I also want to present a caveat and apology of sorts to start: I apologize if the following post is not being culturally sensitive and I am not trying to make a sweeping generalization. Rather, I am simply stating some of what I am seeing in 1 school, in 1 city. However, I have heard it is not just at the school I am teaching at. Here it goes...
I don't understand a system built on overworking your children to achieve success when the reality is that no one is really succeeding in a true sense. Parents are presented with false information about grades in order to appease them when the reality is, the kids can't learn the material at the rate at which it is being presented. Honestly, the kids go to school all morning and afternoon and make it to the hagwon (a type of after school school in which I teach) utterly exhausted.
They have no interest in learning more and I don't blame them. If I were 8 years old and had to go to nearly 10 hours of school a day, I wouldn't be interested either. I am passionate about teaching because I think its the key to so many freedoms, but this education doesn't feel like freedom to me. It feels more like a big game of charades taking place just to make people feel like their children are learning. I am stuck in an awkward place of doing a job that is in theory beneficial but feels far from it.
I am convinced that parents really do put there kids through this school because they want the best for them, but its just not playing out that way. Its painful to see the inability of people to see how the pressure is tearing a generation of children apart. Suicide rates are off the charts because of this pressure and its not just here in South Korea that this pressure is felt from my understanding. I hope this lie that endless working and over-education will create happiness will be realized as such and done away with.
I guess more than anything, I am experiencing in a tangible way how broken our world is. Something in me yearns for the time and place that we educate for the sake of freedom and collective good. For anyone who reads this, as you think of it, please pray for me, that I would be able to be someone who teaches out of love for the kids and that I would have clarity as to how best encourage the students. More so, pray for these poor kids who are just worn out.
Forgive me if I am entirely off the mark in saying much of what I said. I am simply trying to process a situation which appears so broken from my perspective.
Synopsis by Song: "World" by Five For Fighting
Mandi shared similar thoughts with me after returning from China so I don't think you are alone in your observations. It's very sad and I can't imagine what the kids are going through. My hope is that students will see how much you care and look forward to the time they spend with you in class-- even if on their end, it's not for educational reasons. If they have a safe place where they feel loved (unconditionally and regardless of their success in school) they will be learning and gaining more from you than just English. You will be helping them in ways that you can't begin to imagine. It sounds like your purpose in SK may be different than you expected but still very much needed for kids who are trying to succeed in a very high pressure society. You may just be an answer to their prayers in a very real way. Love you! Charice
ReplyDeleteCharice,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for that comment... so encouraging. I hope and pray that God will show me how best to be that positive influence you described. I really appreciate the kind words and perspective of my purpose here... opened my eyes. I love you and I hope that all is well at home.