KSH Essay Why students are so quiet and passive in classes

  The most important problem is the academic system and Social perception in South Korea.

Our National University Enterance Exam is based on the relative evaluation system.

We have to get a good grade to enter so-called 'prestigious' university.

Then, why do we struggle to enter the 'prestigious' university and who made the school ranking system?

Basically, Korean Society is influenced by Confucian ideas from China.

Confucianism emphasizes too much on the acedemic performance

Korean Society has a tendency to give a great evaluation to the people with high academic performance regardless of their characters and practical abilities.

Most students have to follow their courses without criticism.

They have to compete each other to get a good score.

They have felt that they have to answer only right things to get a good grade.

They feel afraid if they say 'wrong' words. So they have a tendency not to speak in classes.

This system makes students to lose their critical thinking and discussion ability.

  Also, Korean Society requires for young people to give respect to old people.

There is a maxim called 'Elders first' in the Three Bonds and Five Relationships in Confucianism

It makes some positive regulation in society, however, it makes passive attitude to students.

We have to follow and respect old people even though some old people are not wise and stick to their own thinkings.

Some teachers don't want their students to criticize about their lectures. For them, silence is goldened.

If some students want to raise some questions and give constructive criticism, it could make them rude people.

 

In my opinion, the best way to activate students to discuss and debate something is to change the academic system from theoretical classes to practical activities.

And we have to try to get a flexible mind. It is important to perceive that I could be wrong and it's okay.