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School 2013: Episode 9

Yes, this top shot is almost exactly like the one kicking off the previous recap. But there’s a big (and awesome) difference: This one’s not a flashback.

There’s hope in sight! I mean, we all knew there must be, but now that I see the glimpses of it I’m totally psyched for them to actually kiss and make up and be back to being besties. Or, you know, just start talking. I’ll take what I can get.

Woohoo, ratings are climbing. The show is still in second place and will likely stay there, but School 2013 pulled in a 15.2% with this episode (Horse Doc had 18.1%, and King of Dramas a 6.6%).

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100% – “나 같은 놈” (Guy like me) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 9 RECAP

In the wake of the principal’s pick-your-teacher ultimatum, In-jae and Se-chan enter their classrooms to see which students opted to learn with them. (Thanks for making me wait all week for that, Drama!) To everyone’s shock, Se-chan’s room is completely empty. Could everyone really have gone against expectation and picked In-jae’s methods?

…only her class is just as empty. Aha, so you pushed the kids to pick Mom or Dad and they rebelled by picking neither. I love that the principal’s methods backfired on her (her smugness balloon needed popping), but it sucks for In-jae and Se-chan, who’ll bear the brunt of her ire.

But back to that other cliffhanger, with our bromantic reconciliation hanging on the precipice. (Thanks for that too, sadistic bastid producers!) Heung-soo hovers in the open window, a long way from concrete death below.

Nam-soon yells for him to hurry and flee, but Heung-soo pauses. Nam-soon’s gaze lands on Heung-soo’s bum knee. I’m betting that knee is part of his hesitation, but no way in hell is it the whole of it; Heung-soo pushes Nam-soon toward the window and says, “YOU go.” He takes the lead in staring down the gangsters.

Yeah, like Nam-soon’s gonna leave him in the lurch. He steps back in front of Heung-soo, and now they’re surrounded. He mutters under his breath that he’ll take the left side and Heung-soo can handle the right, and just like that they’re back in sync, springing into action on the count of three. Most heartwarming poolhall brawl ever.

Our boys fend off the gangsters and dash out of the building, and I’m half-expecting them to burst into exhilarated laughter at any moment. Both look more alive than they have all series long.

The boys manage to bolt onto a bus just as it takes off, leaving the thugs swearing in frustration. Aw, and then Heung-soo actually claps a hand onto Nam-soon’s shoulder and they grin like fools at each other. It’s like muscle memory, their reflexes betraying how they really feel because it’s just the natural state of being for these two to be on the same side.

Alas, reality comes back and they awkwardly look away. The boys settle into seats on opposite sides of the aisle, with Heung-soo pointedly averting his gaze.

As expected, In-jae and Se-chan get told off by the principal for losing their class. Teacher Jo tracks ’em down and informs the teachers, and while the principal is ready to barge in to discipline them, Se-chan shocks them all by saying quite plainly that the principal ought to butt out this time: “Do you really not know why things came to this point?” I love it when he gets all hardass, partly because that’s his personality and partly because he lacks the fear of losing his job that keeps the other teachers paralyzed.

Teacher Jo has herded Class 2 to the library, and they wonder uneasily whether they’re all dead for defying the teachers. I love how Se-chan and In-jae regard the class with mostly relief despite their frustration, like parents who have found their runaway kids after a bout of rebellion.

The bus pulls up at school and Heung-soo exits. Nam-soon stays on, casting a longing look at his old buddy—are you just gonna let him go like that?

At the last minute, he asks the driver to stop and joins Heung-soo on the sidewalk. Phew.

Heung-soo’s favoring his injured leg, and Nam-soon asks if he’s okay. Heung-soo snaps that it’s none of his business, but Nam-soon reminds him that Jung-ho’s bike theft trap wasn’t Heung-soo’s business either.

Heung-soo retorts that he didn’t step in for Nam-soon, but because he didn’t want to see Jung-ho getting his kicks. Yeah, keep chugging along on that denial train.

Nam-soon thanks him for keeping his promise, and calls him a dumb nosy bastard in that affectionate way that boys have of cursing at each other when they really mean I lub you. I wonder if Heung-soo interprets it the same way; the look in his eyes changes and he looks stricken as Nam-soon walks away.

Ah, it pings his memory, as we see in flashback:

Nam-soon disciplines two of his gang underlings and is ready to unleash some more punishment when Heung-soo grabs him and stops him from beating them up. The underlings scamper away and Nam-soon curses at his buddy for stopping him—if he keeps letting things slide, everyone will think he’s gone soft and take him for a pushover.

Heung-soo scoffs that he can hardly turn a blind eye, not at all cowed by Nam-soon angrily muttering that he’d better butt out in the future.

Heung-soo promises, “Listen up, punkass. Whether you see me or not, wherever you are and whatever dumb stunt you’re pulling, till I die I’ll always stop you from doing anything that’ll send you to prison. I dunno about anything else but this is a promise I’ll always keep.”

*Tears* I know there wasn’t an “I love you” stated in that speech, but there pretty much was “I love you” woven all through it. Mollified, Nam-soon calls him a dumb nosy bastard, and they’re back to laughing and joking around like best friends.

In the library, the teachers give the errant Class 2 a stern eye and ask why they all ditched class—which, by the way, technically counts them as truant. The kids point out the dilemma they were forced into, and In-jae acknowledges the teachers’ partial fault. But as Se-chan points out, their methods of complaining were wrong.

The teachers convene to discuss how to handle the mutiny. On one hand, they could all get punished with truancy marks, per the rules. On the other hand, that would invite all sorts of headaches from moms like Min-ki’s, who would fly into a rage and blame the school for being incompetent.

In-jae and Se-chan sigh, wondering how to deal with this. Cutely, In-jae admits she thought all the kids went to his class, and he says he thought they all went to hers.

He suggests that she relent this time about her teaching methods. After all, students often get a rude awakening after seeing their poor marks on the upcoming state standardized exam (which is what gives them their national ranking for the first time)—and that can jolt them into working hard for the university entrance exam. Ultimately all roads lead to the college exam.

In-jae shoots him an incredulous look—after all this, he’s bringing them back to square one? Has he forgotten how the mutiny happened in the first place? Se-chan says that what’s important isn’t the teacher, but a willing student.

That night, Jung-ho and his minions emerge from whatever teenage delinquent behavior they were doing and find Heung-soo waiting for them. They do their typical adolescent posturing back and forth, till Heung-soo asks how Jung-ho has such bravado when he’s just the leader of some dinky back-alley posse.

That gets under Jung-ho’s skin, who fires back that at least he is a leader. What about Heung-soo? Is he still Nam-soon’s sidekick, clinging to the guy who crushed his leg?

Heung-soo SLAMS his fist into Jung-ho’s face, knocking him to the ground. He smiles pleasantly and tells Jung-ho to cut it out. It’s Minion #1 who gets angriest; Minion #2 is Ji-hoon, who looks weary of it all. Bully posse’s looking shaky… I wouldn’t be surprised if Ji-hoon broke ranks soon and left the trio.

In the morning, Nam-soon just lays in bed with nowhere to go. The voices of his teachers ring in his head, as well as Heung-soo telling him not to use him as his excuse.

His desk remains empty at morning call, which is when the teachers deliver their decision to the class: group cleaning punishment instead of truancy marks. Nam-soon steps in late, and my favorite part about his entrance is the joy on Young-woo’s face. Just melt my heart, why don’t you. Heung-soo… looks like he feels something about this, but we’ll just have to sit here guessing what. These boys with their tortured inner dialogues, not giving us a glimpse into them.

Heung-soo and Minion Ji-hoon were off school grounds yesterday during the class mutiny, so they get pulled aside for a scolding. In-jae urges both to keep their attendance records up if they want to move on to the next grade.

Uhmforce takes Heung-soo aside, so it’s In-jae’s turn to address Ji-hoon solo. She notes his improved grades, and he mumbles that he just answered what he knew and guessed randomly at the rest. In-jae takes that as a positive sign—going from filling in bubbles in a straight line to answering a few questions has shot his grades up noticeably.

I love In-jae’s gentle approach with him, because we can see that Ji-hoon is reachable—he’s a lost boy actively trying to make his way back. He just doesn’t know how. She offers a few words of advice, about how out in the real world there are problems you can’t solve through force: “You may think now that you’ll find a way later, but while things can go from bad to worse that way, they don’t get better.” He looks a little woebegone at this, and it tugs my heartstrings.

Teacher Jo comes by and gives Ji-hoon a palm-reading, saying that there’s some physical violence in his future: “Hm, looks like it’s either gangster or cop.” That actually deflates Ji-hoon a little, but Teacher Jo says he’s clearly not cut out for gangster, and he ought to be at an age to wise up. He leaves shooting a wink at In-jae.

The best thing about this is the smile it brings to Ji-hoon’s face. Aw, one lost boy found.

Time for Uhmforce to deal with the other two truants. Nam-soon gets seven days of school cleaning duty, while Heung-soo still has seven days left from the last punishment. In-jae’s the one overseeing the disciplining, but Uhmforce suggests that Se-chan take over. Ha, he does have a way with dealing with the knuckleheads.

Off it is to scrub urinals and pick up trash. Then it’s cleaning out a storeroom full of old desks—but since there’s no good place to keep the furniture while they clean it, they’ll have to move it all to a shed. On the roof.

