Why go to school at all? Because the North Korean government believes you are worth saving if only you can be re-programmed. Here are some odds and ends about what it means to be a student in a concentration camp:

-teachers show total disregard for well-being of student

-address us in the harshest, crudest manner. ("Hey, you idiot in the third row.")

-"It was quite common for them to beat us."

-teachers wear revolvers. start with yelling, graduate to insults, then to beatings.

-asking questions of the teacher can earn you a slap across the face, to the delight of your fellow students.

-among school punishments is latrine duty. Tardy students can get a week of such.

-a boy who complained of such duty and insulted the instructor was beaten savagely until he fell into a septic tank. With much effort he got out. no one cared to help clean or heal him. A few days later he died.

-day begins before 7 with clean-up of room by students. 7 to noon, studies. one hour rest. minimal food. rest of the day, manual labor.

-quota system. groups (of 5) not released until quota reached.