[KS] Re: Ignorant or naive?

[goodwin]

Haechang Choung wrote:

"Do you really think it is a paradise lost? If you think so, either you
are too naive or too ignorant of the academic practices of Korea."

Wow, you sure have a diplomatic way of communicating -not!!!

Your question seems to suggest that you didn't take much care in reading the
words I wrote at the top of my posting.

I didn't write the article. Rather, as I stated, it appeared unsigned in
today's Herald. You may wish to think twice before you label people naive or
ignorant.

Thank you.

Michael





haechang choung wrote:

> goodwin wrote:
>
> > The following unsigned Editorial appears in today's Korea Herald. Any
> >
> > 　11-07-98 : Editorial: A Paradise Lost
> >
> > 　　　 Recent statistics show Korean professors published the least
> > number of research
> > papers in
> > 　　　 international academic journals among the 29 member
> > countries of the
> > Organization for
> > 　　　 Economic Cooperation and Development. Considering the fair
> > size of Korea's
> > population
> > 　　　 and the large number of people in the teaching profession,
> > in particular, this
> > statistic
> > 　　　 indicates relative academic inactivity in this country.
> >
> > 　　　 Korea has been long dubbed as a paradise for professors.
> > This reputation has
> > been
> > 　　　 recognized by professors themselves, who enjoy perhaps the
> > highest degree of job
> > security
> > 　　　 among all professionals. Retirement age is fixed at 65 by
> > the Education Law,
> > tenure is
> > 　　　 guaranteed when one is promoted to associate professor, and
> > the performance
> > appraisal,
> > 　　　 introduced at some institutions, is just a formality in most
> > cases. It is
> > increasingly difficult
> > 　　　 to find a position at Korea's universities, but once
> > employed, you are in for a
> > good life
> > 　　　 enhanced with social esteem.
> >
> > 　　　 This privileged status is being threatened as the Education
> > Ministry, under the
> > 　　　 reform-minded Minister Lee Hai-chan, has drafted revision
> > bills for a set of
> > education laws
> > 　　　 to introduce the contract system for professors. If the
> > amendments are approved
> > by the
> > 　　　 National Assembly during the current regular session,
> > professors will be
> > employed on
> > 　　　 three- to five-year contracts. The pay scale and various
> > conditions of the
> > contracts will be
> > 　　　 determined on a case-by-case basis. To prevent any possible
> > academic
> > instability, the new
> > 　　　 system will be implemented in 2002.
> >
> > 　　　 But immediate changes are also proposed, such as committees
> > that would be
> > established at
> > 　　　 all universities to evaluate the performance of each
> > professor. The panel would
> > check the
> > 　　　 number of research papers produced by each professor and
> > evaluate their quality.
> > As of
> > 　　　 next year, universities will be required to admit nonalumni
> > scholars for more
> > than half of
> > 　　　 the positions offered for new recruitment. Thus, the
> > Education Ministry is
> > trying to break up
> > 　　　 the atmosphere of languor and tradition of parochialism
> > prevalent at Korean
> > universities.
> >
> > 　　　 Nepotism has prevailed in Korea's academic society,
> > particularly at the more
> > prestigious
> > 　　　 institutions. Professors have been recruited largely through
> > personal
> > connections and the
> > 　　　 unanimous opinion of the professors in a department is
> > essential in making a
> > decision. The
> > 　　　 unique tradition has produced the extremely high rate of
> > alumni professors in
> > Korea's
> > 　　　 leading universities. At Seoul National University (SNU),
> > only 0.4 percent of
> > its professors
> > 　　　 are recruits from outside, and there can be no parallel in
> > the world of such
> > extreme
> > 　　　 exclusiveness.
> >
> > 　　　 Furthermore, it is simply unthinkable for a well known
> > institution in Korea to
> > invite a
> > 　　　 non-alumni as its chief administrator. It is an unwritten
> > law at SNU to have its
> > own
> > 　　　 graduates named as president and all other key academic
> > positions. This
> > situation is the
> > 　　　 same at Korea, Yonsei and Ewha. Only provincial universities
> > and some private
> > 　　　 institutions have opened their doors to nonalumni scholars,
> > but this opening is
> > narrowing as
> > 　　　 more universities turn to direct election of the president
> > by professors. Under
> > these
> > 　　　 circumstances, it is easy to understand the absence of
> > acceptable levels of
> > progress at
> > 　　　 Korean universities.
> >
> > 　　　 Universities will develop and academic activities prosper
> > only when new ideas
> > are freely
> > 　　　 exchanged among institutions of higher learning and among
> > professors. Government
> >
> > 　　　 initiatives may create momentum for change, but without
> > self-renovation by
> > professors and
> > 　　　 the boards of school foundations, no reform measures will
> > gain expected results
> > and
> > 　　　 Korean universities will remain in their present lowly
> > status in the academic
> > community of
> > 　　　 the world forever.
> >
> > 　　　 The state is going to deprive university professors of some
> > of their vested
> > rights.
> > 　　　 Repercussions are naturally expected from the members of the
> > ivory tower who are
> > not
> > 　　　 accustomed to rigorous competition and the norm of survival
> > of the fittest that
> > prevails in
> > 　　　 other sectors. But universities alone cannot be left behind
> > in this age of
> > reform and
> > 　　　 restructuring. If professors initiate efforts for
> > renovation, they will face
> > fewer changes
> > 　　　 imposed from the outside.
>
> Dear Goddwin:
> I am one of those who have been enjoying the easy-going, no-fault (I
> really mean it) academic atmosphere.
> Do you really think it is a paradise lost? If you think so, either you
> are too naive or too ignorant of the academic practices of Korea. No
> doubt these people will find some ways to cope with this so-called
> "reform," which might push them around a bit, if successful. It is
> almost customary that newly appointed Education Minister propose some
> "new" policies, which usually　 turn out to be "old girls" in new
> dresses later.　 Minister Lee seems to be a strong-willed,
> reform-minded man of rationality. However, considering the longstanding
> practices of academic society and　 the general mentality of
> academicians in Korea, I am very skeptical of his plans. If he succeeds,
> Korea, really, will become a "paradise" for hardworking professors.
>
> I am a bit pressed for time now. Please keep in touch.





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