A Class of Their Own
"Wow, the world really is small."
Yoo Min-seok shook his head in disbelief.
Go Chang-ho was staring blankly at his iced Americano.
"So, just how smart is he that you're this out of it? I did think the kid seemed unusually mature."
"Trigonometry."
"Huh? He's already advanced that far? Did he study in China before coming here? That's not something you can pull off with just a month of tutoring."
Go Chang-ho shook his head.
"Seriously? In just one month? Wow, that tutor must be incredible."
Go Chang-ho shook his head even harder.
Yoo Min-seok frowned in confusion. "What is it, then?"
"The kid got there entirely on his own."
"...Excuse me?"
"I even spoke with the tutor on the phone. In front of his guardian."
"..."
"He said at first, the kid was at a second-grade elementary level. But on the very first day, within just one hour, he finished the entire fifth-grade math curriculum."
"Come on, there's no way..."
"And in the next hour, he finished up to third-grade middle school math."
Yoo Min-seok blinked blankly.
"By the first week, he had finished The Standard of Mathematics."
"...What?"
His senior might be a bit eccentric, but he was absolutely not a man to lie. Nor was he the type to make such bold claims without being absolutely certain.
"Who... who on earth is this tutor?"
Go Chang-ho let out a hollow laugh. He had reacted the exact same way at first. No matter how smart a child was, the teacher had to be extraordinary to produce such mind-boggling results. But after speaking with him directly, the reality was completely different.
"The tutor said it himself. He didn't do a thing."
"...What?"
"Think about it. If a tutor achieved those kinds of results, it's only natural they'd brag about it and add it to their resume. But he vehemently denied it. He said he did nothing but open the books, and the kid figured everything out on his own. By the second week, the tutor couldn't even keep up with the kid's questions. He said he actually started dreading going to the lessons. He even ended up going to the hospital because the stress gave him alopecia."
"Whoa..."
Go Chang-ho took a long sip of his iced Americano, enjoying Yoo Min-seok's dumbfounded expression. Even as he retold the story, his own mouth felt dry. That was how utterly flabbergasted he still was.
"Did you test the kid yourself?"
"Of course I did."
"How was he?"
"Well... I gradually raised the difficulty as we spoke. The kid is truly special. When I threw a question mark at him, he'd connect several more question marks to it. But his logical structure is incredibly robust. In the end, he always circles back precisely to the initial question mark to find the answer."
"So he's not just memorizing patterns?"
"No, it's pure inductive reasoning. And at an absurd level, too. He combines high school formulas to arrive at college-level theorems. Of course, he uses a child's vocabulary. There were a lot of abstract expressions. His proofs might be clumsy, but he always finds a way to reach the answer."
Yoo Min-seok furrowed his brow.
In today's educational climate, it was incredibly difficult to distinguish pure reasoning skills or mathematical intuition. In fact, kids rarely had the opportunity to use their reasoning skills in the first place. The average educational system had become so advanced and efficient that the methods for finding answers had been streamlined to the extreme.
Children were trained from a very young age to find answers as quickly as possible. Because the results of this method were so much better, they chased the optimized paths of the system rather than relying on inefficient, self-guided reasoning.
If there was a wide-open highway leading straight to the answer, there was no need to take a bumpy, unpaved road.
To be honest, it was also much easier for teachers to teach that way. After all, the teachers themselves had studied the same way.
An eleven-year-old fifth grader.
If it were an ordinary child who had gone through the standard Korean curriculum from the start, they would have long forgotten the very concept of independent reasoning.
Yet, his senior—who was notoriously strict when it came to education—was acknowledging this child to such a degree.
That meant the kid was the real deal.
"Wow, is it thanks to his environment? From what it sounds like, he studied on his own outside the formal education system."
"It's mostly because the kid himself is extraordinary. The environment just didn't do anything to suppress his genius."
"I suppose so. So, what are you going to do now?"
Go Chang-ho let out a heavy sigh. "That's my dilemma. What to do with him."
Tapping his temple, Yoo Min-seok spoke up. "If he's a prodigy capable of shocking you, senior, then his path is already set. First, should I look into our university's Gifted Education Center? He can make a name for himself through the KMC (Korean Mathematics Competition) or HME (National Mathematics Evaluation) until he's in sixth grade. Then, in middle school, he can participate in the KMO (Korean Mathematical Olympiad) junior division a few times. If his scores look good, he can aim for early admission to a school for the gifted..."
Go Chang-ho shook his head again. "No, not that."
"Huh? Do the parents not want that? Ah, is it because international schools in Jeju are all the rage among Gangnam parents these days? Wow, are they thinking of sending him abroad? In a way, that might actually be wiser... Wait, not that either?"
Go Chang-ho scrunched up his nose. "His guardian asked me to just watch over him for now."
"...What?"
"He said he wants the kid to experience a wide variety of things."
"What? No way. Is he a step-parent or something? Their kid is a literal genius..."
