Student handout · Discussion & Debate
Korea's Teacher Protection Law Gives Your High Schoolers Plenty to Argue About
Teachers' Rights, Students' Rights
Vocabulary
- authority – the right to give orders or make decisions
- malicious complaint – a complaint made to cause harm, not fix a problem
- discipline – to correct or punish behavior
- burnout – extreme exhaustion from stress
- accountability – being responsible for your actions
Background
In 2023, a teacher's death in Seoul led to nationwide protests and new laws giving teachers more power to discipline students and protection from false complaints.
Discussion Questions
- Should teachers remove a disruptive student without asking a parent first?
- Should a parent be punished for a false complaint?
- Why did this become such big news?
- Do students have too much power, too little, or the right amount?
Debate Motion
"Teachers should have more legal power to discipline students, even if students have less power to complain."
| For | Against |
|---|---|
Write two arguments for your side before the debate starts.