It’s exhausting and aggravating, but wordlessly they get to moving. Nam-soon at one point gets the bright idea to use the elevator, only to get caught by Se-chan who locks it from use.

The boys keep up the work in silence, though when they do speak they happen to say the same things in unison. You can’t break that kind of rapport, betrayals and bad history be damned.

Se-chan and Principal Im get called out to meet with two of our most meddling moms (Ha-kyung’s and Min-ki’s), who have heard of the class mutiny through the grapevine. They basically order Se-chan to take over teaching the class and suggest that they find a way to “persuade” In-jae to cooperate.

Ha-kyung’s mother is that special brand of frustrating in that she says everything so sweetly, but she’s no less pushy than Min-ki’s overbearing mother. She suggests that if they can’t take this step now, the mothers can wait until the results of the upcoming nation-wide exams before making their complaint to the educational board.

The suggestion is one that Principal Im herself was backing, but she fumes at being pushed around at her own job. She asks Se-chan for his “help” in settling the matter with In-jae. If things continue this way and the marks come out poor, In-jae will be blamed and the parents will come back, up in arms.

In-jae continues her group discussion format, which appears to be going over pretty well with the majority of the students, although a stated minority ignores the lesson to read over their test prep materials. They gripe at the end of class, not caring that In-jae hears them supposing that her teaching method is a result of her being too incompetent to prepare them for college entrance exams. Gah. They’re so snooty.

Se-chan gives her a book summarizing previous state exams and suggests they work on matching their lessons. It’s quite the reversal, since now she’s suggesting he handle it all and he’s saying they’re better off working together.

In-jae’s thinking of the snotty student’s comment and wonders if she’ll have to change her stance—if the students truly want to learn college-exam material, perhaps that’s best for them. She asks if anyone sleeps through his class (he says they’re mostly awake) and whether she can sit in on his lesson, looking a little defeated. If nobody’s sleeping in his class, she’ll consider making the switch.

She’s a bit surprised to peer in during his class, where he’s teaching a pop song’s lyrics as a poem, ha. He does get some class engagement by framing his questions in true-or-false format and giving them sample tests, but In-jae can see the usual fooling-around as well, with students playing cell phone games or zoning out. And yes, sleeping.

Afterward, Se-chan suggests they switch over to his test-prep method at least until the state exams. She declines, saying that at least with her method, nobody sleeps.

She asks if the cleanup duo are done yet, and Se-chan only now remembers them. HA.

They’re still toiling away on the roof, and finally finish as he arrives to check on them. They’re done for the day, but tomorrow they’ll have to clean out the storeroom and all the desks as well.

Se-chan dismisses them but holds Nam-soon back, asking what he did in his time off after quitting middle school. Nam-soon replies that he just stayed home, sleeping. Se-chan says with a flash of insight, “He’s heavy, isn’t he? Park Heung-soo.” He adds that the burden doesn’t get lighter, “But if you work at it, it become bearable.” Hmm, sounds like he’s speaking from experience.

Flashback. We revisit the day Nam-soon visits Heung-soo in the hospital, when he’s so spooked that he can’t bring himself to face him. Instead he runs outside, struggling with the desire to go back and the impulse to flee.

In the ensuing days, Nam-soon sits in his room like a zombie, surrounded by dirty cups and bowls, looking like a wreck. That must’ve been one miserable year, shut away in that room, but more importantly locked in his own head.

Se-chan declares his intent to help their class study during their mandatory individual study halls, with lesson plans and ideas. In-jae points out that this is against the rules—he can’t give one class extra instruction and not the others—and asks if that’s how badly he wants to raise their class’s grades. Why?

Instead of answering honestly (It’s because of YOU, I want him to say), he just says this will help their class. As Se-chan teaches, In-jae peers in to see several kids asleep, which makes her heart sink.

At the end of the day as students file out of school, Nam-soon pauses to call out to Heung-soo, “See you tomorrow.” It surprises Heung-soo, who mutters, “Dumb bastard.” Aw, but see I’m on to you now; I know that in teen-jjang-speak “dumb bastard” just means bro-for-life, or maybe I-love-you-man.

Ha-kyung and Kang-joo grab snacks after school, and Kang-joo wonders if the two ex-BFFs have reconciled. Ha-kyung sighs that it looks like a difficult rift to mend easily, saying that she tried poking at Heung-soo and could see him seething. Those boys sure are alike, down to the way they both sleep through study hall.

Kang-joo takes note of Ha-kyung’s uncharacteristic interest, and the way she was actually looking somewhere other than the blackboard during a lesson. Ha-kyung uses Kang-joo as her excuse, saying she was only turning back to see whether she was sleeping, but gets caught in the lie when Kang-joo challenges, “So was I sleeping or not?” Ha-kyung does a hilarious shifty-eyed thing while she picks the likely answer—yes—and gets teased for being wrong.

Passing through the school hallway, a posted announcement grabs Ji-hoon’s attention. It’s a notice for a technical school, for students who don’t want to go to university but want to learn skills.

Ji-hoon goes to In-jae to ask for an application, and she lights up. Aw. She starts to congratulate him for making a good decision, but then recalls an important detail: his attendance record. Ji-hoon promises not to miss any more school, but she says he’s already missed too much. He asks earnestly whether it’s impossible—what if he tries really really hard? Poor In-jae has to break it to him: With more than a handful of truancies, even applying will be difficult. Ji-hoon looks crushed.

She starts to tell him that his initiative is the most important thing, but Ji-hoon says dully, “I thought that if I changed, everything would work out. If I came to my senses now, I thought I would get accepted.” With a bow, he heads out.

In-jae rushes to hold him back and says she’ll look into finding a way. She asks him to hold on to that drive for just a little longer, and he gives her this sad nod.

Just his luck that Jung-ho should run into him right outside the teachers’ office, having heard the gist of the conversation. He gives him crap about it, but Ji-hoon has finally had enough and says evenly, “Let’s cut it out now.”

That earns him a trip to the roof where Jung-ho socks him in the mouth. Ji-hoon tells him that he’s not afraid of him, and that neither are the others: “That stuff doesn’t work anymore. I’m saying this as a friend—let’s come to our senses now.” He’s been thinking more and more about where this path will take him, and he’s through being the thug.

Jung-ho, naturally, doesn’t take this well and he slams Ji-hoon against the wall. Thing is, I don’t really see as much anger in Jung-ho’s reaction as I think I see fear of being left behind. Much like Nam-soon, in fact, when he jumped Heung-soo out of their gang. Ji-hoon adds that if Jung-ho keeps this up, he’ll find it hard just being his friend.

Jung-ho starts beating Ji-hoon more fiercely, then picks up a wooden stick to finish the job. But he stops himself and Ji-hoon asks, “Are you gonna bash in my leg too? Like Go Nam-soon?”

That strikes a chord in Jung-ho, and he drops the wood and walks away. Oh please tell me this ends the strife. Because now that Ji-hoon’s on the right track it would be devastating to have the thug past holding him back—even more than it already is, I mean.

Se-chan continues his study hall lectures, In-jae continues her half-effectual discussion groups, and the boys continue cleaning up the school. Then test day rolls around and the principal asks whether our Class 2 teachers are feeling confident. I do enjoy Se-chan’s growing smartassery as he points out that teacher confidence has no correlation to student performance, ha.

The principal suggests to In-jae that she can always take the remedial kids and teach them a special lesson instead of the test. In-jae flatly refuses to remove those remedial kids from the testing.

The principal points out, however, that these kids just fill in bubbles in a straight line or don’t bother to finish the test, which means they’re basically telling them to sit still for the hour and a half that they could spend in a class that might actually teach them something. “Do you think I don’t worry about these kids too?” she asks. What’s frustrating is that she’s right.

Se-chan steps in and says they’ll consider it, which infuriates In-jae. How dare the school tell the kids not to test just so that they don’t lower their school’s marks? Se-chan says they would’ve just filled in bubbles and slept anyway.

In-jae retorts that even so, they came to school to take the exam: “They’ll be sad enough that they’re bad students and they won’t have wanted to come here in the morning, but they decided to come. How can we tell them, You’re messing with the test, so get lost?” Does he really think that making excuses and talking in euphemisms will keep them from knowing the truth?

She tells him her one wish: “To send every student in this class up to the third year, without leaving one behind. I may not be able to raise their grades or take responsibility for their lives, but transferring the kids I looked after to their next homeroom teacher—that is what I want as their homeroom teacher.”

Se-chan says that that’s something she can say only when she could be assured of sticking around to make that transfer. Ooh, he’s letting the cat out of the bag. She doesn’t know what he means, not being privy to the moms’ veiled threats to push her out, and he asks if she knows why he started special lessons for the kids despite not making a dent in their grades.

He tells her that if the results of the state exam are bad, dire things are in store for the principal. And that means In-jae is going to be her scapegoat.

He entreats her, “In the time used to beg and plead with the students, take some care of yourself too.”

He warns that if she doesn’t do it—take those kids out of the test—he will. Seething, she tells him that that’s nothing a teacher can or should do.

The teachers distribute the exams. Principal Im watches grimly as Class 2’s underachievers immediately set them aside and start napping.

During a break between tests, Heung-soo steps outside to sneak a smoke in the storeroom. Nam-soon notes his departure and follows him there to ask if he’s going to take the rest of the exam because more blots on his record puts him dangerously close to expulsion. But before they’re able to engage in a round of why-do-you-care and who-said-I-cared, they hear the janitor approaching. They duck for cover in the cabinet… and the janitor locks them inside, thinking the storeroom empty.

