초등학교 1학년 오늘부터 매일 등교 시작..<br /><br />Most of grades one through twelve students in South Korea returned to the classroom today after about seven months of disruption.<br />The nation's first graders, in particular, will be attending face-to-face classes every day of the school week starting today upon educational authorities' decision that it is imperative to get those little ones in in-person classroom setting.<br />First day of school for first graders, Kim Yeon-seung reports.<br />From Monday, first-grade elementary school students will be back in the classroom every day of the school week.<br />After seven months of disruption, they will finally be getting the full benefits of face-to-face learning.<br />"The school gate bustles with excitement as the students pour in for their new face-to-face classes.<br />The teachers welcome the students in puppet costumes so that their transition from online classes to offline feels a bit friendlier."<br />Before Monday, the majority of schools only let students come to class once a week and had to supplement those classes with online lessons.<br />But that long period of remote learning has been tough on both students and parents.<br />"Since the kids weren't in school, I could see their posture or things like that loosen up. I was also worried that they weren't getting the chance to adapt to school as first graders."<br />"I couldn't meet with friends and play, but it's so much fun now that we're together "<br />Education experts say it's especially important for first graders to study in class so they can learn to interact with teachers and classmates.<br />"This is a critical time for students to acquire basic lifestyle habits and build social skills by making friends. But there is a lot of concern that students are missing this critical time and that this could cause an education gap."<br />But schools still need to take precautions to keep children safe.<br />Students in other grades will be coming in on alternate times to follow Seoul education office's guidelines that only allow two-thirds of students to be in school at any one time.<br />Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News<br />
