Last weekend high school students held a candlelight protest to denounce competition-based education that includes the raking of students' high school performance. This coming weekend they are planning to hold a "street festival" to demand the abolition of hair-length restrictions. School and government authorities are nervous with all this "collective action" on the part of high school students, but in a way their actions are extremely reasonable and natural, because Korean youth, particularly high school students, are pressured in ways that are hard to endure.
What they will be protesting this time is the limit on hair length, but that is just a symbol of how their civil rights are indiscriminately disrespected. You can see it in how they are planning a picture display that shows examples of violations of their rights, open discussion, a "declaration of teaching rules" for their teachers, and a "youth declaration on the protection of student rights."
The reason restrictions on hairstyle continue to exist despite no longer being required in writing, much like uniforms, is because of the tenacious prejudices held by teachers and other adults. Because of their own memories about what is right they force students to look the same way and think that is educational. That is not beautiful for the upcoming generation and it is not educational either. Adults need to ask themselves if maybe they are forcing upon students regulations they themselves would not want to accommodate and whether that is right. Would adults put up with humiliation and violence of forcibly having their hair cut because it is "too long"? To youth who are of more sensitive that can leave a deeper wound.
Students are right to cry out, "Guarantee students' rights!" Instead of looking for ways to block the protests, schools and education ministry officials need to look at the issue of students' rights and find a way to set things right. Should they ask, "You never know what bad will happen if you give into everything kids these days want"? They should not. Responsibility comes from independence, and independence grows from freedom. Does one not already see prudent tactfulness in the way student protesters are planning their public assembly as a "festival"?
The Hankyoreh, 11 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Listen to High School Students' Calls |
