Koreans value family ties and involvement. Teaching children morality is just as important as any other portion of the education process. Primary school focuses on developing good attitudes, civic morality, the spirit of cooperation and the harmonious development of body and mind, according to the Minister of Education. All of these things play into a sense of community and strengthening the attachment of children to the family and each other.
Korean primary school seeks to be diverse; teaching a well-rounded curriculum is important. The students study nine subjects: moral education, Korean language, social studies, math, science, physical education, music, fine arts and practical arts. In the third grade, English is added as a tenth subject. This diverse schedule requires structure. Students must complete work at home and parental involvement is key to keeping the children on track. The theory working for diversity is that it provides a child structure, as well as options to see where he might excel.
In learning English, the education board decided it was best to teach it in a conversational atmosphere. This class is less structured and does not focus on the grammatical rules. The students learn to read and speak English by interacting with one another and the teacher with various games and activities. This allows for the students to gain confidence in speaking the new language before being forced to dissect an entirely different way to write and form sentences. The focus on English as a second language is to further the futures of the students. The theory that English has a second language gives students more options is widely accepted among the citizens.
Due to the extensive class schedule, the hours of school are similar to a full day’s work. Students often attend from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 220 days per year. The semesters run from September through February and March through July. There are optional days at the beginning of each semester to help students refresh on what was learned previously. A majority of the students attend these days. This value in education has propelled the Korean society forward, producing disciplined workers who are educated as well as morally focused.