Diverse Secondary Education (2016-10-09)

This morning I was one of the featured speakers at "Diverse Secondary Education in South Korea."

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Young Collyer, host of the event, wrote: Diverse Secondary Education in South Korea (학생들에게 직접 들어보는 교육이야기) 쌀쌀한 가을의 휴일, 이른 아침부터 토론회에 참석해 주신 TNKR 대표 케이시 라티그(Casey Latigue)님, 하파엘 (Rafael Miliati Ramalho) 중대 북한개발협력과 석사과정), 한대의 (세종대 생명공학과), 레이첼 스타인 (Rachel Stine 허핑톤 포스트 컬럼니스트, 파고다) 외 글로벌 유스 인스티튜트 회원들 한국국제학교의 장정환, 윤지수 KKFS의 Mohamed와 Esther. 특히, 참석을 위해 익산 원광여고 민정이와 알렉스가 익산에서 서울까지 왔습니다. 무척이나 열정적이고 알찬 토론회였습니다. 특히 자원봉사자 선생님들과 함께 북한 이주민들을 대상으로 무료로 영어교육하고 있는 케이시 선생님에게 많은 영감을 얻었습니다. 케이시 선생님은 하버드대학교에서 교육학 석사과정 중 워싱턴 D.C. 의 빈민가정의 아이들을 대상으로한 교육을 필두로 해서 지금까지 사회의 음지에 있는 이들을 대상으로 양질의 교육을 펼치기 위한 교육을 펼쳐 왔으며, 우연히 북한이주민 영어교육 프로그램을 시작하게 된 뒤 계속해서 이 일을 해오고 있다고 합니다. 또한, 오후에는 청소년들과 함께, 우리나라의 교육 현실에 대한 토론을 하였습니다. 현재 사교육 중심으로 돌아가는 한국의 교육제도, 창의적 교육 운운하면서 실상은 창의를 말살시키는 한국의 교육제도, 내자식은 1등이 아니면 안되라고 생각하는 한국의 어머니들때문에 사교육 시장으로 내몰리는 한국의 청소년들.. 스스로 창의적인 사람이 될 수 있도록, 남들보다 잘하기 위해 1등이 되는 것이 아니라, 내가 관심있는 분야에 올인해서 하다보니 가장 잘하는 사람이 되는 그러한 자연스러운 교육환경, 일류대학을 나오지 않아도 잘 살수 있는 사회가 되면, 사교육 따위는 저절로 없어질 거라는 생각등.. 모든 의견은 자기주도적이고 동기부여가 되면 다 잘할 수 있다는 것이었습니다. 이러한 교육제도하에서, 다변화하는 한국의 청소년들... 한국인, 한 쪽 부모님이 외국인인 가정의 청소년, 외국에서 살다가 한국으로 이주한 청소년들, 한국에 주재중인 외국인들의 자녀들, 북한에서 이주해온 이주민 청소년들 등.. 정말 다양한 각계각층의 청소년들이 각각 처한 환경에서 어떠한 미래의 꿈과 목표를 가지고 생활하고 있는지, 조금은 알 수 있는 좋은 모임이었습니다. 다시 한 번 같은 주제로 토론회를 개최할 예정이며, 더 많은 학생들과 전문가들의 참여가 있기를 희망합니다.

"Yoegi Anjuseyo!"

* I have a short reflection in today's Korea Times about an encounter with an unfriendly looking Korean man on the subway. It was a reminder not to be too quick in judging people in Korea. 09-13-2011 16:47 'Yeogi Anjeuseyo!' By Casey Lartigue Jr. The recent incident in which an American English teacher bullied an elderly Korean man and other passengers on the bus reminded me of a more pleasing incident from years ago. I was on the subway, taking the train outside of Seoul for a work assignment. I have the habit of standing on the subway to strategically position myself near the doors in case my stop magically appears. On that particular day, there was a Korean man STARING at me. Not just looking at me, but intensely staring at me. He had an incredible frown on his face. Not just for one stop, but for several stops the guy just kept staring at me. If I had known more Korean then I would have been able to curse him ...

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

2020-07-24 Pandemic Tutoring

The question comes in various forms, as a request, a recommendation, a plea, an insinuation, an accusation, and sometimes (or most of the time) it is a demand and complaint at the same time. In my in-box yesterday: "And I wanted to know if TNKR also transitioned to online services as any other educational institutions globally under the pandemic." This was from a previous volunteer who is now in the USA, so I took more time to answer him, and will expand it now so I can share it with others asking. As context, TNKR started in 2013 as an informal volunteer group connecting North Korean refugees with volunteer tutors. In 2016, we became an official organization despite lacking funding. Mainly because we have limited resources we keep focused on our main mission, but try to expand based on the needs of North Korean refugee learners. We have developed a learner-centered organization that has a great reputation among North Korean refugees. That means we are not a social club or re...

Michael Breen discussion at 10 Magazine

Yesterday I attended a discussion with writer Michael Breen, hosted by Barry Welsh. Very often, when I attend a speech or discussion about a topic I know a lot about, I often think about ways the speaker/facilitator/discussant could have done better. But I didn't feel that way about Breen, it was one of those times that I really felt like I had a lot to learn and should listen more than talk. He's been in Korea for three decades, working as a reporter, commentator, communications specialist. He reminds me of Andrei Lankov in that his analysis seems to be based on observation of how things work rather than trying to get the world to fit his biases. I don't know him, so his friends may say he is a raging ideologue, but that's not the impression I had yesterday and based on his writings. Michael Breen (L) and Casey Lartigue I first read his book The Koreans about a decade ago. It was a delightful read, that was both warm to Koreans but also critical at times. Yes...

Humanitarian with a guillotine (Korea Times, February 1, 2013) by Casey Lartigue, Jr.

Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan said the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, `` I’m from the government, and I’m here to help .” For many well-intentioned activists, politicians, and intellectuals, that should be updated as: ``We are here to help you. You’re under arrest.” For example, ``sex workers” around the world oppose anti-prostitution laws. Prostitutes may not know the theoretical arguments but they do know in reality that prohibiting prostitution means they lack protection in dealing with abusive pimps and madams, violent patrons and crooked cops. Locally, a Korean woman busted for prostitution recently appealed to the courts pleading , ``I cannot survive without this job. I don’t want to be treated as a criminal for making a living the only way I can.” How should someone who genuinely wants to help her respond? If you say ``arrest her” then you are qualified to be a “harmful humanitarian.” In your desire to help, you have elimin...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

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