Some American schools have begun teaching students about the Jeju April Third Incident. Mike Laidman has more.




Report

Chris Braden and Maxwell Comando teach history and culture at a Connecticut high school in the United States.

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New Haven high schools teaching Jeju April 3rd Incident

Beginning this year, they started including the Jeju April Third Incident in their curriculum.

And it’s not just a one-off thing, either.

They have a textbook about the historic event, and the course is part of a semester-long curriculum.

The two teachers were impressed with the stories of the descendants of the victims of the events, as well as police efforts for reconciliation and coexistence. They chose the tragic incident as material to teach peace and human rights.

Recording
Maxwell Commando / Instructor, Metropolitan Business Academy
[녹취 맥스웰 코맨도 / 美 메트로폴리탄 비즈니스 아카데미 ]
"(4.3) 희생자와 생존자 진상조사, 그리고 가해자와의 화해 노력은
항구 평화로 가기 위한 으로 이번 수업의 목표이기도 합니다. "

The American teachers developed the teaching materials for the course themselves.

Recording
Chris Braden / Teacher, Hill Regional Career High School
[녹취 크리스 브래든 / 美 힐리저널커리어고교 교사 ]
" (4.3교재) 단원을 발간하는데 2명의 주요 교사들이 어떻게 구성할 지를 논의했고 그 밖에도 20여 명의 교사가 참여했습니다."

The material includes the historical background of the April Third Incident, as well as the role and responsibilities of the United States.

The teachers hope that American students will broaden their perspectives on reconciliation by learning about the event.

Recording
Maxwell Commando / Instructor, Metropolitan Business Academy
[녹취 맥스웰 코맨도 / 美 메트로폴리탄 비즈니스 아카데미 ]
" 저는 4.3수업에서 이런 비극을 어떻게 치유하고 앞으로 어떻게 나갈 수 있을 지를 강조하고 싶습니다."

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15 American schools include April 3rd Incident in curriculum

15 American schools currently have the April Third Incident as a part of their curriculum, and the two teachers hope that more American schools will participate in the future.

Recording
Chris Braden / Teacher, Hill Regional Career High School
[녹취 크리스 브래든 / 美 힐리저널커리어고교 교사 ]
"우리가 성공적으로 마치면 모든 학교가 참여할 것입니다. 맥스웰 교사가 단원을 자세히 기술할 예정으로 낙관적으로 보고 있습니다."

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Ko Moon-su

By including this dark piece of Jeju’s past in an American high school curriculum, Misters Braden and Commando hope that the Korean perception of the event will change. This is because, over the years, the story of the April Third Incident has become somewhat distorted by the more conservative members of Korean society.

Mike Laidman, KCTV