"No, he's not a step-parent, nor is it because he doesn't care. He just doesn't want the kid to rush into locking himself into one path. Not until the kid finds what he truly enjoys and finds fun on his own."
"..."
Yoo Min-seok wore the most shocked expression he had shown all day.
A guardian in South Korea who genuinely thought that way?
Especially when their child was an absolute prodigy?
He had to believe it, knowing his senior would never misread a parent's psychology so completely, but it was still incredibly hard to swallow.
"I... wow..."
He was utterly speechless.
Watching Min-seok's dazed face, Chang-ho grinned.
"Isn't it wonderful?"
"...What? What is?"
"No matter which path you choose, the modern Korean education system ultimately ends up killing curiosity. Fortunately, his guardian has given his blessing. So, I'm going to let the kid do whatever he wants and just quietly watch over him."
"But with that level of genius, he's bound to stand out. Will the school really leave him alone? If they play their cards right, he could bring massive prestige to the school."
"If he were in any other class, maybe. But he's in mine. No one touches him without my permission."
Chang-ho shrugged, and Yoo Min-seok nodded blankly.
Indeed, his senior was one of the few people who could actually back up such a claim.
He possessed the most impressive credentials of any elementary school teacher in South Korea. He was an academic powerhouse whom even the foundation's board chairman couldn't touch, despite the mountain of parent complaints he had received over the past two years.
When he returned to Korea and rejected professor positions at prestigious universities to teach at a private elementary school, a rumor circulated in the education community: the school principal might get fired, but Go Chang-ho never would.
Go Chang-ho grinned. "I didn't grit my teeth and get a PhD just to walk on eggshells around others. I did it so I could teach kids exactly the way I want."
Yoo Min-seok shook his head, dumbfounded.
The more he thought about it, the more fascinating it became.
An out-of-the-box prodigy who had escaped the clutches of the standard education system, meeting an eccentric educator with a Harvard degree who harbored a massive grudge against that very system.
Go Chang-ho spoke again. "Why are all geniuses in the STEM fields?"
"Well, because their abilities can be clearly measured?"
"Exactly, and that's the problem. Any kid with a bit of brains is pushed straight into STEM. Because it's the only way they can prove themselves as quickly as possible!"
"Well, that's just common sense..."
"And because of that, they never get to look at other fields! Not when they're young and their minds are still flexible!"
"Senior, I think you're getting sidetracked again. Let's calm down a bit."
"Hey. Was King Sejong, whom you respect so much, a STEM guy?"
"And the other half?"
"Uh..."
"The preface to the Hunminjeongeum Haerye is pure literature! He systematically organized the music of his time, reformed state rituals, and compiled historical texts! Is that STEM?"
"Well, back then..."
Go Chang-ho clenched his fist. "A polymath!"
"I don't think that's the right term to use here..."
"Sigh, is there no good Korean equivalent? A multi-disciplinary genius? Like Leonardo da Vinci! Anyway! Just think about it. What would it be like if a multi-talented genius like that emerged in our generation in South Korea?"
"Come on, you're getting way ahead of yourself. Besides, even Da Vinci was called a genius of unfinished works. He barely fully completed anything."
At Yoo Min-seok's words, Go Chang-ho chuckled and nodded. Even he had to admit he was letting his imagination run wild.
"Yeah, I did go a bit too far. I admit it. But looking at that kid just made me dream a little."
Yoo Min-seok shook his head. "Still, I'm really curious to see just how incredible he is if he's got you acting like this."
"We'll have to wait and see. Just how much more amazing he'll become."
"Phew..."
Honestly, hearing his senior talk like this made Min-seok look forward to it too.
"Man, my throat is parched."
The two of them simultaneously took a long sip of their iced Americanos.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Since he's still growing, a slightly larger size like this will be better. Oh, look how handsome he is. The uniform really brings out his features. You must be so happy to be going to such a nice school."
Cheol-jun stared intently at his reflection in the mirror.
It finally felt real that he was going to school.
He recalled the elementary school kids he had seen in China. They used to walk in neat lines, wearing red pioneer scarves called Honglingjin.
Cheol-jun grinned.
Compared to the uniform he was wearing now, those red scarves looked incredibly tacky. Back then, though, he had envied those kids so much.
Hyeong-man squeezed his face into the mirror next to Cheol-jun's.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes!"
"Haha. Then we'll take two of this size. And give us two sets of the casual school wear as well."
"Of course, sir."
Cheol-jun looked at Hyeong-man in the mirror.
"What is it?"
"Can I wear this home?"
"Huh? But we're going to get food."
"Yes!"
"Haha, alright, alright. Please pack up the clothes he was wearing. Here's my card."
"Right away, sir!"
Cheol-jun quickly bowed to Hyeong-man.
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Hyeong-man ruffled Cheol-jun's hair affectionately.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Even though it was a holiday, the teachers' office at Hanyoung Private Elementary School was incredibly chaotic.
Tomorrow was the first day of school.
