Kim Man-gon's Educational Forum Don't Do Bad Things!

Students stand out particularly in March. While taking a walk, I ran into a girl named Bom who lives on the 20th floor in the elevator. I was startled the moment I saw her face caked with makeup, but since she said, "I'm in college now!", I congratulated her while pretending to be unfazed. I thought to myself, 'Like other kids, she didn't wear makeup in middle or high school, so that's how it is. It's late, but she'll get used to it soon.'

We point fingers at middle schoolers wearing makeup and disapprove of boys and girls hanging around on apartment benches, but there's no set age standard. The phrase 'youthful days of eighteen and twenty' isn't there for nothing.

During dismissal time, I saw students everywhere, and I also saw dating couples here and there. One of two female students walking side by side turned around and briefly embraced a boy, but then, conscious of me passing by, took on a more modest posture. Many people lament at such sights. But what can we do? It cannot be reversed and does not need to be.

At the neighborhood entrance, five or six male and female students gathered and talked, then parted ways. As they walked off, one female student turned around, looked back toward the boys, and shouted, "Don't do bad things!"

I felt proud. And reassured. Based on the tone and meaning of such words, I wish we could examine what lies in the hearts of students who know how to say such things and develop programs for their lives. The problem is that we adults rush to create all such programs ourselves.

Youth will naturally display all kinds of behaviors. And such behaviors have existed in any society at any time. As days go by, they will become increasingly visible. We must live with sufficient anticipation of this and develop eyes that can see good things. There are bad youth. All such youth have been created by the adult generation. We must study young people's lives anew. Until now, under the pretext of 'teaching study' and 'students must study,' we have far too neglected their perspectives.

Certainly, people will say, "Don't say such things!" They will list all the misconduct of youth who cause problems, claiming we don't know how much suffering has already occurred. I do not misunderstand. I can well imagine how much hardship has been endured. But are those youth demons? Are they not products imported from somewhere sinister?

It all may stem from focusing on learning that unilaterally forces 'passive listening.' It would have been better if we had simply let students learn on their own, think on their own, and act on their own, while we merely watched and helped. Then those students' lives would be brighter, more positive, and more progressive. But because we wanted to explain everything, because we forced students to sit quietly in their seats, because we prevented them from doing anything else, today we have settled into this type of student and this type of school.

I wish we could give everything back to the students. Give back their studies, give back their lives, and start anew. Then immediately, PISA scores may fall. What does that matter! If we can see students wanting to study, wanting to get along with each other, and studying and living while helping one another, that would be enough.

I shared this thought with a so-called school violence prevention expert who professionally handled matters regarding students' lives at the education office. He said that "Don't do bad things!" sounded truly warm to him. But he showed a completely different reaction. It could have been nothing more than a simple warning not to meet with another girl.

With just a single word, that brief phrase, it is truly remarkable that we can have such different thoughts. It could be. Depending on the judgment and competence of such experts, regulations related to 'school violence' become increasingly sophisticated with each passing day. As a result, the scope of activity for principals and teachers is shrinking. In fact, that expert told me that a principal could face violations of attorney-at-law laws if he rashly intervenes in mediation.

Nevertheless, hearing "Don't do bad things!" — that beautiful request in a gentle voice that day — I wanted to expect more and greater things from those youth in the future. Because that single phrase was shockingly beautiful.