Awww, yeah. Now I see why they made a point to confiscate cell phones before the test started. These boys are stuck together, for better or for worse. Imma say better.

The next test segment is English, and that means the questions are given orally over the speaker system. Jung-ho notes his ex-minion Ji-hoon sitting for the exam and takes out his cell phone, playing a game loudly just so he can fuck up everybody’s concentration and prevent them from hearing the questions. This, of course, is hugely problematic.

Jung-ho ignores In-jae’s entreaties to hand it over and the students grow more agitated. Se-chan goes right up to Jung-ho’s desk and knocks the phone out of his hand, grabbing his arm in a death grip. After all the jjang wars, has Jung-ho finally met his match in Teach?

Se-chan pulls him out of class and into the hall, where Jung-ho grumbles for him to let go if he wants to talk. Se-chan does, and Jung-ho turns to walk right out of school. Se-chan stops him with the low warning, “I grabbed you back, so now it’s your turn. If you have the tiniest intention to keep coming to school, turn around right now. If you don’t turn now, you can’t come back to this classroom.”

Eek! Don’t give the livewire an ultimatum! Unless it works, of course, in which case bravo. Ack, I can’t decide if this tactic is brilliant or reckless.

Jung-ho actually looks conflicted (maybe just a tiny bit), but he walks out.

 
COMMENTS

So much goodness, and so much heart. I’ve come to expect a lot of character depth and nuance when it comes to Nam-soon and Heung-soo, both in the writing and in the subtle acting, but I was surprised at how well the show has done with a minor character like Ji-hoon, whose name I didn’t even know till the last episode. He’s just been there in the background, casting conflicted looks at intervals, giving us a general sense that he wasn’t totally with his gang anymore even before the story put him front and center. It’s that kind of care with the role that makes the sudden spotlight feel like a natural progression and not a jarring Problem of the Week situation.

They’re doing the slow development with Jung-ho too, which I appreciate, because he’s not an easy fix. Perhaps some viewers still don’t even see him as anything but an antagonist. I like that we’ve been seeing him breaking his stone-faced facade by degrees, but that hasn’t been a simple matter of a teacher swooping in to save the day and bring the misunderstood kid out of his shell. You just can’t Dead Poets Society this kid, and it’s going to take a lot of work… but I really think it’ll be worth it.

I love that we’re still seeing layers peeled back between Nam-soon and Heung-soo, despite thinking we’ve basically got their backstory down pat. But no, there are always little details to shine a little more light, like Heung-soo’s promise, which totally brought tears to my eyes.

Perhaps Heung-soo still believes he hates Nam-soon, or that he doesn’t mean anything to him anymore, but the promise shows that he’s still looking out for him. The deal—to keep him from doing anything that’ll send him to prison—sort of sounds like the bare minimum kind of attachment, and maybe it was. He won’t say he’ll save him or give him something big and grandiose, but this is the thing he can do. And the fact that he keeps the promise now despite having every reason to toss Nam-soon aside is, at the bare minimum, proof that his current hate is no match for his former love.

It’s bittersweet, too, in adding to the skewed balance of their relationship. I’m getting that Heung-soo saved Nam-soon on multiple levels, but Nam-soon not only couldn’t do the same, he actively had a hand (or foot) in ruining things for his friend. It’s why his current burden is so heavy, and because Nam-soon can’t save Heung-soo now or retroactively take back his actions, there’s little he can do to ease that weight. At least we have Se-chan’s assurance that the burden, while never lightening, does become bearable at some point.

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It seems like ages since I saw the last episode....
Missed School 2013 and now it's back :)

Thanks for the recap.....

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OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

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Finally the recap is here

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yeaaaay! finally! thanks for the recap! :D

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Thank you!

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Yes! Another great episode!!!

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Omona! Thank you for the recap. I just recently stumbled upon a hidden gem (White Christmas) that I completely forgot about this show. Happy New Year!!! A toast to awesome dramas for this year. *cough* *Iris* *cough*

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Happy New Year, you guys!

It's like a year waiting for episode 9 and finally it comes :D
Unfortunately, I couldn't watch it with sub properly since Viki site is having some technical problem :(. So I ended up watching ep 9 without sub in another site. Thanks to Javabeans, your recap is now my sub :D

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Finally I can watch episode 9 with sub today, along with reading your recap again. While I love Nam Soon and Heung Soo story, this episode has shifted to attention to other characters more. That's what I love about this show, it makes us care more about some characters like Ji Hoon, who seems to be side characters at the beginning. I rewatched School from the beginning last Monday (to fill my hole of missing 1 episode :D ) and there's a scene where Jung Ho told Ji Hoon that: if Ji Hoon wants to go to the army, he's gotta graduate high school, they will not accept someone with only secondary school diploma. So Jung Ho actually knows something, it's not like he ignores everything around to be the bullies. Although I still hate him so much, I am slowly able to feel empathetic toward his situation.

Along with the students' story, the teachers' story is getting more interesting. I find myself agree more and more with Se Chan about the teaching method. I also grew up in an Asian country whose education system evaluated students mainly based on their grade/exam performance. In a system like that, the way to get good grade is knowledge+practice. I don't think In Jae's way of teaching is helping her students. Even if some sleeping beauties are awake, she cannot assure that they put their minds into the class. And in a worse approach, some good students may miss out the knowledge they should have known for the entrance exam. There is no absolute solution for this systematic matter.

And last, Ha Kyung's mother even scares me more than Min Ki's mother. Now I feel more thankful to my mum to let me choose my way since I was a kid.

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I have to agree about you on teaching methods since I'm from an asian country too. In many asian countries, students are grouped according to their academic level, so the students from the top classes will definitely like Se Chan's teaching methods and I personally think that the students from bottom classes will benefit wth In Jae's teaching methods.

Plus, in reality, I don't think a class like the one in School 2013 exist. Good students will definitely be in top classes and bad students will definitely be in bottom classes.

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I'm from Asian country too, but the division between good-grade-students and not-so-good-grade-students are not done until towards the end of the high school, so our classes looked pretty much like school 2013. Now in retrospect it does make me sad that students were evaluated purely by exams, because it really hinders students ability to be creative and find their own niche in life. Is it a wonder then even as physics olympics and such are won by Asian countries, yet America still ranks the highest in exporting ideas? What makes it sadder is when a person sees him/herself as "never good enough" because their grades weren't good in school. Aargh!

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I actually disagree with Se-Chan's way. I grew up in Korea and have experienced both ways (most of my education was in korea, came to the US midway of high school). Se-Chan's way definitely is more agreeable with the Korean culture, as people have mentioned here...

However, in the long run, In-Jae's way is better for everyone. She is trying to teach how to "fish" while Se-Chan is giving them "fish." Se-Chan's way is more gratifying, instantly, but In-Jae's way shapes the human into something more than a bookworm.

Koreans (and Asians, in general) do well in school until they reach college. College and after, I feel Koreans (including myself) lack creativity and thought to really impact the world.

My american (non-asian) friends, are not as smart as I am in terms of book knowledge. However, in group projects, work, career oriented stuff - they are better than me because they are able to think more outside of the box than I am.

This is my own personal opinion.

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oh School 2013...the FEELSSSSS u give me!!!!! Nam Soon and Heung Soo just break my heart cause u can see how they both still want to be friends with each other but they each can't move past that event three (?) years ago.....
Ji Hoon....i have to agree with JB here, i like the natural progression of his character...i like that the writers are giving each character their own story, not abandoning them to the side *cough* a gentleman's dignity *cough*and it feels real and makes sense like they had this in store for the character all the time.......not like something they pulled out of a hat... i feel for the guy...i wonder what his wake up call was....
Jung Ho....i hate this guy...i understand him and where he is coming from but i hate him ..... n from the promo for the next episode, m gonna hate him even more!!...i understand his situation and why he does what he does, but like Ji Hoon said, what kind of difference is he/does he make in the world by being a thug in school! i'm intrigued to see where his character goes and his development...
and lastly Jang Nara's character....i dont like her or get why she chooses to blatantly follow and chase after certain students, even when Daniel Choi's character brings up legit and contradicting points to her POV...

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Teaching it like that.

Someone who teaches because they love teaching believes in the change that education can bring about. They believe that if they can find the right approach they can get each student to understand the power and wonder of education. Because of that they keep trying, even when reality say they should give up. And sometimes they get a victory here and there that makes them keep trying.

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i understand where she is coming from....i do...its just that sometimes u have to pick ur battles....Jung Ho is not her battle...hell i think Daniel Choi's character is better equipped to deal with him but i dont get why SHE chooses to go after him when there are other students that she is better equipped to help....

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I think she would view picking her battles as neglecting the ones who need help the most. Nam-soon and Heung-soo and so many of the others are lost lambs, too, but Jung-ho is the very most lost of all of them. He's the one who's least willing to be reached, and that's exactly why she can't help but go after him every time.

I'm not saying she's entirely right because the disruptions aren't good for the class as a whole. But I also can't help but empathize with that need to do something.

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thank you so much!!! that was great

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I love love LOVE where they're taking us with EVERYONE.

I can't wait to see Jungho, Jihoon, and Other Bully's story play out. I like that from the start I took notice of their friendship too, thanks to the writer and actors. Where we are with Jihoon's storyline, and Jungho's, is perfect. For them, for the teachers, for Class 2 as a whole, and I think, even for Namsoon and Heungsoo. Veerrry excited to see what happens next.

