A Middle School Teacher Petitions for Expanded Authority to Discipline Disruptive Students

Did a current teacher submit a petition asking for rules reminiscent of the webtoon "Teach You a Lesson"?

Yes, this was a petition submitted to the National Assembly by a science teacher at a middle school in Asan, South Chungcheong Province.

The petition includes calls to establish legal grounds to prevent unjust interference and malicious complaints from parents, and to ensure that a teacher's legitimate guidance is not misconstrued as emotional child abuse.

The part that draws the most attention is the proposal to strengthen teachers' authority for student guidance.

It suggests allowing teachers to directly order a suspension of attendance—an action currently restricted to school principals—and granting them the power to mandate up to two hours of separate after-school guidance or a one-day attendance suspension for students who repeatedly disrupt classes.

The teacher who filed the petition explained, "This is not about allowing corporal punishment, but rather about protecting both students' right to learn and teachers' right to educate."

However, some voices within the education sector express concern that without clear application criteria, this authority could lead to abuse or infringe upon students' rights.

If the petition receives 5,000 or more agreements within 30 days of its release, it will be referred to the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly.

(Source: National Assembly Electronic Petition Website)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.