Ministry openly bigoted
I think the Ministry of Educa-tion's recent proposal to "hire between 400 and 600 foreign teachers for elementary schools ... and proposed a remuneration scale for teachers of NT$60,000 to NT$90,000 per month" is just another discriminatory practice engaged in by the ministry and the government ("Ministry grapples with English-education plan," Feb. 6, page 3). One of the prerequisites for becoming a `foreign' English teacher is that the applicant's `native' language must be English. But the criteria that the applicant is a "foreigner" appears to be the determinative or deciding factor.
What I don't understand is why the education ministry needs to hire foreign teachers to teach English with a proposed salary of NT$60,000 to NT$90,000. This is two to three times the salary for locals, when this country is packed with Taiwanese who both speak fluent English and are good at teaching.
I have seen many Taiwanese who speak fluent English because they immigrated overseas and for some reason or other repatriated themselves, who are better teachers and who have masters degrees, receive lower salaries than their foreign counterparts because, according to the bushiban owner or employer, they don't look "foreign" -- AND "clients want to see foreigners."
I have taught English in Taiwan, where the practice is to pay teachers carrying Canadian, British or US passport a higher salary than other foreigners -- don't ask me why. I showed them my resume and US passport, and they hired me right after the interview. Then I found out I was getting NT$20,000 less than the foreigners from South Africa.
The faulty presumption that if you look "foreign," then your English must be better is being reinforced by the government. I am incensed that Taiwanese are being treated as second class citizens, while the government openly engages in blatant, discriminatory hiring practices.
Jason Lin
New York
Support the US via reform
Taiwan must think and act to show the US public, thereby its leaders in government, in academe, and in the media that it deserves US support. ("Taiwan depends on US support," Jan. 30, page 8). Indeed "our people must unite to ensure that the nation cannot be defeated" -- both from within and from without.
US President George W. Bush is under tremendous pressure from within and from without. The US even enjoys less support from some if its stronger allies. France, Germany and even South Korea have voiced opposition to the foreign policy coming from the White House.
President Chen Shui-bian's (
The voters are given the power to do this and they must exercise their responsibility. As for the government, the elected representatives of this democracy must do their part to ensure this unity.
Yes, it is time for Taiwan to do its part and everyone has a part to play. The government is invested with the power to see to that the country is united. An united country is much more important than any support from anyone, including the US. The unity must serve democracy and the people of Taiwan, nothing else.
Chen Ming-chung
Chicago
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