As for Namsoon and Heungsoo, there's GOT to be SO much more that we don't even know yet. I'm psyched for it all to be revealed! I love what they did in this ep with the two. Totally gushed.

And, with the short time I've spent in a classroom with 8th, 10th, and 7th graders, I've seen all these kinds of students. I don't know why everyone's wishing death on Jungho. There are students just like him scattered in every school--either identical to him, more intense, or less. His behavior is far from acceptable, but it takes well thought-out words, proper actions, and an insane amount of time to help students like Jungho... like Jihoon, Namsoon, Heungsoo, even Hankyung, Minki, Youngwoo, girl geek bullies. It's hard. But doable.

I like the show's portrayal of students, teachers, and the school system. Though Korea and America's school systems differ vastly, everything rings true still. Injae and Sechan as one would be theee nearly perfect teacher. I appreciate that at their core, they have a heart for their kids. I hope they keep at it.

Yay for ratings!

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Lol @ Other Bully.

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Co-signing this entire comment. Every new detail about Nam-soon and Heung-soo makes me giddy with joy (also heartbreak, which I didn't even know I *could* be giddy about).

I get why people are frustrated with Jung-ho, but the death wishes just make me sad. He's a violent, disruptive bully, yeah, but it's not just because the story needs a villain. There's so much depth in the details: the hints about his family life; the way he looks over at Ji-hoon, concentrating on the exam and maybe abandoning him for better things, before he takes out his phone; that pause when Se-chan issues his ultimatum.

It'd be so easy to make a character like Jung-ho either A) flat and all surface, or B) too easily won over by a few earnest speeches. I appreciate that he's such a complicated, angry tangle. I don't have to like him as a person to love the hell out of him as a character.

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Agree on Jung-ho.

I think the reason why I'm digging this drama more than Shut Up Flower Boy Band (which I loved, for all its bromance awesomeness) is that the 'villains' here are so much more interesting, so much more real (in SUFBB I got bored of the lady music producer pretty early on). Jung-ho isn't just bad, there is a reason he is in a mess and it isn't one that we can dismiss super easily.

Or if we did, we would have to give up on Nam-soon and Heung-soo as well.

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"Or if we did, we would have to give up on Nam-soon and Heung-soo as well."

I loved seeing the flashback of Nam-soon the jjang delivering a beatdown for exactly that reason. And in retrospect, it makes the choice to show Nam-soon as a bullied loner in the beginning of the series even more brilliant; it gets us thoroughly on his side before revealing that his past is Jung-ho's present, which makes it that much more difficult to hate Jung-ho or to give up on him.

The level of thought and care that goes into every aspect of this drama is incredible. If it maintains this quality through to the end, it's going on my top-five list for sure.

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But indulging his tantrums isn't helping him. Setting boundaries are good. It's so clear that he's petrified, of being ignored, of being left behind, of not being cared about that he's acting up. He's angry that he's had such a rotten life that he wants to lash out and dole out some of that misery to others. But that's just so counterproductive. Push away people who might have helped him.

Ultimately, the classroom is not the place to rehabilitate Jungho. That can happen outside of the classroom. Telling Jungho a firm "No" doesn't equate with giving up on him. In fact, it's the opposite.

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I agree, there is a sense of truth in portrayal of the types that exist in school, teachers and students alike.

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it's too bad we only got one episode this week...

omo omo....i'm totally invested in this series and am truly excited on what's going to come our way next week...

i do feel the bromance lightly coming back to our main lead, can't wait to see how it happens...

khamsamhida!

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Thank you javabeans! My poor fingernails couldn't survive my anticipation for this XD

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In-jae, though she has a lot of heart and is full of good intentions, drives me up the wall. I say this as a teacher. Fine, be committed to rescuing all those lost little lambs, but she needs to realize that she's an authority figure for a reason. Wield some authority, woman! She needs to learn when she ought to use honey and carrots versus authority and tough love. Her idealism is so naive and does a disservice to her students as a whole.

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Anais, In-Jae is driving up the wall as well (and I'm not even a teacher!). She talks a lot to Se Chan about getting 'ALL' these kids to 12th grade and how his focus on exams/grades is really not her style. But at the end of the day, if it's not about grades and heading to college, what is she really teaching them by reading poems...?

If her only focus is to keep kids in school and staying awake, what will that teach them about the real world? As a teacher, she should evaluate both the outcome of her teaching methods and formulate standards that fits the expectations of the school system. Maybe I'm not understanding the Korean School System and that is why I have skewed expectations of a teacher's role. But what does she think she will achieve by not assisting these kids in achieving tangible results.

Both In-jae and Se Chan should discuss their individual standards and methods of teaching and truly evaluate the value of their lessons. Both have valid points but I'm finding it harder to be on In-jae's boat considering she hasn't really shown any results in her style of teaching.

Could someone maybe give me some insight on how students could just walk all over their teachers like they do in this show? How are students graded in Korean schools? I'm concerned that half the students in class are sleeping during their exams...How is it there isn't any sort of ramifications for that?

So...many...questions.

I'm really enjoying the show as a whole but getting frustrated with how the teachers are handling their students.

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I know exactly what you mean about In-Jae. She comes from a good place though, and I guess she's just typical of a wide-eyed idealistic fresh grad young teacher. Hmm, I'm speaking from experience but I was once like her.

She does teach them about the real world, in her subtle ways like her talk with Ji Hoon. And I totally agree with her in her strong stance to have every kid take the test as she wants her kids to be promoted. Her methods may not work, but Se Chan's methods do not work for the unmotivated kids either. They're falling asleep left, right and centre.

And as for the sleeping beauties in the class, that's what happens when you get unmotivated kids in the school system. You can punish them all you want but that's just going to keep that out of school, then what? They're just going to pose a lot more problems in the streets. So the only thing you can do is try to reach out to them and hopefully, hopefully, because we all believe in miracles, some of them will have their hearts touched or a lightbulb will light up in that brain of theirs and they'll wake up from their immaturity. Or, we can all be like Michelle Pfeiffer and kick some ass in the classroom.

Having said that, I am so frustrated at what Jung Ho gets away with and when In Jae puts on the helpless, damsel in distress look when he acts up, urgh...she needs to own the class like a real teach and kick his balls.

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She did say that her goal is to teach the students how to learn, how to think for themselves. If they know how to solve one problem, they will be able to solve new problems when they encounter them. I don't think she doesn't care about tangible results - understand that this class, except for a few individuals, are really behind, so I think she feels she needs to teach the basics first, and then the students will get better. What contrasts hers and Sechan's methods is that Sechan is your typical cram school teacher - they will only teach one kind of problem, show you the only way to solve it, you memorize it and you're all set. If you encounter new problems, you won't know how to solve them yourself.
I went to grade school in Asia, and had a lot of Sechans in my life o_O I refused to go to cram school for a large part of my school career because I was frustrated, just like Injae, about not really learning anything but the test. But alas, for the sake of graduating, I did have to resort to having a tutor, because that's just how it works in Asia. This method of learning hurt me greatly when I went to college in the States. Maybe it's different at universities, but for liberal arts colleges, our "tangile goal" was to learn how to think critically, and our professors really did that. Except, I wasn't used to it, and had a hard time formulate my own ideas and opinions. You have to know that in Asia, students are fed model essays that they memorize, and then change a little bit when they take the test. In the States, that's called "plagiarism". I wouldn't call Injae frustrating or naive, but she is certainly idealistic. Until the day their education system changes, teachers like Injae will have a hard time convincing others that her method will actually benefit the students in the long run.

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Hmmm...I'm reading a lot of comments with the opinion that In-Jae is idealistic, but I disagree. The fact that she wants to teach the basics and is continuously trying hard to find tangible solutions while engaging both high achieving AND low-performing students speaks volumes about her realistic approach. She's basically proclaiming her own No Child Left Behind Act and I can accept that. As a teacher, she may not have the best methods or exercise the proper authority, but it's not as if she's not trying and from the very beginning, I felt like she was quite aware of her own weaknesses.

Comments regarding her teaching or lack thereof takes me back to two things Sechan said: First, teacher confidence doesn't necessarily equate student performance. Two, what's important isn't (necessarily just) the teacher, but a willing student. With so many jaded and difficult to inspire students, I think In-Jae's approach of just trying to get their attention and not having anyone fall asleep is the most realistic first step approach anyone can take, at least before moving on to the next step.

nh is pretty right on about the education system in Korea. It's a rough ride and highly competitive. From elementary school to high school, kids study around the clock just to take the university entrance exam, which basically decides their fate for the rest of their lives (dramatic but true). They’re lucky if they're good at memorizing; it means they'll get a very high score and that high score will guarantee them a spot in the top three universities (SNU, Korea University, Yonsei) and their choice of any majors to choose from within their score range. If that happens, they're basically set for life after graduation. Sechan's teaching method will help (the high performing) students achieve this goal, but this approach won't necessarily nurture their ability to think critically or independently. In other words, even if they become "successful" adults, it will never really help them develop independent thinking or revolutionary ideas. It's never too late, but that kind of development is pretty important during a person's formative years.

I think this show is presenting both extremes well and I'm sure the end goal is to merge those two ideologies together in order to find the best solutions that will help all students in one way or another. I mean, at the end of the day, it's really up to the students to make that choice of what to take with them (what will benefit them – how and why) and what not to, but that pretty much requires basic critical thinking, which is what In-jae wants to teach them.

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I agree with you on the whole, but I disagree that she's engaging both the high-achievers and the underachievers. That's my problem with her. What she's doing is perfect for the underachievers and those who came in ill-prepared. However, she lets herself be cowed by the snotty high-achievers and hasn't figured out a way to earn their respect. It is possible to reach them too, and reaching them is vital to her success.

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@ anais

I didn't say she's engaging both high achievers and underachievers; I said she's working hard to find solutions that will engage both. I don't think her teaching methods are only useful for poor performing students. Whether a student gets high or low marks, learning critical thinking and forming one's own opinions and ideas are skills that all students should develop since they directly correlate with building self confidence and creativity. High performing students who have a one-track mind to only study and get high scores are the way they are because the school system has shaped them to be like that, clones not independent thinkers. I also don't think that she's cowed by the snotty high achievers. I think she's certainly frustrated, but she's no pushover nor is she easily frightened by them.

There's a lot of harsh criticism about her teaching methods, but what makes her a good teacher is that she doesn't give up on her students. She's pro-active and working hard to find better solutions. While other teachers are complacent, jaded or falling in line with parental pressure, she's working hard for the best interests of the students.

This is as much her story to become a better teacher as it is for her students to become better learners.

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I think In-Jae would make a good guidance counselor but she's not a good teacher........Since the show started i've had the mindset that if i were in a class and she were my teacher and i'm thinking of going further with my education past High ,h i would not want her to be my teacher...I'd pick Se-Chan a million times over her.....

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Ah, Injae as guidance counselor. So right.

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She would make the best guidance counselor. I think the show should end with her going on that track but I would accept her changing as a teacher and adopting new methods and merging them with her current ones to become a better teacher.
And honestly the way Se-Chan currently teaches(what I've seen in this episode) is what most of my teachers do and it preps us for AP exams and midterms/finals but also isn't geared strictly towards the exam and doesn't have us using memorization techniques or something. I'd run to him too.

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Thank you for voicing that. I was beginning to think I am the only one that is being negative about some aspects of the show. I think I am really baffled - is this really how some classes are? How accurate a representation of the schools in Korea is this?

I just can't imagine a teacher like in jae.. My mom who used to be a teacher saw the first episode and couldn't tolerate her methods or seeming lack of, either. It's like those parents that think loving their kids is giving in to them all the time. While she doesn't do that, I find it really confusing what she considers tot be acceptable behavior and what is not.

Sorry, just trying to figure out why I feel frustrated watching this show

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I'm loving the show (finally caught up by watching 5 episodes in one go today), but I do find myself baffled about certain things as well, primarily the teaching.

I'm not totally on the side of Se-chan's teaching although I can see where he is coming from and there are moments when you need to 'teach to the exam' as we call it.

In-chae may have her heart in the right place, but she's confusing. Some of the things she does and says don't make sense. The group activities are fine (I do think she is going the right direction there, although she seems to be doing it at the wrong moment, when they've got a specific achievement exam coming up), BUT I have to question the CONTENT of what she teaches. I'm saying that as someone who did teach 11th/12th grades in literature - I get the feeling some of the things she is teaching are so basic you'd teach them... in elementary school? I mean, "narration is chronological writing" (ummm, no) "so construct five sentences in chronological order"???? (This was in an earlier episode.) Maybe something got lost in the subtitles, I don't know. Or her saying if you know understand and can interpret one poem well, you can understand other poems. Umm, I don't think so.

I think the writers of the show are trying to emphasise two different teaching methods (one that is teaching to the exam and involves a lot of dictating/memorising, another that involves students a lot more, with group/pair work and teaching them skills to analyse so they can think for themselves and tackle any problem rather than just having answers to specific problems memorised) BUT that the writers, not being educators, don't actually fully grasp the second method and hence are presenting us with a weird mish-mash that becomes a pretty lame way of teaching...

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I guess that definition of narration was chosen just as a tool to make Nam-Soon's confession more dramatic. Of course, I doubt that anyone could do such lesson in real life in school, since they must have very detailed lesson plans prepared and so on, but from what I've heard and from my own experience, even in University, there are cases when lecturers teach elementary things without thinking through. Definitely, that is not a good thing.

What I am confused about is why the Korean system need ALL the children attend 11th and 12th grades, even if they want to attend a "vocational" school (I don't know how to call it). For example, in our system, if children want to go to that school, they do so after 10th grade (of course, after the exams, and they still have the ability to get to uni later, although through the longer way). I mean, in this way, only those who want to get to university or college stay, therefore they are much more eager to learn.

I am not against In-Jae's teaching method so much as other commentators, but I do think that it is more for the earlier grades or those additional classes. If the lesson is interesting enough, it will probably stuck in children' minds longer. And surely, the teaching is not for the marks only (the ability to analyze, for example, is good, because it is already thinking, working with your brain, that is). I refuse to think that we have to analyze, for example, the literary works just to know how to do it in exam. Of course, we need to know how to do it properly for good marks and so on, but the main aim is to grasp the ideas of the work, to understand it, is it not? And for the worse learners, maybe the understood, lived and experienced poem will be remembered better (and, at the same time they will remember, how it was analyzed too).
Lastly, the never ending competition for the better grades only is really tiring way of learning.

I agree with your statement that "the writers of the show are trying to emphasise two different teaching methods". The most interesting thing for me is how their contradicting ways help to consider and develop as teachers. I somehow see that Se Chan IS changing, so I guess In- Jae will be changing too. There is no ideal teaching method or ideal teacher, oh, there is even no ideal person who would act well in every situation (In-Jae did wrong with that child and his violent acts, but Se-Chan also did mistakes with children), so in this drama I eagerly look for the signs of change and development.

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The root of the problem, that the school can address anyway, is the make-up of the Class #2. Why put the most high achieving students with the most underachieving? It's doing both groups disservice. They need to learn different things. Not necessarily because one group is inherently smarter but because they've come to the class with a vastly different base of knowledge.

Ultimately, this is the principal's fault. She should divvy up the class differently.

Injae is teaching to the baseline. The kids who respond to her method are truly lacking in their preparation. Hence, my issue is not with her decision to pitch the class to the kids who've fallen behind, though of course that neglects kids who need more. My issue is with her failure to exercise authority.

She asks Inho for the phone. I know she's already had a traumatic encounter with Inho about his phone before, but a teacher ought not ask and wait for the kid who's throwing a tantrum to change his mind. She ought not let the advanced kids disrespect her authority by letting them work on whatever they think is good for them. She could have recruited those advanced kids to benefit both the remedial and the advanced, but letting them do their own thing undermines the whole group project thing. Whatever. She drives me nuts.

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Jungho, not Inho.

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Oh and I wanted to ask, why they are teaching the same class? Two teachers teach literature to the same class?

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(this is to reply to anais' reply to this comment - I couldn't reply to her comment for some reason): actually, there has been research in psychology and education that shows competition IS good for learning. If you divide the classes based on levels, there are certain benefits, but you are also diminishing competition. I see the pros and cons of both (dividing and not), and from my experience as a student in Asia, unless you go to a selective school, other schools usually only have one or two "top class" and the rest are mixed. It is weird, however, how this class has the top 3 students in their entire grade. Maybe this school doesn't have any selective class after all.

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@nh: I think this particular blog format stops replies after a certain level.

There are merits to tracking and detracking. As far as I'm aware, there's been research since at least as far back as the 1980s to detrack. And indeed, there are merits.

However, I think it takes a very experienced, confident (yes), knowledgeable, and creative teacher to be able to teach to both the high- and under-achievers simultaneously. And to create an atmosphere of healthy competition. But Injae isn't yet there. She may get there, but right now she isn't a good teacher for the upper level kids because she's basically sent them the message that 1. she doesn't care about their needs and 2. she can't meet their needs, whether that's actually true or not. If anything, she's further reinforced the divide in a negative way.

I certainly don't think Sechan is such a great teacher either. He's also wrong in claiming that a willing student, not a capable teacher, is what makes a difference. Research clearly demonstrates that a great teacher is critical. Injae, several years down the line, will be that great teacher but for now she's losing the kids who were already ready-made audience to implement her own No Child Left Behind (@news is totally right about that characterization).

I'm sure the show is taking us in the direction of Sechan and Injae working together to get all the kids to learn together productively, but for now, Injae... meh. Sechan... meh but at least he isn't afraid to exercise authority.

All in all, as an educator, I'm very excited to read everyone's take on this issue.

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Thanks for bringing up the content of what is being taught! Shouldn't they be learning about reading comprehension, style, and narrative structures through the study of actual literature that is out there?

I'm baffled that they're not getting any real homework or projects. I remember having a ton of readings to do, papers to write, and small quizzes and big exams to prepare for. These kids seem to go to class and then go home, where they would 1. just do nothing or 2. prepare for the college entrance exams.

And as teachers of such unmotivated kids, shouldn't they be imparting the importance of how effed up their futures will be if they don't get even get the basics. Some of these kids need a reality check.

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they really do need a reality check. the real world would not give them this much slack.

i truly am baffled. it is sooo disrespectful to come to class and jsut not even listen to the lessons and be disruptive but to come and the minute the teacher opens his or her mouth, to sleep as nam soon does.. i dont get it.

if they really care nothing about getting an education, which should include some real respect for the teachers which is not just bowing at the end of the class, then they really have no place in the class. is it really better than them looking for jobs and doing some real work? how is it better to just turn up and do NOTHING? It would drive me bonkers teaching these folks.

i must be not understanding something here.

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you must have gone to a really good school! Also, if schools expel all the underachieving kids, where will they go? On the street?

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am not saying expel but what are they doing in class? shouldnt there be some consequences of sleeping in class the minute a teacher starts?

if there are no consequences to anything they do, how are they going to want to do anything? that is not how the world will treat them. isnt it handicapping them by just allowing them to do as they like?

i am just old - from a convent school - they were strict and we get punished for lots of stuff i suppose and i dont think that was a bad thing.

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@nh.. i dont have the answers, am just saying i am baffled and frustrated by what i see - i guess the drama is doing a good job of making us feel as impotent as the teachers there

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Injae is teaching the kids actual literature (which is why the cram-school educated high-achievers didn't do so well on Injae's first test and why the mothers are so hopping mad). Unless you meant Sechan.

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Kids fall asleep when 1) they really haven't had enough sleep/food/fluids for whatever reason or 2) they feel as if the lesson doesn't speak to them. If it's the first situation, you'll only see isolated incidences. If it's the second, then the problem will be much more widespread and the teacher needs to take a really honest look in the mirror. It is possible to maintain class interest.

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@enz - one more thing about consequences for falling asleep. It shouldn't even get to that point. There are techniques that teachers employ to prevent disengagement, be it falling asleep, not paying attention in some other way, or being outright disruptive. One simple way is to teach the lesson RIGHT NEXT to the student and to incorporate the student into the delivery of the lesson. Not only does that take care of that student but also other students who may be tempted to disengage. Injae has put into place methods to keep those who used to fall asleep from falling asleep. However, she's now lost the snotty know-it-alls who think she can't do anything for them, primarily because she hasn't done much to keep them either. There are ways to tackle students who challenge the expertise of teachers too, but Injae seems at a loss as to how to do so.

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you are right. it shouldn't get to that point. ibut in this show its not that they are dozing off coz of the teaching. it's like the minute the teacher starts, they put their face on he desk and try to sleep off so I take that to be completely disrespectful and apathetic. even when se chan tries to engage them with that Big Bang poem, there is no difference.

no easy solution. that's why teachers job is the noblest for me.

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Lol I smiled so widely when we got to Se-Chan's lesson and he was using Big Bang's "Lies". Literally made me laugh out loud.
This episode was so heartwarming/breaking as usual. I loved the moment when Nam Soon comes back and Young-woo's face just lit up. SO cute.

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It seems Namsoon's taken on a bit responsibility there. They are really cute friends. :-)

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Young-woo is the most adorable little puppy ~~
I could just picture him wagging his tail when Nam-soon came back.

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I'm glad they didn't just drop the Nam-soon/Young-woo friendship after Heung-soo came. It's nice to still see scenes with them showing the friendship is still there. And did anyone notice the part in between the exams when Ha-kyung and Kang-joo are listening to Ha-kyung's phone, in the background Ki-duk is trying to massage Heung-soo's shoulders. Haha! I couldn't believe it! He is really trying to get on his Hyung's good side.

Another note: Even though the heart of this story seems to be about friendship, I wouldn't mind a little romance. I want things to move forward with the 3 couples I want to be together: Heung-soo/Kang-joo (who have the same haircut actually); In-jae/Se-chan; and to a lesser extent Nam-soon/Ha-kyung. I would be fine without the last one, but I want the first two to happen; definitely HS/KJ. They would be so cute. We're running out of time, Show! Give me something!

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Thanks for the recap! Laughed especially at " These boys with their tortured inner dialogues, not giving us a glimpse into them." And at the "round of why-do-you-care and who-said-I-cared."

What's interesting is how Heung-soo seemed so scary at first, but with more and more backstory, he really seems a decent guy.

I also love byun-ki's man-crush on Heung-soo. Too cute. Am surprised no girl's singled him out for a bit of flirting.

Btw, what's with Namsoon chucking his cellphone in so hard when Ha-kyung went to collect it? There seemed to be a moment of anger between them and she even looked at him again.

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I kept thinking last week that Jung-ho was the type to be influenced more by his friends than by the teachers. When Ji-hoon first reached out to In-jae over the phone because Jung-ho was losing control and beating Heung-soo, I thought there might be some hope for the whole trio. (At least one of them isn't too crazy!) But last week we saw some of the real dynamics between the three boys. I was wondering if Ji-hoon would be the one to really confront Jung-ho. I'm so happy to see it happen.

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YAY! But ugh one whole more week till the next ep??

I like that we're seeing a slightly different aspect of the boys' relationship in the past... Like JB said it seems skewed in dependence. I'm totally getting hyung vibes from Heungsoo even though they're the same age. Like he said in a previous flashback, i do all these things for you, what am I if not a hyung? And Namsoon... his voice totally takes on a more boyish, less deep/matured tone in the flashbacks that mirrors their relationship. Of course it could also be because they're so much so alive in the past but i keep feeling its played intentionally by LJS. And the aegyo, omg. I died.

The whole bromance is kinda my guilty pleasure, I feel like the writers are pandering to all the fangirl/ "lusty" fanfic desires for this couple out there, haha. I totally don't want them to go down that road in the drama, but heaven knows I can't control the occasional screams in my head for them to just kiss and make up already :P

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Something to tide us over the week? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyXxQIdby-k

Finishing each other's comments, I can't even...

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SO CUTE. I had no idea they were old friends. I knew their bromance was too good to be simply an on-screen thing. And KWB being a non-rebellious, model student? Heh, who knew xD

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They're like a slightly younger Lee Min-ho, Jung Il-woo and Kim Bum. I guess there are flower boy stars for all ages :)

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Thank you for this, they are so cute together.

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GAHHHH. They are so adorable together... In the drama and in reality... HOW CAN I SUBSIST ON A MERE ONE EPISODE THIS WEEK????!!!

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Thanks so much for this! Makes the waiting for episode 10 easier.

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One thing I took away from this episode: Ji-hoon is CUTE...and (on a deeper level) a good actor!

So is Heung-soo (well, more like hot), but that's pretty much a given since he's Woo-bin.

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Ditto. Sigh, turning into a dirty old woman...

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Yes! Finally! I whole week to wait is too long! I'm already eager for more!

I like that all the characters are developing slowly, but surely. I like that Jung-ho is showing a better side, but I wonder where he'll end up. Ji-hoon I'm totally rooting for to succeed.

I wonder who Ha-kyung likes: Nam-soon or Heung-soo?

The moms in this show are so irritating.

I love that Nam-soon and Heung-soo are locked up together. Now it's time for them to bare their souls to each other. Heh.

Thanks for the recap, Javabeans!

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She probably likes them both but is attached more to Nam-soon since they're friends now.

However, in this show, it's friendship, not romance, that's the focus.

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I. Love. This. Show.

It's not hard to love the main characters, but this is the episode that really made me care about some secondary characters.

Strangely, although I really don't like her, I can really empathize with the difficult position the principal finds herself in.

I also, like several others, LOVED the emerging arc with Ji Hoon. You could just feel him emotionally trying to drag himself out of the abyss he finds himself in. He's so desperate to find hope and so fragile and brave at the same time. I think this was probably In Jae's proudest moment (speaking to him frankly about his situation in terms of vocational school but also encouraging him and letting him know she has his back), imo, on a long list of proud moments as a advocate for her students.

Jung Ho.....the poor, tortured kid. I hope his agony is nearly over. HS and NS have tragedy to be sure, but I don't think it comes close to touching the life time of awful that's messed with Jung Ho. If he survives to his point of redemption, I think it'll be beautiful. Here's hoping that he makes it there with as little collateral and personal damage as possible.

Se Chan, I see you growing up and I'm so proud. You were a real jackwagon to begin with, but your humanity is breaking through that outer stone. If you're not careful, people are going to really love you pretty soon. Well, probably not all the parents...and definitely not all the administrators...but the kids and your peers will.

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Finallllllyyyyy!!!!!!! =) i waited all week for this recap.THANK YOU! you're awesome at this!! ahhh, now i'm satisfied=D

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thanks for the recap.
too bad we only get 1 episode this week because from the preview, ep 10 looks epic!!!

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Okay, why do these kids sleep through class? When I was in school that would've eventually lead to expulsion.

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maybe not expulsion, but you would definitely be written up. I'm surprised that the students get punished for being late, but not for sleeping in class In-jae and Se-chan need to stop having separate classes and come up with a system where one teacher stays in the back to throw chalk at students who dare put their heads down.

I know that most of the students there probably aren't even dreaming about going to college and don't care about rankings, but don't you need to at least listen and pass just enough in order to move on to the next grade - or do you get to pass 11th grade as long as your attendance record isn't crap?

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I recently read that you only have to attend school to pass to the next grade. It's prolly because you theoretically just test into college not present your High School scores or GPA.

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Then why would they have any incentive to prepare for class? This is super-confusing to me.

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You're not going to magically score well on the college entrance examination after you've blown off school for three years. The super-competitive girls are constantly prepping for that test, because it's the biggest factor in getting into college.

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This might be embarassing but when I was a student, I slept in most classes too. I guess I have an excuse since I was attending a boarding school and we had a super busy daily schedule. I had less than 6 hours of sleep, 7 hours of school, 2 hours of club activities and 2 hours of mandatory studying daily. I think anybody will be worn out with that kind of schedule.

I was not the only one who sleep in classes. I even mastered the art of sleeping while standing for school assembly LOL (>__<).

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Wow, the mothers are annoying. Hakyung's mom just has this nasally voice that makes her words even more patronizing, and Minki's mom was so disdaining that I kind of felt sorry for the principal. And am I the only one who doesn't think the principal's suggestion (of teaching the students while the others are taking a test) is that bad? I mean, I get what Injae is saying, that it's kind of ego-crushing to students who cared enough to get up and go to school that day, but in my opinion, if the students can't care enough to actually take the test seriously, then just teach them during the test - it's definitely a more efficient use of time.

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As much as I dislike the principal and think she's a dick, she's not really wrong when it comes to the students' grades. Her approach and motive for correcting it is the bigger problem. Either way it really is a huge problem that those kids are doing that terribly in class and the homeroom teachers need to pay more attention to that instead of focusing so much on the delinquents.

I'm all for well rounded and interactive education that teaches how to live your life philosophically but grades/scores do matter too. (Yes, I heard grades don't matter for high school matriculation in SK but that's neither here nor there.)

Teacher Jung means well but just getting them to the next grade seems just as grossly irresponsible as grinding them into the ground about their test scores. :/

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I don't like the principal either, but that suggestion of some students taking the exam, others having a class wasn't bad (while In-chae's argument wasn't very compelling in this instance).

The mothers... there are definitely parents like that, that meddle to extremes. It's sad but it's true. Parents who send their children to private school and therefore think their child has to get a good grade (because they pay for their education). I met parents like that and they were a nightmare. As a teacher, the only way to 'survive' these people is a solid back-up, that is your department head backing you, your vice-principal backing you, your principal backing you.

That's a thing I found problematic in this show: everything gets discussed in front of everyone, teachers get questioned and put down in front of students and in front of parents - it's a fun humiliation party and no wonder the parents have the power here!

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Is this the only episode of the week, where to get news on things like this?

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Thanks for the recap! While the Heung-soo and Nam-soon relationship gets me right in the heart, I'm glad they moved on to focus on some of the characters whose stories need to be told too. I thought it was interesting how Ji-hoon and Jung-ho's confrontation mirrored Heung-soo and Nam-soon's. And Ji-hoon - felt so sad for him when he learned how his attendance record could affect him getting into technical school. It is scary to finally realize that all your mistakes and decisions matter for the future after living in the present for so long. It is so daunting.

So many great scenes in this episode, but my favorite has got to be the cleaning projects that Se-chan assigned Nam-soon and Heung-soo (and what an awesome ass he is about it!) and the boys bonding over for a moment over "That Kang Se Chan!".

A funny/sad moment: Se-chan using Big Bang's Lies song to teach about poems and one of the students mentioning how OLD that song is. It was only 2007! Teens! I remember my 10 year old cousin using "a long time ago" when he meant 6 months prior.

My only gripe is how In-jae wasn't the one to successfully grab Jung-ho's phone. She worked so hard to get these students prepared and now that punk was going to ruin it and ruin the futures of all the students there.

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oh yeah! I caught the "old" part too and I was like NOOO...but then when I think carefully, it is sorta old...haha. maybe he should have used Blue instead. =D

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Jung-ho is scared of being alone, being without someone who looks up at him. He disturbed the class only to mess with the member of his posse who wanted to leave the gang, apply himself at school and try to go to vocational school.
Remember the look on his face when he realize that instead of sleeping the boy was actually taking the test. Jung-Ho fully intended to be thrown out of the classroom because out of habit,he believed that his posse will leave with him and ultimately he messes the guy's chance to take the test and limit his options, then he cannot leave him
It is not really being malicious just being a little machiavellian I would say. I believe that he might be one of the smartest kid in the class, but right now he is scared witless. I am curious about his "home life". I can't wait to see the road he takes when he "grows up".

I believed that they showed the two members of his posse standing, but not leaving the classroom, we'll find out next week.

I agree, that he is a really handsome kid, maturing really fine.

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With new songs coming out the industy's wazoo and the numerous image changes bands go through all the time 2007 really IS a long time ago. 6 years is old in the pop music world. I love the song but still XD
I guess it is a teen thing?

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*industry

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Thank you for the recap and all the info, I am happy for the ratings too.
I really like the idea of friendship, I mean it is so easy to talk about friends, best friends and stuff as if every one has friends but as one grows and the years pass it is painful to see that friends are so difficult to keep or to get. I mean true friends. Having friends in life is as important as having good health or a family , i think. ( sorry, just being emotional at the beginning of the new year :D)

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Omg guys Did foi heard???

Kim nam Gil and jang Nara might be dating!!!!!

My mind is blow. ......

It seems kng gave a truck good to school 2013 staff to celebrate jang Nara wining an award and the crazy student guy with glasses posted his picture with kng loool giving it away

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ow so that what is was about, I tried to read it on the korean internet news sites but in running it through a transation didnt make much sense. I would not put to much into it, he hardly the first to take a liking or state an interest in her after all, but if true good luck to them :-) Ow read up on him he was in school 1 I betting that is the real reason for the treat he gave. I swear all Jang Nara has to do is been seen with a male celeb and the next day there be a story on her latest love interest. The Korean press has been trying to marry her off for 11 years now lol.

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Maybe he's coming on as a guest star? That would make this my all time favorite show ever!

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Really?!! I was just thinking, I actually wanted Jang Nara & Choi Daniel to date in real life! Will they have kissing scenes in School? ;P

Anyway, found that Jang Nara's agency, however, told enewsworld: "We know that the two are close friends. They're simply close as seniors and juniors; they're not lovers, like most seem to think. They're actually pretty awkward around each other because they're so polite."

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I swear, I shed tears almost on every episode. Gah !

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while we did miss out on an episode beacuse of the KBS awards, School 2012 did get two of those awards in Jang Nara [she also got the same award last year] and Lee Jong-suk, this should have the downflow effect of an increase of veiwer rating. Indeed with 15% if it hold or even increases you getting to the ..do we extend the drama time.

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Wow..this drama is just tugged your heart every single episode..My big laugh this episode are Se Chan, Nam Soon and Heung Soo.. hahaha..since those mopping punishment, i love seeing those three together in one scene. The moment they receive punishment from Se Chan, i know this is going to be big laugh. Nam Soon and Heung Soo faces when they have to carry those much of chairs upstairs just flawless. And hmm..maybe Se Chan have been doing that too in the past ?? ^^ maybe..since likely he seemed to know that they going to use lift. He checked the upper part of the door in bathroom too, Maybe he once just like them too and received same punishments too... hahahaha...

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And speaking of Se-chan, I can't wait till the drama reveals (well, more like ekes out XD) more about his past; I want to now why he was initially motivated to become a teacher presumely before the tragic incident that lead to his most recent post as an instructor. It would be so awesome to see a flashback featuring student Se-chan and Teacher Jo interactions (not mention seeing Daniel Choi in a school uniform...XD)

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A big awww for Ji Hoon, who stole my attention this episode. I thought that scene where he learnt that his previous truancies badly affected his chances of going to that technical school was really sad...He is trying so hard in the present too! :( I hope things will go well for him, as well as for Jung Ho and the other minion. It isn't too late to turn back, guys!

The other awww goes to the re-emerging bromance between Nam Soon and Heung Soo, of course :) They are so cute!

I'm really hoping to see a character development or backstory if some sorts for Gang Joo. She should have something more since she is being marketed as one of the (more) main student characters. *crossing my fingers*

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Dat bromance. Nam-Soo and Heung-Soo both know they want it. They can't deny it forever haha. Liking the development of all these characters. Glad Jung-Ho didn't go there and break Ji-Hoon's leg.Then we would have had School 2014 with Jung-Ho as Nam-Soo and Ji-Hoon as Heung-Soo haha jk. Can't wait till the next episode. You usually see the locked up in storage scenario between a guy and a girl who can't admit they love each other. Except this time it's between two bros so you know the tension will be high with a hint of violence.

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is episode 10 gonna come out this week or we have to wait till next monday?

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Next Monday.

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I was literally rolling around on the bed in agony yesterday when I remembered School had only one ep this week. But I think all of the hidden 'I lub you's made up for it (': Thank you for the recap!

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Damn, now we have to wait ANOTHER week. T_T WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD, SHOW?!?!?! D:

Aww, I loved the focus on Ji-hoon in this ep. It was heartbreaking and touching and just...aww. I reaaally hope everything works out for him. And yay, more Nam-soon/Heung-soo moments! There wasn't much talking there, but I'll take what I can get. Love all the little revealing glimpses we get of their past though. And how much do I love that the kdrama romantic cliches (i.e. wrist-grab, locking a couple in a room together) ends up being utilised on Se-chan and Jung-oh and Nam-soon an Heung-soo respectively? It's hilarious.

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Haha, ypu've made sometrue observations. How I wish the kdrama universe was filled with more highschool convention-twisting bromances!

Has anyone seen the preview for next week? Squee, I can't contain all my feels, I literally curled up on the spot (OMGHeung-sooNam-soonJung-ho!!!) Kudos to the writers, production crew and everyone involved in this damn awesome drama, it's so riveting and just has this heart about the way it showcases relatable themes and emotion. I love how anyone can watch this, and how time and effort is invested in its secondary characters, not just propped up on its main leads. Gah, I haven't felt this way since Answer Me, 1997.

How will I survive until I get my next dosage of rebellion, angst and jjang-teen speak?!

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The preview they showed included HS and NS still locked in the shed with the chairs. HS gets mad at NS for saying something and pushes him back into the stack of chairs which completely collapses on top of him. The final image is of NS unconscious with chairs and desks on top of him and HS looking on.

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Haha, I asked too literally! I've definitely seen the preview, and just wanted to spazz on about how School 2013 is taking things up a notch again, narratively speaking :) I'm so psyched to see Heung-soo and Nam-soon have an opportunity to make some sort of peace with each other, and am intrigued to see Jung-ho's development - so hoping he along with Ji-hoon and Yi-kyung get to show the audience some unexpected depths in their 'friendship'.

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Ji-hoon : My heart breaks for him...
Sigh...these kids are all so lost I wish Mama Injae and Papa Se-chan can get to them in time.

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I love Kim Woo-bin's facial expressions! They are hilarious. And it was nice to see the comrardery is still there, even if they aren't ready to admit it. And it's interesting to see the parallel between Nam-soon and Jung-ho in feeling like they were being left behind. I feel for Jung-ho. He needs a lot of love and care and In-jae is in his corner, he just doesn't know how to accept it.

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lol can we talk about the fact that those two hid in the cabinet together for (idk) more than 10 seconds?! that tiny space.. what was there no camera in there???? WHY???

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why was there no.. not what ^^;

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Haha xD I like how all of the typical scenes you see between soon-to-couples happen with HS & NS (getting trapped in a tight space together, the bickering, etc.)

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the drama is starting to feel really slow to me and i cant get behind the characters, ie i dont feel very sympathetic to their pain and problems. i also cant understand the school system and in jae either. she seems so helpless against the apathy of the students and just states something and its like up to them to take it or leave it cos all she can do is say it and hope that something sticks.

i know perhaps this is how it actually is in school these days but it really frustrates me i guess

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Been waiting for this ep since last year he he!
Btw r we gonna revisit Minki's story at some point? Cuz it looks like they touched on it in 2 eps then thats all we got! And speaking of Minki, the more i observe his mom and the principal the more am convinced those 2 characters could be twins or sth...they are so similar in their bitchy, pushy ways its ridiculous!
*and ouch! for KOD, not even low double digits-korean viewers have no taste i say ; (

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Thank you for the recap.

Strong episode.

The exhilaration when the broken duo got on the bus and watched as the bus pulled away from the pursuing gang, then Heung Soo clapped his hand on Nam Soon shoulder. The SMILES on their faces as they congratulated each other on making it, ah joy.

Then the horror of regretful embarrassment when they realized they no longer had that type of relationship broke my heart.

I give SCHOOL credit with not pulling its punches. At this point it makes clear than Nam Soon wasn't a poser gang leader, but in his heyday he was vicious. Seemingly more physically vicious than Jung Ho. Jung Ho seems scheming underhanded and deceitful where the young Nam Soon was likely to stomp you to death.

I've no patience for Jung Ho and I'm willing to see the school cut him lose, but now knowing Nam Soon's history, I'm willing to accept that Jung Ho can change. I have no interest in him at this point, but I'll go with In-jae's faith.

Jang Nara's acting is working in this drama for me, but after watching BABYFACED BEAUTY, the only other drama I've seen her in, I'm beginning to think of her as somewhat limited. In both drama's she gives off a sense of limpid eyed passivity as she accept the world's abuse and soldiers on. Which is weird because her character in SCHOOL is very active in her attempts to rescue her students, yet Nara manages to come across as passive. Perhaps it is because of Nara's ever present wet eyes.

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No limpid, but forever floating in tears.

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Oh My GOSH! o.o

When I heard that School had been preempted, I thought it had been postponed till the next week.

But NO, only postponed till the next day. xD :D :D

Best present ever after a horrible exam :D <3

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JB, thanks for the recap. I like what you said in the commentary about Jung ho not being a straight-up antagonist, because I think that's the 'lesson' this drama is trying to teach; that people grow and change and learn from each other.

That's what makes the principal so frustrating. I understand where she's coming from -- bad test scores do reflect badly on her, but she seems unable to see past her first impressions of people. Misbehaving kids will always misbehave, Class 2 will always bring down the school, In jae will always be a horrible teacher, and Se chan will always be one of the best. She doesn't see change or make allowances for different circumstances. I thought this was shown pretty well at the end when Se chan had the death grip on Jung ho... when In jae slapped their hands, she was called out for it. At the end of this episode, she didn't even see what Se chan was doing. She just looked in, saw In jae, and heard the commotion.

In other news, I can't wait to see Nam Soon and Heung soo continue to make up.

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Another thing I'm puzzled by is, why no minorities? Aren't there any migrant workers?

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I hit submit too soon: I was wondering why, in the classroom, there aren't any kids of other ethnicities. Usually in any developed country, there are migrant workers who settle down for some generations.

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Korea is still pretty homogeneous ethnically. And newly immigrated minorities are more likely to be concentrated in a few neighborhoods of Seoul but more likely elsewhere. :)

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Thanks for explaining! :)

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Ahhh only one episode =( but at least it was a good one~

Ah so many conflicted feelings. Especially about the way the teachers should go on about handling their class.
Kang Se-chan's mentality might raise the total grade, because the good students' grades will go up, but he's basically ignoring the other students. And, as a high school teacher, isn't it your responsibility to try and reach out for all of your students? It's not the teacher's fault if some students just don't want to try, but shouldn't you at least try and reach out for some of them instead of giving up on them entirely?

As for teacher In-Jae's methods, I can't agree with them either. She's making her lessons so incredibly simple, mostly focusing on the people who don't want to study, to just teach them some skills. But that's not enough to get any of the students into college - in that way she's kindof wasting the good students' time. She's only focusing on helping a couple of students, but it's hurting the other students as well.

I found Se-chan's song/poem teaching method actually a good middle-ground: he's trying to make things interesting, but without sacrificing the quality of the lesson. It just wasn't enough to keep all students awake yet, but maybe they could find more interesting ways to keep more students entertained.

As for Heung-soo and Nam-soon... I really do want them to make up ; ; that teamwork scene was so awesome and they seemed so much more alive~ Gah, can't they let bygones be bygones? But I understand where they're coming from I guess with the whole dream-crushing thing.

But... don't broken legs heal? With the way soccer is getting so aggressive nowadays, I do not believe none of those famous soccer players have ever broken their leg. I mean, physiotherapy anyone? Though I guess it'd be too late /now/.

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Depends on where the break is and how bad it is- like is it a clean break or a messy shattering? Any nerve damage? Any joints involved, or just a clean straight crack across a bone? Any scar tissue getting in the way of that joint? I got the sense that for Heung Soo, it was the knee joint, which is more complicated.

My husband has a metal plate and six screws in his arm because his 'broken' arm took more than a year for the two ends of shattered bone to find each other and heal after a fashion. He's never regained the same function he had before, either, and it does ache when he overuses that arm in a way the other, never broken bones do not.

He did physiotherapy for over a year, too- more than once a week, and that's why he has as much function as he does, but there were still limits to what that could do for him.

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Ouch. If it's the knee I guess it's more complicated, but on the drama all I could see was Nam-soon's foot crushing his leg =/
I'm not a doctor though, so idk.

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Heung-soo also wasn't well-off so it may be that he couldn't afford the best medical care to make sure his leg healed in tip-top shape. Which is pretty sad because he was depending on his legs to make a good living.

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Using Kpop in class. I love it! haha...on the other hand, I totally love how the writers flesh out Ji Hoon as a character despite the limited time. Now, I just want him to become a policeman. Please find a way for him to continue to vocational school!!! =D and Lee Jong Seok won an award....XD

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In the scene where Heung-Soo confronts Jung-Ho I felt a lot of heart-ache for Jung-Ho. What got me is when he essentially acknowledges that Heung-So *is* stronger than him- that must hurt to admit, but says it doesn't matter, because the way he got where is:'
"Is because I am so good at enduring the blows."

As an abused kid (who also slept through some of my classes without any consequences beyond poor grades)- that really resonated with me.

I don't think either Nam Soon or Heung Soo have experienced the same parental brutality as Jung Ho, although we don't yet know about Nam Soon for certain- I get the sense that his problem has more to do with parental neglect and absenteeism than outright abuse, and I don't think Heung-Soo has been abused at home- his issue seems to be more one of fatherlessness. He clearly has somebody at home who loves him (his sister, and we know he had a close relationship with his mother)- and he's the least brutal of the three jjangs.

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I think for Heung-Soo a big part of it was probably Nam-Soon's influence =/

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Sorry ladies i can not for the life of me see what you see in this show it is plagued with awkward plotting, bad acting, pretentious at times and more importantly with exception of the two first episodes it lacks a good dose of heart.

the reason i say this is if you compare this show to Japanese or American high school equivalents School 2013 is simply not good enough or good at all. This is sad because the South korean educational system, as successful as it is,has been dogged by sad stories and worrisome reports. more importantly this is an area that is sadly quite unexplored in Korean television.

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No offense then why you spent your time to put a comment on recap for episode 9. Just stop watching :) and switched to glee, save by the bell or gto

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again you have to watch korean tv dramas with the full understanding that they are always under the eyes of the government watch dog, they simple are not allowed to show the 'sad stories and worrisome reports' you are talking about, in School they gone about as far as they can and still be allowed to air

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