Students and parents from the Parents Chairman Association of Taoyuan gathered in front of the Ministry of Education yesterday morning to express their dissatisfaction with teachers' decision to protest in front of the Presidential Office.
The group also urged the government to rename Sept. 28 "National Education Day," instead of "National Teachers' Day."
"According to the Confucian tradition, Sept. 28 should be about our children's education, and yet it is now devoted to teachers' benefits," said Wang Hsiu-chin (王秀琴), office dean of the association and one of the organizers of the event.
"We feel that when the teachers take to the streets and protest, they set a bad example for students," Wang added. "Because they are teachers all the students are closely observing their actions, and yet they demonstrate a selfish attitude in asking for personal benefits and seeking to form a union."
"The fact that almost all students attend cram schools outside of school proves that Taiwanese education needs improvement. Teachers should not be out protesting when they haven't done their job," Wang said.
Teachers at the protest expressed disappointment with the parents' protest.
Lyu Hsiu-chu (呂秀菊), president of the National Teachers' Association ROC, said, "I can't understand why the parents would protest. Parents and teachers should be partners in education, but some choose to manipulate our motivation for protesting. This only hurts educational reform."
National Teachers' Association ROC vice president Hong Long-ciou (洪龍秋) echoed Lyu, saying, "To promote educational reform, teachers and parents need to stand together."
Wang estimated that around 100 supporters joined the parents' protest. Students performed a skit using tests and study aids as props and costumes.
Justin Lu (盧王鈞), a sixth-grader from Taoyuan, gave voice to the students' point of view, saying, "Of course some kids are opposed to the teachers' protest. Some students think the teachers are pretty stupid because they are sacrificing the needs of adorable students like myself to protest."
He said that most of the teachers had failed to say anything about the protest at school. He said that he had participated in the parents' protest because he felt like taking action.
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