Teachers' group forgives insulting DPP legislator

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tsai Chi-fang reacts to cameras in the legislature yesterday. PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FENG, TAIPEI TIMES

The National Teachers' Association (NTA) said yesterday they forgave a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator's insulting words toward teachers. The administration urged lawmakers to be discreet in their words and deeds lest they become bad role models for children.

NTA President Lu Hsiu-chu (呂秀菊) said yesterday in the Legislative Yuan that the association "grudgingly" accepted the two apologies made by DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-fang (蔡啟芳), who on Monday branded all teachers as "bastards," because of the results of a magazine survey.

"Actually Tsai targeted the wrong subject. He should question the credibility and effectiveness of that survey rather than vent his anger on teachers," Lu said.

"We [teachers] do not deserve the vilification," she said.

Lu said the administration has received numerous phone calls these past three days from teachers nationwide who protested Tsai's words. The administration's Web site also registered hundreds of complaints.

The NTA considered filing a libel lawsuit against Tsai, but rescinded on Tuesday because of Tsai's second apology.

"Although Tsai apologized for his offensive words, we are worried that his style will infect other legislators in the Legislative Yuan, which would set a bad example for children," Lu said.

"Many of my students asked me why lawmakers called us "bastards," which made me really sad," he said.

On Nov. 13, Commonwealth Magazine released the results of a survey in which teachers ranked politicians according to high morality and integrity. According to the poll, former premier Sun Yun-suan (孫運璿), the late president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) topped the list.

The polled teachers placed President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) at the bottom of the list of Taiwan's cleanest politicians.

The list also placed Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) ahead of Chen and Lee.

Reacting to the survey results, Tsai said in the interpellation session in the Legislative Yuan that "most teachers are bastards." He said that teachers had given certain politicians high marks despite their alleged involvement in corruption scandals, which resulted from the Ministry of Education's failure to properly educate children.

DPP legislative leader Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) yesterday again apologized to all teachers and the public for Tsai's insulting words and emphasized that the DPP will submit the matter to its disciplinary committee for review and punishment, if any.

"The DPP will urge its lawmakers to be rational in their words and deeds and punish indiscretions," Chen said.