“I taught the class, didn’t I?” ... Homeroom teacher nominated for a commendation using lesson materials made by an assistant teacher [What do you think?]

[Financial News] A claim that a special education classroom aide at an elementary school spent more than a month carefully creating lesson materials, only for the homeroom teacher to present them as an example of their own outstanding teaching and even be nominated for a commendation from the district education chief, has become a hot topic online.
On the 12th, a post titled “My homeroom teacher won an award with lesson materials I made” appeared on the online community Nate Pann.
The poster, identified as A, began: “I’ve been working as an educational aide in a special education class at an elementary school for a year. Early this year, the children in my class were having trouble expressing their feelings, so I made picture cards and activity sheets myself.” A added, “It took me more than a month, working at home every weekend to laminate and cut them out.”
A said, “The children responded really well when I taught using those materials. A child who usually didn’t speak would sometimes bring over a card and show it to me, saying, ‘This is how I feel.’ The homeroom teacher said they were good and suggested we keep using them, and I felt proud, too.”
A said they only later learned that, at a training session held by the education office last week, the homeroom teacher had presented the materials as an example of outstanding teaching.
A claimed, “I looked at the presentation materials later, and the cards and activity sheets I made were included exactly as they were. My name wasn’t anywhere, and there wasn’t even a word of thanks. I heard that the homeroom teacher was even nominated for a commendation from the district education chief because of that presentation.”
A continued, “I cautiously asked the homeroom teacher, ‘Did you happen to use my materials?’ and they replied, ‘I taught the class, didn’t I? The assistant teacher’s materials are our class’s materials in the end.’ Hearing that really left me stunned.”
A lamented, “I understand that I can’t have my name listed because I’m an assistant, but shouldn’t they at least have told me? I talked to another assistant teacher, who said that was just how things were and that here, everything we make belongs to the homeroom teacher, so I should just let it go. That hurt even more.” A added, “My contract renewal for next semester depends on the homeroom teacher’s evaluation, so I’m afraid to say anything more.”
Internet users who came across the story responded, “Shouldn’t they have at least asked for permission? This teacher lacks basic decency”; “If they even receive a commendation from the district education chief, I think they should let people know”; “Make a recording and file a complaint with a higher-level department at the education office”; and “What happened to their conscience? Don’t put your all into helping them next time.”
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter