Teacher Appreciation Day - at HILS

Here in Korea, teaching is an honored profession - especially at the college and post graduate level.  Its roots go all the way back to Confucius' time and his teaching about gentlemen scholars.  Susan had no idea what sort of a prize she landed when we married.  I had heard that teacher's day was a major event at Handong International Law School (HILS) and seen lots of activity over the past 2 weeks.   Perhaps the biggest clue was the sudden onset of students who were unprepared for class.  

All this came sharply into focus today when the whole Chinn family was invited to the annual celebration of teacher's day (it is a national holiday in Korea.)  The law school auditorium was full of students, family members and alumni as each professor was presented with flowers and escorted, amid loud applause, to front seats for the show.  And quite a show it was!  Each professor has a family group with about 14 students to meet with weekly and lead through discussion topics on Christianity and the Law.  My group has been over to our home to meet the family and enjoy some home cooked meals.  On teacher's day each family group puts together a special performance to honor their professor in front of the whole auditorium as we sit in seats of honor in the front row.  This turned out to be a combined 3 hour performance of singing, dancing and skits that were wonderfully creative and highly entertaining.  

My family group combined comedy and a performance of the "Do, Re Me"song  from Sound of Music with the lyrics altered to sing the praises of their Professor Chinn.  I was delighted and felt so honored.  Susan and the kids really enjoyed all the performances as well.  The professors reciprocated by singing altered lyrics from "Go Tell It on the Mountain" as a funny lamentation on the trials and tribulations of law study at HILS.  

The event was topped off with us all joining together to sing praise songs, pray for the students, alumni, and professors, and sing blessing songs.  The blessing songs are incredibly beautiful and are sung with outstretched hands directed towards the recipients of the blessing.  They are very moving and, as far as I know, something probably unique to Korea.  After all the performances, prayers, worship and blessings, we enjoyed a huge buffet dinner to end our time together.  

I have never felt so honored in all my experiences as a prosecutor and law professor.  It is a day to remember and I must apologize to a couple of my students next week for giving them the evil eye for being unprepared for class earlier this week.  They have been very busy!