The Principles of Chamgyoyook

Approved by the KTU National Congress, February 2002.

We educate the whole person, one who respects life

In an age of competition people focus on economic values, based on materialism. Education, however, should not be based on such values as this only cultivates selfish human beings. Through education, we need to guide every student to be a 'whole person.' The whole person we envision is one who cooperates with others in her community and coexists with nature.

We pursue the establishment of an independent nation and the creation of a peaceful, reunified Korea

Education must nurture the spirit of independence and promote the reunification of the country through peaceful means. In a global society, we should confirm the subjecthood of the nation rather than blindly remove all boundaries. We must overcome our current situation as a country unwillingly divided by the ideologies of a so-called Cold War era through peaceful reunification. A balanced global integration means respect for other cultures and an exchange of ideas and information as autonomous communities.

We educate for a democracy

In a short period of time, our society has improved politically but we still face a number of antidemocratic situations. We should teach students not only what democracy is but also what it is to live in a democratic society, as responsible citizens who will fight authoritarian systems.

We protect students' mental and physical health

Blind competition to get high scores, compulsory training to be good "test-takers"and pressure on students to get a university education regardless of their aptitudes and interests can harm students. All educational policies must put students' mental and physical well-being first.

We teach gender equality

Sexual discrimination should not exist in society or its schools. We teachers should remove our own discriminatory habits first. Then, we must teach students that they are born equals and are therefore to live without discrimination, in school or society.

We promote human rights

In school, students' human rights are often trampled on in the name of guidance or discipline, by teachers and fellow students. We have to let students learn what human rights are and how to respect these rights. We must teach students how to value difference, and how to resist exclusionary practices.

We respect the value of labour and the rights of labourers

In an extremely capitalized society, people tend to devalue labour and this tendency affects our students. We need to teach the true value of labour and the rights and dignity of people labouring under capital.

We teach coexistence with nature

A culture based on consumption has distorted the value and meaning of both nature and labor. In the remorseless pursuit of profit, environments all over the world are being devastated. Entire species become extinct every day. Our plunder threatens our existence. We should teach our students, who must live on the earth in the future, to consider deeply the systems of societies that threaten humanity. This is the most important and urgent problem our children face. Through education, our students will have another philosophy of lifeof coexistence with nature, co-survival with nature. Instead of a capital-oriented, all-consuming culture addicted to possessions and sensual pleasures, we have to be satisfied with using only the materials we need, and create a new culture where we share our innermost thoughts with those around us.

We implement the school curriculum creatively

Some people think of a teacher as a service provider, and a student as a consumer. This is a very dangerous idea that doesn't consider the many purposes of an education. We don't think that any single aspect of education is paramount. We promote an organic relevance among curriculums, teachers, and students. Therefore, we will reorganize the school curriculum creatively to allow a real meeting between teacher and student, to enrich students' lives. We also want students to participate actively in reorganizing school curriculums.

We focus on helping and cooperating with others

The purpose of public education is not to separate young people by ability. The most important principle of education is cooperative learning for the development of community. We will recognize people as social beings, inclined to mutual aid and cooperative, consensual problem solving.

We respect and develop student autonomy

We respect students as individuals. They must reach maturity with freedoms, rights, and obligations in harmony. To this end, they themselves must be the subject of education. We guide students to create freely their own school culture. We teach the necessity of rules in a collaborative life, and the beauty of sharing, lest they be left to do as they like without regard for their responsibilities to others. We lead students to realize a collaborative life themselves, without physical punishment, abusive language, or threat of coersion. We admit that students have the right to pursue happiness, but we teach them true value lest they should indulge in sensual pleasures.

We are researching and practicing with colleagues

Teachers have different teaching methods. We respect other teachers and accept their teaching methods diversity develops a balanced personality in students. We improve the field of education not in isolation but through the development of creative education practices with coworkers.

We are working with parents and communities

We point out the mistaken assumptions of parents fearlessly, but we accept all reasonable demands they place on us. As educators, we will appeal to parents with open minds. If we help parents and other members of the community to exercise their rights in school management, we will earn their trust.

We confront the absurdities of our education system

We resist unreasonable demands made on us and work to reform misleading education systems and traditions. We will remove all structural and attitudinal barriers to Chamgyoyook.