Although the class assignments had already been finalized, several parents had requested changes, resulting in some students being moved around. This meant the attendance rosters had to be reprinted.
This was something unimaginable in public schools, but in private schools, it happened all the time. After all, private schools ran on the parents' money.
Reviewing the names of the students assigned to his class, one teacher glanced at the colleague next to him.
"Hey, Kim. Did you happen to check the roster for the Special Creativity Class?"
"Ah, hold on. I set it aside somewhere..."
This was the hottest topic among the upper-grade teachers this year.
What kind of kids would end up in the class that had received the most parent complaints last year?
Rumors had already spread like wildfire through the parents' group chats. As a result, several parents of children assigned to that class had already called the school to demand reassignments.
Consequently, there wouldn't be many students left in that class.
In fact, it was a miracle such a situation was even allowed to happen. If any ordinary teacher had received that many complaints, they would have been fired on the spot.
But the homeroom teacher of that class was an academic powerhouse.
The other teachers couldn't fathom why someone with such stellar credentials was wasting his time as an elementary school teacher.
Regardless, that was how the most peculiar class in the history of Hanyoung Private Elementary School came to be.
"Let's see... Oh, there are still quite a few left. Nine in total."
"Really? Is Si-woo in there too?"
"Yeah."
Si-woo had been famous since the second grade.
He had been selected as a research student for the Korea Baduk Association and was currently training to become a professional player. He wasn't planning on attending middle school anyway, and he only came to school about three days a week.
"Who else is there?"
"Ji-ah...?"
Both teachers let out a simultaneous sigh of relief.
"Is that confirmed?"
"I think so."
Ji-ah's parent was a legendary nightmare who had driven both the third and fourth-grade homeroom teachers to seek psychiatric treatment.
Every fifth-grade teacher had been trembling with anxiety, praying they wouldn't get stuck with her.
But now, she was in the Special Creativity Class.
"Did the parent not call the school to complain?"
"Nope. Apparently, once she checked the homeroom teacher's credentials, she insisted on keeping her child in his class."
Since she was ostracized from the parents' group chats, she was probably slow to get the gossip.
In any case, it was a massive relief for the rest of them.
"Min-jun is in there too, and so is Arin."
Min-jun was preparing to transfer to an international school in Jeju, and Arin had recently joined an agency as an idol trainee.
Most of the other kids were in similar situations.
They were children who, for various unique reasons, weren't obsessed with advanced tutoring or standard academics.
It had literally become a special education class.
"Oh? There's a transfer student too?"
"A transfer?"
"Yeah. But his record says 'non-regular learner'."
"Wow, is that even possible? In a private elementary school?"
"I'm sure the higher-ups had their reasons."
Fluttering the attendance sheet, the teacher chuckled.
"Well, at least we don't have to worry about our classes coming in last place for the grade average this year."
"Still, I do feel a bit bad for him. That class is filled with nothing but difficult kids."
"The vice principal probably dumped all the troublemakers in his class on purpose. I heard from another teacher that the vice principal wants to make Go Chang-ho leave on his own. Go seemed pretty exhausted lately anyway, so I doubt he'll last long. Honestly, he'd be much better off teaching as a professor at a good university."
The other teacher tilted his head. "But I saw Go earlier, and he was grinning from ear to ear. He looked incredibly happy."
"Really? Has he finally lost his mind?"
The two teachers looked at the empty desk with pitying eyes.
If they had been forced to take a class like that, they would have handed in their resignations immediately.
They both let out a sigh—half out of pity, half out of relief.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Are you sure you don't want to take the shuttle? It takes over twenty minutes to walk. Or should I drive you?"
Cheol-jun, carrying a large backpack, beamed.
"I'll just walk!"
Did they buy the uniform too big? It looked a bit awkward on him.
"Haha, alright... Then let me at least walk you to the main road."
Cheol-jun shook his head.
Most fifth graders walked to school by themselves.
He had already practiced walking the route to school a few times. Aside from the four-way crosswalk and two narrow back alleys, there weren't any dangerous spots.
"I'm off!"
"Ah, right. Okay. Listen to your teacher! Make lots of friends. If anyone tries to pick on you, just punch them in the—ah, no, don't do that. Tell your teacher right away, okay?"
"Yes!"
Hyeong-man rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and patted Cheol-jun's head.
"Happy first day of school."
"Thank you!"
Hyeong-man recalled what the boy had told him before.
How much he had envied the elementary school kids in China who walked around in groups wearing those red scarves.
He had said he never got to hang out with friends his own age in China.
Hyeong-man couldn't fully fathom the depth of the little guy's feelings.
Just how thrilled and excited must he be right now?
"Alright. Move out!"
"Yes!"
Cheol-jun quickly opened the front door and dashed out.
Sigh... Look at him go.
Hyeong-man quickly threw on his coat.
Then, he patted his knees.
Ding.
The doors are closing.
Aigoo, my knees...
Hyeong-man quickly opened the front door and slipped out after him.