Many elementary schools give numbers to students in order of their heights, despite claims that it is physical discrimination.

Those consenting to the numbering say it is a considerate measure for short students, while those opposing it claim teachers adopt it because they can control students more easily.

In the past, when making a roll book at a class, teachers gave number one to the shortest student and the largest number to the tallest student.

But people pointed out it was physical discrimination, and in 2004 the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development recommended that regional educational offices give numbers to students in order of Korean alphabet of their names.

It was a measure to prevent short children from being bullied or feeling inferior and most of schools have accepted the recommendation.

However, separately from the numbers on the roll book, many schools still give another numbers to students in lower grades according to their heights when drawing up students in lines at outdoor school events or assigning seats in the classroom.

These schools say that numbering by stature is needed to supervise students.

``Children need to be regulated in a specific system for order. It is also possible that short students sandwiched among tall students do not properly understand teachers’ instructions and it can lead to an accident. So, numbering by height is necessary for elementary schoolchildren for one to two months after entering schools until they learn order,’’ an official at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said.

However, many others say it is not appropriate to use numbers by stature just because it facilitates the supervision of children.

``Subconsciously we believe that being tall is good. Numbering by height gives children prejudices about stature and short students may develop inferiority complexes,’’ an official of the National Human Rights Commission said.