▲ 설동호 교육감 기자간담회 사진     ©김정환 기자

교사들 "서이초 49재, 교육부 지침만 따르는 교육감"

교육청 "교사들과 소통계획 없다"…학부모 "3선이라 신경 안쓰나"

 

그동안 소통에 문제가 있는 것 아니냐는 지적을 받고 있는 대전시교육청의 불통 행정이 서이초 교사의 49재에도 재현되면서 지역 교사들 뿐만 아니라 학부모들까지 단단히 뿔이 나면서 대전시교육청과 설동호 교육감에 대한 성토가 이어지면서 대전시교육청의 교육행정 전반에 대한 재정립이 필요한 것 아니냐는 지적이다.

 

특히 이번 서이초 교사의 49재에서 대전시교육청이 보여준 행태를 보면 평소 대전교육가족들의 행복과 소통을 강조한 설동호 교육감의 행보가 말뿐이었다는 지적마저 나온다.

 

지난 4일 대전시교육청 옆 보라매공원 입구에는 500명 이상의 교사들이 모여 서이초 교사의 49재 추모 행사를 가졌다.

 

이날 추모 행사는 전국에서 동시에 개최된 추모행사로 대전지역에서도 각급 학교 교사들이 수업을 뒤로 하고 학부모의 갑질과 민원의 고통에 시달리다 스스로 생을 마감한 서이초 교사를 추모하기 위해 모여들었다.

 

이날 모인 교사들은 "교사들의 고통을 덜어주고 보호해주지 못할 망정 교육부 장관과 교육감이 교사의 입을 틀어 막고 손과 발을 묶으려 하고 있다"며 "우리의 의지를 가벼이 여기지 말라"고 외쳤다.

 

교사들의 입장을 대변이나 하듯 대전시교육청 앞에 놓인 수많은 조화에는 교사들이 대전교육청을 어떻게 생각하고 있는지 적혀 있었다.

 

'교사들을 외면하는 대전교육', '교육부의 졸이었네', '아이들과 교사들을 포기하는 교육감은 물러나라', 징계 협박 철회하라', '미래를 닫는 대전교육' 등 대전교육청을 비난하는 글과 설동호 교육감을 원색적으로 비난하는 글까지 교육청을 성토하는 내용들이 대부분이었다.

 

학부모가 보낸 것으로 추정되는 조화에는 '정권 나팔수 대전교육청-대전 두 아이 학부모'라고 적혀 있었다

 

하지만 대전시교육청은 이들의 목소리를 애써 외면하는 모습이다.

 

▲ 교육국 브리핑 사진  © 대전시교육청

5일 '교권 강화' 관련 브리핑에 나선 대전시교육청 교육국장은 조화에 적힌 문구를 보고 느낌 점을 묻는 기자의 질문에 "저도 교사 출신으로 학생들을 지도했던 기억이 나는데 학부모와의 관계가 이렇게 돼서 선생님들이 많이 힘들었겠다"라며 엉뚱한 답변을 내놓으면서 질문한 기자를 당황하게 했다.

 

그러면서 향후 교사와의 소통 계획에 대해서는 "현재까지 계획이 없다"고 밝혔다.

 

한 마디로 교사들과는 소통을 하지 않겠다는 소리로 들리기에 충분했다.

 

이같은 답변은 설동호 교육감의 '공교육 멈춤의 날'에 입장을 보더라도 인근 세종·충남교육감과 결을 달리하면서 소통 부재가 예견됐다.

 

최교진 세종시교육감은 '공교육 멈춤의 날'을 적극 지지했고, 김지철 충남교육감도 개인 SNS에 지지 의사를 밝혔다.

 

하지만 설동호 대전교육감은 공보실을 통해 "취지는 공감하지만 법과 원칙을 지켜야 하고 교육부의 방침대로 연가를 불허한다"고 밝혔다.

 

A교사는 "이명박 정부시절 인사였던 임태희 경기도 교육감도 49재에 참여해 애도를 표했는데 초등학교 교사에서 대학 총장까지 두루 교육 현장을 경험하신 분이 무슨 생각을 가지고 계신 것인지 모르겠다"고 토로했다.

 

B교사는 "행사장에서 대전교육 가족들의 행복을 기원한다고 입버릇처럼 말하시는 분이 정작 교육가족들이 위험에 쳐한 상황에서 한 일이 무엇인지 되묻고 싶다"고 말했다.

 

C학부모는 "지난해 선거 때 소통하고 협력하는 교육행정을 펼치겠다고 해서 뽑았는데 3선이라서 그런지 공약 이행에 신경쓰지 않는 것 같다"고 지적했다.

