Page 11 - [인성]2016+영자신문

Social Issue 11

Discussing social issue;

Korean evening self-study,

keep or discard?

2-6 Ryu Yae-gyeong
In 2016, Lee Jejung, superintendent of education of
Gyeonggi-do Province, declared that high schools in
1. Discarding it without considering about our university
Gyeonggi-do will discard evening self-study from 2017.
entrance examination system could be far from reality,
The announcement was caught up in controversy, so
2. If we abolish it, the educational gap between the
our school’s Social Reading Debate Club often known as
haves and the have-nots will be widened, 3. Keeping
Social Reading Discussion Club called Dotori chose this
students at school until late is infringing their right to
for the first open forum’s topic for discussion. One week
study in their own way. During XF(Crossfire; free group
before the open debate, they accepted participation
discussion after argument), all the members discussed
applications from students.
the topic passionately. After the debate, club members
answered to some questions by audiences. All students
On November 12, 2016, Social Reading Debate Club held
including members of club and spectators took a
an open forum at the school library. It was started after
commemorative photograph before drawing with some
dinner time (6:30 p.m.) and it took almost 2 hours and 30
lucky winners. The overall atmosphere was very
minutes. All of 13 club members were on the panel,
passionate and cordial, and many students said that
divided into two groups, pros, and cons. The moderator
they really enjoyed the time.
of the debate was Yu Yoonji, a 2nd grader. Almost 20
students took place as the audience, and some teachers
A member of the club said, "We have been prepared for
also came to see the forum.
this event from summer vacation. We had at least three
general meetings, and even some of 3rd graders who
The forum was opened with a short presentation by the
had belonged to our club came to help us prepare. At
moderator about the real state of Korean evening self-
first, being as our first open forum, we worried about
study system and arguments about the issue. After ppt,
our ability, and it was hard to make clear meanings of
while members had short break time, spectators wrote
some terms we should use for this topic. Also, we
their questions about the topic on post-it papers.
thought everyone will want discarding evening self-
Then, the debate started. The pros argued for study. However, we could realize that the system has its
discarding evening self-study with 3 bases; 1. We should advantages. Abolishing it also had many limitations, so
respect students’ every right of self-determination, 2. our thought changed. By researching the topic, we could
With the educational alternative, we can pump up get much information and widen our perspective. Not
students’ potential and creativity, 3. Reforming old- only that, it was good opportunity to show our club’s
fashioned education system could be a way to normalize identity; what we do and how we work. Our viewpoint is
public education. Against them, cons argued in this way; really widened. That is the best outcome we got, I think."