Korean Parents Seek Special Treatment For Their Kids

From New American Media: “A report in the Korea Daily Los Angeles highlights a growing trend among Korean parents of gift giving and other practices seeking to gain special treatment for their children in public schools. According to the paper, it is becoming increasingly common for Korean parents to offer high priced gifts such as designer bags or wallets to teachers in the hope that their child will receive special attention…The report also notes that in addition to gifts, a number of Korean parents are opting to go directly to the school principal or district office with complaints or demands, violating the normal procedure of first raising concerns with the student’s teacher.” Sounds like an issue of privilege/entitlement and communication. My parents never did this while I was growing up, but I know I would have been horrified if they even considered it. But, I’ll be honest, I’ve never heard of it.