 

한편 설동호 교육감은 초·중등학교 교사와 대학 교수를 거쳐 한밭대 총장을 두 번 지냈다. 이후 제9대, 제10대 대전시교육감을 거쳐 지난해 제8회 전국동시지방선거에서 41.50% 득표율로 3선에 성공했다.

 

*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도를 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>

 

“Don’t you care that Seol Dong-ho is the third-term Superintendent of Education in Daejeon?”

Parents and teachers continue to criticize Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Seol Dong-ho's communication moves...

 

Teachers: “Seoi Elementary School 49th, superintendent who only follows the Ministry of Education guidelines”

Office of Education “No plan to communicate with teachers”… Parents "Don't you care because it's the 3rd term?"

 

The Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education's non-communicative administration, which has been pointed out as having communication problems, has been repeated in the 49th school of Seoi Elementary School teachers, and not only local teachers but also parents have become very angry, and criticism of the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education and Superintendent Seol Dong-ho continues. It is pointed out that the overall educational administration of the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education needs to be reorganized.

 

In particular, looking at the behavior shown by the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education in the 49th meeting of teachers at Seoi Elementary School, some even point out that the actions of Superintendent Seol Dong-ho, who always emphasized the happiness and communication of Daejeon education families, were just words.

 

On the 4th, more than 500 teachers gathered at the entrance of Boramae Park next to the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education to hold a memorial event for the 49th anniversary of a teacher from Seoi Elementary School.

 

This day's memorial event was held simultaneously across the country, and teachers from all levels of school in the Daejeon area gathered to remember the Seoi Elementary School teacher who ended his life after leaving classes and suffering from parental abuse and civil complaints.

 

The teachers who gathered that day shouted, “The Minister of Education and the Superintendent of Education are trying to silence the teachers and tie their hands and feet, even though they cannot relieve the pain and protect the teachers,” and “Do not take our will lightly.”

 

As if representing the teachers' position, numerous artificial flowers placed in front of the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education contained what teachers thought of the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education.

 

Posts criticizing the Daejeon Office of Education, such as ‘Daejeon Education that ignores teachers’, ‘You were a pawn of the Ministry of Education’, ‘The Superintendent of Education who gives up on children and teachers should step down’, ‘Withdraw the threat of disciplinary action’, and ‘Daejeon Education that is closing the future’. Most of the articles criticized the Office of Education, including explicit criticism of Superintendent Seol Dong-ho.

 

The artificial flower, presumed to have been sent by a parent, was written as 'Government bugler Daejeon Office of Education - Parents of two children in Daejeon'

 

However, the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education appears to be ignoring their voices.

 

On the 5th, the director of education at the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education, who was at a briefing on 'strengthening teaching rights', responded to a reporter's question about his feelings after seeing the phrase written on the artificial flowers, saying, "I remember teaching students as a former teacher, and the relationship with parents has become like this, so teachers “It must have been very difficult,” he said, confusing the reporter who asked the question by giving an odd answer.

 

At the same time, regarding future communication plans with teachers, he said, “There are currently no plans.”

 

In short, it was enough to make it sound like they would not communicate with teachers.

 

This response was expected to result in a lack of communication as Superintendent Seol Dong-ho's position on the 'Public Education Stop Day' differed from the nearby superintendents of education in Sejong and South Chungcheong Province.

 

Sejong City Superintendent of Education Choi Kyo-jin actively supported the 'Public Education Stop Day', and South Chungcheong Superintendent of Education Kim Ji-cheol also expressed his support on his personal SNS.

 

However, Daejeon Superintendent of Education Seol Dong-ho said through the public affairs office, "I agree with the purpose, but the law and principles must be followed and annual leave is not permitted in accordance with the Ministry of Education's policy."

 

Teacher A said, "Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education Lim Tae-hee, who was a member of the Lee Myung-bak administration, also participated in the 49th Reunion and expressed condolences. I don't know what someone with experience in the education field, from an elementary school teacher to a university president, is thinking."

 

Teacher B said, “I would like to ask the person who makes a habit of saying that he wishes happiness for Daejeon Education families at events, what he actually did when the education families were in danger.”

 

Parent C pointed out, “I elected him during last year’s election because he said he would implement an educational administration that promotes communication and cooperation, but perhaps because he is in his third term, he does not seem to care about fulfilling his promises.”

 

Meanwhile, Superintendent Seol Dong-ho served as an elementary and middle school teacher and university professor, and served as president of Hanbat National University twice. Afterwards, he served as the 9th and 10th Superintendent of Education of Daejeon City and succeeded in being elected to a third term with 41.50% of the votes in the 8th national simultaneous local elections last year.