The rains have arrived to Busan with a fury. Torrential rains began in the early morning hours and continued throughout the day. The Busan natives say it is the kind of rain they get about once a year. How nice that we could be hear to enjoy it!
Today we would do our school visits. The rain made traveling to the schools extremely difficult. Jeongim and Mijeong came to pick Debbie Clarke (AP of Peterson) and me up to take us to their school, Gumjeong Elementary School. It took us over an hour to get to their school because of the rain - a trip that would normally take 20 - 30 minutes.
We were greeted like "rock stars". Professionally made banners welcoming us hung over the entrance of their grounds as well as in the entrance to their building.
We met briefly with the principal and then were whisked off to the broadcasting room where we would do a schoolwide greeting to the 1,200 students of the school.
The students ran all of the broadcasting equipment. The room was not special to this school. Every school in Korea has a "state of the arts" broadcasting room. It looks just like a television news set. We were welcomed by the principal, gave a greeting, and received gifts.
We were taken to a room to hear a performance by the traditional Korean drum group. About 20 students participated in the group dressed in traditional costume.
We took a tour of the entire school visiting most of the classrooms. The students were prepared with questions and anxious for our visit.
We were then taken out to lunch. The principal invited us to a traditional Korean meal of bosum, or leaf wraps. We went to a resaurant where the group was given its own room. We took off our shoes before entering the room and sat on mats on the floor around a low table. Soon a multitude of dishes came out: soups and platters with meats, sea food, vegetables, and leaves. We used the leaves as the base, putting the other ingredients on top and then popping them in our mouth. It was delicious - flavors I had never experienced before. This restaurant was famous for its duck. I agreed that it was quite tasty.
I was so moved by the welcome we received at this school that I commented to Jeongim, "So, this is what Asian hospitality is all about!" She quickly corrected me, "No, this is what KOREAN hospitality is all about. Korean etiquette is very distinct." She might be right.
Finishing lunch we returned to the school. By then we were receiving frequent calls from the second school wondering why we hadn't arrived. We visited a few more classrooms at Gumjeong and then Jeongim and Mijeong drove me to the next school, Kwangmu Girls Middle School. This is where Heesun Kang teaches. Debbie went to another school.
There was no grand reception at Kwangmu. The principal and her enterage received me in her office and gave me a prepared welcome and description of her school. She had several questions for me about my school. After speaking with the principal I was led to a classroom where a group of young women (English students) was waiting for me. They had several questions for me. I was also able to present my Power Point which we were asked to prepare in Chicago. I was impressed by how good the girls' English was and also by the depth of their questions - very critical thinkers.
The principal of Kwangmu, without my knowing it, had asked Jeongim to stay and give me a ride back to the hotel. It was actually the principal's responsibility, but Jeongim in her gracious and generous manner accepted. I returned to the hotel exhausted. Our group ate at the hotel Chinese restaurant again and then I went to my room for the night.
There is a tremendous emphasis placed on education here. There is high level technology in every classroom in every school that I visited in Busan. Instead of chalkboards or whiteboards, teachers use the computer to project their lessons on large screen TV's. Each classroom has one. Teachers are trained to use the technology plus there is a full-time "webmaster" in each school to support technology. If world power were measured by the educational might and not military might, the USA would be eating the dust of South Koreans. We are definitely not a super power in terms of educational resources.
One thing that Korean schools do not have to deal with is diversity. I did not observe any non-Koreans in the schools and classrooms we visited. We asked the principals and teachers about language and cultural diversity in the schools. Those we asked said that there is minimal and students that speak another language are required to study Korean after school. The school system does not provide for their needs. There does not seem to be the stark socio-economic differences in Korean culture and schools, either. This homogeneity should make education of "the masses" just a little easier.
I have one lingering question: is what we saw in Busan representative of the entire country? Are rural schools as well-equipped as city schools?
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