“Most of the victims of the Sewol ferry sinking are high school students on field trips. Parents have lost confidence that our system will keep their children safe. They’re doing what’s right. able to protect loved ones,” pointed out Yang Ji Won, a mother of two from Incheon.
The Sewol ferry sinking killed more than 300 people, mostly high school students, during a field trip to Jeju. The tragedy has left a hard-to-heal scar in Korean society, prompting many parents to analyze the risks-benefits of school trips.
| The stampede in Itaewon left hundreds of young people dead. Photo: Archyde.com. |
After the ferry sinking in 2014, the Korean Ministry of Education issued guidance that all trips lasting more than a day at schools must be approved by more than 70% of parents.
Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, until the second half of 2022, picnics of many classes will be resumed. Some teachers said that over the past few years, public safety issues have taken precedence over educational purposes during school field trips.
“School-related accidents are on the rise, and problems like Covid-19 infection still occur despite teachers’ efforts to manage them, posing threats not only to the health and safety of students,” he said. at a young age, but also for society,” said Kim Dan Bi (33 years old) a school nurse in Gyeonggi Province.
The number of school-related accidents in the first half of 2022 was 64,000, up 20,000 from a year earlier. This is the highest number recorded since 2018 with 57,000 accidents, according to the South Korean Ministry of Education.
Kim’s school canceled plans for a two-day trip to Gyeongju in October 2022, as only 30% of parents agreed. The field trip was replaced with a one-day excursion to Everland, the largest outdoor theme park in the country.
The necessity of trips with school
Some experts on youth culture expressed skepticism regarding the “educational benefits” of field trips.
“For the old generation, picnics provided an opportunity to experience new cultures and enjoy leisure activities. Back then, cultural and leisure activities were not so popular. But now things are different. , people travel often,” said Lee Gwang Ho, a professor specializing in adolescent psychology and culture at Kyonggi University.
“During most school field trips, students will visit historical sites or museums under the guidance of their teachers. In the evenings, they often have a talent show or movement. students do the same things together during the trip,” continued the professor, questioning the educational element of such trips.
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| Many people think that the trips are a good opportunity for students to discover new things, especially following a long time having to stay at home and classroom because of the outbreak of the disease. Illustration: AP. |
However, there are still a large number of students and parents who recognize the meaning of picnics and outdoor activities with the classroom, especially following a long pause due to the pandemic.
“Students can have unique experiences that they can’t have by just sitting in the classroom. For example, my 16-year-old daughter recently took a trip to Gangneung, Gangwon Province to see an art exhibition. famous art and a coffee factory. I think exposure to the new environment and people can be an essential part of a student’s growth,” said Woo, a junior office worker. 40, said.
“School trips are not the main culprit in safety accidents. Some incidents are inevitable, others are due to a lack of public safety or people are not aware of the dangers. dangerous,” she added.
