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Punitive damages

There has been recent talk of the DPP introducing a "punitive damages" amendment. Presum-ing that punitive damages are only awarded against those perpetrating wilful and deliberate acts of harm, or for gross negligence, this is probably a good idea.

However, the punitive part of any damages award should not be for the benefit of the victim; it should become the property of the state or "consolidated revenue."

Punishment is solely a matter between the state and the offender; punitive damages should be for the state, in other words, for the common good. Other than to see and feel that justice is served, punishment is not the business -- or for the profit -- of the victim.

Punitive damages awards collected by the state could be used, for example, for a compensation fund for victims of other criminal acts or accidents with unknown perpetrators, in the manner of the "nominal defendant" in other countries.

Where the offender can be held responsible, victims should get fair and reasonable compensation for losses incurred, resulting from the offenders actions. However, making a lottery (for the benefit of victims) out of crime gravely colors the situation and will lead to false accusations, law suits and even contrived incidents.

It does no good to reward victims over and above fair compensation for their losses. Justice is not served by doing so, nor is society.

Stuart Saunders
Taipei

Teacher policy shortsighted

It has come to my attention that the Ministry of Education has a ruling against hiring a foreign native-speaker of English to teach kindergarten children. Whatever the reason behind this it may be, a policy like this appears to be highly debatable to me.

In the course of history both America and England have taken in the great number of immigrants from all over the world and have successfully educated millions upon millions of immigrant children by turning many of them into excellent English-speaking persons. Such success in English education can likely be duplicated elsewhere in the world, including Taiwan.

It defies logic to suggest that any child in Taiwan should not learn English from a qualified native-speaker just because he or she is foreign-born.

In my thinking a well qualified native-speaker English teacher can actually make enormous contribution to Taiwan by teaching its young children to learn English properly and effectively.

When it comes to learning proper English, two things pop up in my mind right away -- correct pronunciation of English words and the way things are said naturally by a native speaker.

The young children in kindergartens are at a most impressionable age and they can learn and absorb things like a sponge. If the government gives these children the best opportunity to learn, I believe that the rest will take care of itself. It's time for the ministry to consider liberalizing the hiring policies for English teachers, as long as it is not in violation of Taiwan's national interests.

Ching H. Li
Jersey City, New Jersey
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