Advise to KMLA

Contradiction within KMLA

10b5 Lee, Ho Wook

Around the globe, there are many different kinds of people with many different cultures and notions. Along all the basis of civilizations, education is taking a place in the core of it. Depends on a goal of civilization, education system could be differ: memorizing, debating and many different systems could be adapted. Yet, because there are no such perfect education systems, people always strive to supplement defects of their education system. As a part of this exertion, school KMLA(Korea Minjok Leadership Academy) in Korea puts a lot of prefectorial efforts on consummating Korean education system. Unfortunately however, KMLA has its several severe Ironies within itself: ideological problems and systematic problems.

Before broaching defects of KMLA, KMLA is a very unique environment to study. Regarding the fact that the environment where students study has a huge effect on them, knowing the unique environment of KMLA is important in analyzing the problems within KMLA. Primarily, dormitory life is compulsory to every student in KMLA. Peculiarity of dormitory life is that it helps students with practicing self-management skill yet disturbs access from outside of the dormitory at the same time. Considering the fact that Korean education system fluctuates dynamically from year to year, low accessibility from outside of the dormitory could be severe defect for some students who need help from people who are in outside of the dormitory. Secondly, school models of KMLA are very plain but distinct. Like all the other schools in Korea, KMLA emphasizes the importance of tradition of the school. Yet, in a way that KMLA inspires patriotism to students is very special. Since students almost live in the campus, English only policy, which coerces students to use English, or an hour of morning assembly. Significance of these traditions may seem perfect: to inspire patriotism to the students and further help with student’s study. Nevertheless, label of ‘tradition’ makes students hinder to criticize a wrong policy or a wrong ‘tradition’ just because they are ‘tradition’.

Having understanding the studying environment of KMLA, primary problem of KMLA is Ideological problem. Ideology of the KMLA is to inspire patriotism, reconstruct and cherish the tradition of Korea, and training young global leaders. Likewise, KMLA highlights the importance of tradition. Yet, KMLA not only underlines the importance of nation’s tradition but also KMLA’s distinct tradition. Tradition is something that has been kept for a long time by the member of a society and made naturally by agreement between members of a society. Nevertheless, masterpiece education system, English only policy, all the different commemorative events are mostly made by school founder and have not been amended for a long time by members of KMLA which is a student. Since most of all these systems are considered as a ‘tradition’, which are in fact untrue, students are hesitated to discuss freely about these systems because these school systems are labeled as a ‘tradition’. Something that is forced to implement in the system is not called as a ‘tradition’ but a ‘law’. It is such an irony that KMLA is proud of having a falsehood ‘tradition’.

Last but not least, KMLA is in very adverse situation in Korea. While students are hard to get help from outside of the school, common education systems in Korea is keep capsizing. Regarding the fact that students in KMLA who are now living in dormitory by themselves were once children who spent most of their life under protection and help of their parents, it is very hard for students to adapt to ever-changing education system of Korea by themselves. If school simply say that their students are strong enough to breakthrough all the hardships, it would be nothing more than school’s negligence. Since KMLA fully acknowledge this fact, they try their best to help their students with erratic Korean education system with counseling and full hearted help of teachers in KMLA. Yet, what school actually should do is to fundamentally protect their students from surge of outside forces which is to continuously file a petition to minister of education that might help students who came to KMLA for their dream and for their nation.

In a nutshell, school KMLA which is one of the best schools in Korea has several problems within themselves. Ideology of school is serving as an obstacle for students who are willing to participate in changing school to better way. Education system is still harassing student’s dreams. This is not meant to disgrace efforts of KMLA but to advise KMLA that they could improve in a much better way and become much wonderful world scale high school.