The challenge left to us by the Jeju teacher incident

Incidents in the Educational Field and Structural Social Issues

The incidents occurring in the education field are not just temporary shocks, but serve as a mirror reflecting the structural problems of our society. The tragic death of an elementary school teacher in Jeju recently cannot simply be dismissed as the misfortune of an individual. It should serve as a trigger to illuminate fundamental issues such as the essence of education, the human dignity of teachers, and the lack of institutional protection.

Letters from the disciples, their quiet cries

The handwritten letters left by elementary school students after the incident are evidence of the emotional bond and trust formed between teachers and students, surpassing mere expressions of grief. The short phrases 'I miss you' and 'I liked you' clearly reveal that education is a space for healing and empathy, beyond just the transmission of knowledge. The children's sincerity speaks to how significant a teacher's presence has been as an emotional support. This is a signal that our education system needs to be restructured to be more human-centered and relationship-based.

Heavy Responsibilities and the Decline of Educational Authority

The reality is still cold. Teachers are enduring day by day without even the luxury of taking care of themselves, suffering from emotional labor, dealing with parents, and excessive administrative work. While the role of teachers used to be limited to the classroom, today's teachers fulfill roles as counselors, managers, and sometimes even conflict mediators. However, the rights and protections that correspond to these roles are not guaranteed. This structure maximizes the mental and physical fatigue of teachers and ultimately creates a vicious cycle that leads to extreme choices.

System reform, now is the starting point.

In the face of such tragedies, temporary sympathy or emotional opinions cannot approach the essence of the problem. Structural reforms across the entire education sector are necessary. Institutional measures for substantial protection and recovery must be established, rather than superficial responses. Effective legislation to ensure teachers' rights and safety, the expansion of professional counseling and administrative support systems to alleviate emotional labor, and the strengthening of psychological safety nets and mental health support systems in schools are needed. Such changes will be the starting point for forming an educational culture based on human respect and mutual trust, moving beyond the view of teachers as mere 'knowledge transmitters'.

Revisiting the Essence of Relationships, Trust, and Education

This incident prompts us to reevaluate the essential values of education, namely 'relationships' and 'trust.' The emotions revealed in the letters from the students remind us that education exists on the basis of human-to-human encounters. Teachers are partners who lead students' growth together, and their very presence is a crucial pillar for the emotional stability of students. When this relationship is respected, a healthy educational ecosystem becomes possible.

The Direction of Change and the Role of All of Us

Now we need to change the question. We must shift our focus from 'how to protect teachers' to 'how can education place people back at its center.' To achieve this, we need to ensure that policy reforms are accompanied by a transformation in the perceptions of our entire society. We are all members of the educational community. We must create a structure in which students, parents, administration, and society as a whole stand in solidarity and share responsibility, and we need to foster an environment where each teacher is treated as a dignified human being. Only when strong systems and a warm culture come together can true change begin.

Conclusion: Things That Remain After Losing

There is a saying that 'flowers are remembered even after they wither.' The traces left by a teacher in Jeju resonate not just with simple sadness, but with a powerful reflection on the essence of education. That sadness leads to responsibility, responsibility to solidarity, and ultimately must blossom into change. What we need to do now is clear. To ensure that the memory of the deceased is not in vain, we must start from the daily educational settings to rebuild respect, care, and trust. That is the next flower we must cultivate. I hope this tragedy becomes the first step toward better education rather than just a single tear.