Based on the controversial webtoon Get Schooled by Chae Yong-taek and Han Ga-ram, Teach You A Lesson is a popular Netflix series about the fictional Educational Rights Protection Bureau (ERPB), founded to tackle school violence.
Despite its violent and abusive scenes, the series is incredibly satisfying to watch as the perpetrators truly get what they deserve.
When Get Schooled was released, it was criticised for portraying ERPB protagonists who rely on violence to clean up the dark side of the school system. In the first episode of Teach You A Lesson, Na Hwa-jin (Kim Mu-yeol) even puts the life of a student gang leader on the line to force him to learn how the victims feel.
While many people oppose using violence to stop violence, it is undeniable that in reality, bullying often ends when victims fight back or people with power intervene. Bullies will never understand their victims’ pain until they are in their shoes.
In the series, when ERPB officials intervene, they often subject the entire class to physical punishment. I initially thought that it was unfair to punish innocent students alongside the bullies.
I later realised these bystanders are a part of a hostile environment which pushes many victims to the edge and drives them towards tragedy.
In Teach You a Lesson, the ERPB is portrayed as an ideal organisation that helps victims, but in real life, it should not exist. When people have power and can use violence without limit, it can lead to dangerous and unforeseen consequences.
Despite having only 10 episodes, the series addresses issues related to all school stakeholders — students, teachers, administrators and parents. Viewers can see that school issues are not just about bullying.
One episode features a teacher who is victimised by an overprotective mother. Another episode highlights a father who sinks into massive debt because his son is addicted to online gambling, which is a trap set by his classmates.
The most talked-about episode is a case of juveniles who exploit legal loopholes to commit crimes and get away with it. This makes viewers to question whether the young offenders who lack a conscience and intentionally break the law, truly deserve a second chance.
Teach You A Lesson serves as a reflection of society. Supported by natural performances from both the main and supporting cast, it is a thought-provoking series that keeps viewers engaged, regardless of whether they agree with using violence or not.
