were found out by the school dorm parent, Kim Dae-Gi teacher.
As a result, the assembly of teachers made the decision to reinforce the system by applying more stringent rules. It decided to make the parents, not students, to sign up for the returning home during the weekend when there is a need. Also, it reduced the number of times students can go out of school to only once a month. Although the change in policy is expected to at least prevent indulgent trickery of students, some problems come up on the table.
First, student activity is significantly restricted. Extra-curricular activities make up a large part of the life in KMLA. They enrich the lives of students by providing motivation and novel experience for students. Most of the students engage in such activities such as volunteer work, competition and so on during the weekend. However, because of this change in policy, students will be forced to look at their dull books even in weekends and deprived of the chance to get an outside experience that is unattainable inside school.
Next, the reinforcement of the policy is expected to contribute to the growing vicious cycle of distrust between the teachers and the students. The prerequisite for successful student autonomy is mutual belief and cooperation with the teachers. Sadly, the conflict between the students and teachers is on a stalemate and is not expected to come to an end soon. It’s because no side is willing to step back and concede to the opposition. On one side of the debate, students claim that just because some of the students violated the rules doesn’t justify sudden drastic changes in policy without consent. On the other side, teachers assert that students who don’t even abide by their responsibilities don’t deserve to be a global leader and thus need rigorous measures.
Nobody knows what kind of impact this change in system will have in the future. Currently, many students are displaying negative reactions and the conflict with the teachers is not expected to wane soon. However, one thing that is evident is that unless trust, cooperation and responsibility are present, we can’t achieve true student autocracy. Let us genuinely believe in what this school stands for: student republic with responsibility.
KMLA is a unique school in an awkward position. It's isolated, and there is a lot to consider when students exit the campus. Do they get home safely? Are they going where they say they are going? Etc. etc. So I think the rules have to be firm, and I agree parents should, ultimately, put their stamp on paper when students leave. But I also think a certain degree of trust should exist, and it is sad to see that sway back and forth on the scales. While I do think KMLA has plenty of "global leaders," the fact that they are still teenagers has to be considered. I used to be a teenager, and even though I was one in Canada, I know that I bent rules quite often, and sometimes it was risky.
답글삭제The one thing I don't agree with - limiting the number of times a student can leave. If parents allow it, it shouldn't be an issue. Parents should play a more active role in determining what level of education they want (in some sense at least).
Oh I see your point! Well, since all of us in the school are teenagers, we often make wrong or faulty decisions impusively. I partially agree to the fact that stringent measures are, to a certain extent, necessary. However, I still can't agree to the policy of restricting the number of times a student can leave. Hope KMLA develops in a positive light! :)
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