Seoul Council members of the ruling Saenuri Party proposed an ordinance to protect teachers’ rights Thursday, weeks after liberal councilors of the opposition Democratic United Party had presented their own version of a teachers’ rights ordinance.

The different proposals came as the students’ rights ordinance was approved in December, causing disputes between conservatives and liberals regarding its restriction of teachers’ authority while enhancing students’ rights.

Rival parties share the purpose of balancing the rights of students and teachers, but in specifics they disagree over those clauses that might blur the roles of principals and teachers.

The ordinance proposal by Saenuri councilors includes articles that prioritize the safety and honor of teachers.

It also calls for teachers’ educational activities not to be limited or disturbed by other ordinances and rules established by the government, the city or its educational office.

“We live at a time when teachers’ authority has weakened to the point that they should be protected by laws. We need to establish the ordinance to protect teachers’ rights in this circumstance. But we need to stop discussing the proposal by the opposition party, and think what’s best for school,” said Jeong Moon-jin, a city councilor of Saenuri Party, who proposed the bill.

“The newly proposed bill is designed to find what’s best for schools,” Jeong added.

The ordinance bill proposed by the opposition DUP includes some similar clauses that protect teachers’ rights in the wake of disturbances. According to the bill, teachers can instruct students who caused disturbances in class to attend separate counseling sessions and also ask parents to leave the school if they insult teachers or interfere during class.

But a conservative teachers’ group have raised concern on potential dispute between headmasters and teachers, citing some articles which state teachers have the right to dismiss unfair or personal orders from principals.

“We worry that some clauses may create conflict between headmasters and teachers,” said Kim Dong-seok, a spokesperson of the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations in the recent statement.

Kim Hyung-tae of the DUP defended their version of teachers’ rights ordinance, saying that it was drawn up to enhance human rights for every person in Seoul’s schools.

If two ordinance bills are proposed simultaneously at the education committee of the city council, only one will be selected or an alternative proposal will be made at the committee, said Kim Sang-hyun, head of the education committee of the city council.

“What’s likely in this circumstance is making an alternative compromise bill,” Kim said.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry ordered the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on Wednesday to delay its order to schools in the capital to revise their school rules according to the student rights ordinance until the Supreme Court reaches a final verdict on it.

The ministry and SMOE has also confronted over the student rights ordinance to the extent that the ministry filed a petition to nullify the ordinance last month right after it took effect.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)