After overcoming all odds, the Pingtung County Government has expanded its milk provisions program: From this month through the end of the first semester of the upcoming academic year, all students — from rural kindergartens to elementary and even high schools — can drink fresh milk at least five times each month. This is all thanks to the dedication of the county government, along with the cooperation of educators, to fully address students’ growth and development needs. This change demonstrates that even the most difficult tasks can be accomplished through effort and determination.
Since the Ministry of Education launched the “Fresh Milk for Every Class” policy in September last year, several teachers’ organizations have publicly expressed concerns that the policy’s implementation would increase the burden on teachers.
The Confucian hierarchy of “heaven, earth, the sovereign, parents and teachers” teaches that teachers act as parents to students while they are at school — and parents should be willing to overcome all obstacles for the sake of their children’s health and well-being.
Teachers organizations’ initial response to the “Fresh Milk for Every Class” policy was focused on finding excuses for failure rather than seeking methods for success.
I remember when I was in elementary school about 50 years ago, schools already had measures in place for ordering fresh milk. It was our biggest treat. Nearly every day, students anticipated the arrival of fresh milk.
How has Taiwan’s education system fallen so far behind in 50 years? How has something as simple as providing fresh milk for students become an impossible task?
Everything depends on human effort and the Pingtung County Government demonstrated the power of collective action in accomplishing a challenging task. In reality, the issue did not lie in a lack of refrigeration equipment; it was whether teachers were willing to take on the extra burden. It is a matter of teachers’ mindsets. If they believe: “This isn’t a teacher’s responsibility,” then even the simplest task can be met with countless complaints and excuses, but if teachers recognize the meaning and significance of the measure, they would naturally be willing to put in an earnest effort to do it well.
This is a reflection of public service as a path of self-cultivation — only by fulfilling one’s responsibilities with genuine enthusiasm can one earn recognition and respect from society.
Chen Chi-nung is a political commentator.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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