Lee Da Som's Opinion Essay

Schooling for Teen Mothers

Nowadays, many teen girls become mothers. Usually they are 15~19 years old. Although they aren't kids, they are not adults. So their job ability, maturity and sense of economy are considerably less than adult mothers.

But our government and school authorities try to kick teen mothers out instead of developing their ability, mental maturity and childcare methods.

I think it comes from Korean's conventional shamefulness and avoidance of sex or premarital pregnancy which derives from deep-rooted Confucianism.

But a school's essential goal is to educate students so that they can become mature human beings and do well in the larger society. So it's a violation of education's goal to kick teen mothers out of school. Because every student's essential rights and life are most important, school authorities have to break conventional stereotypes. We need to accept some changes in social perception in a positive way.

So, practically, we need to establish schools for teen mothers which teachers job ability and nurturing. Or it's also good to make nurseries in high school like other developed countries. Of course, childcare allowance for teen mothers should be increased. Most of all, teachers have to try to not to discriminate against teen mothers in school.

Now it's time for Korea to become a socially-developed country. Social welfare can be improved with a change of perception. I don't want to see tears on teen mothers any more.