Minister of Education Ovid Tzeng (
Questioning Tzeng at an Education and Culture Committee meeting yesterday, lawmakers said that Tzeng's choice was a clear indication that the minister lacked confidence in Taiwan's education system.
Tzeng said his son was studying at TAS because he couldn't adjust to life at local schools.
Tzeng lived in the US for almost 19 years before returning to Taiwan in 1990 to teach at National Chung Cheng University in Chiayi. His son, who was born in the US, was eight years old when Tzeng returned to Taiwan.
Tzeng said he did send his son to a local elementary school soon after their return, but the child encountered setbacks both in terms of learning the language and school life.
"My son could not write Chinese characters ... he was even slapped in the face by a teacher for saluting the national flag with his hand placed on his chest, as he was taught in America," Tzeng said.
Tzeng said it took his son a year of therapy in the US to get over the trauma brought about by this incident. To respect his son's preference for an American education, Tzeng said he sent his son back to the US to have his secondary education. Tzeng said his son returned to Taiwan last year and has since studied at TAS. His son is now an 11th grader at TAS.
This explanation, however, failed to win the sympathy of the legislators.
"You sent your son to TAS because he could not write Chinese characters well. Does that mean that other children can also be sent to TAS for the same reason?" asked KMT legislator Huang Mu-tien (
PFP legislator Diane Lee (李慶安) said that although her children have also been slapped by teachers, she has not thought about sending them to TAS.
Lee said her children, like most other school children, still have to adjust to the local educational environment, rather than trying to escape.
Tzeng insisted there is nothing wrong with his son's choice, saying he believes the motive to learn is a crucial element in education.
"If my son isn't motivated to learn [in a Chinese environment], I don't have the right to take away his right to choose [to study at TAS]," Tzeng said.
Tzeng said his son's situation had been one reason he was eager to try and change the educational system in Taiwan.
Tzeng said that this was why he had given numerous speeches in elementary and secondary schools around the island to tell teachers how to allow students to enjoy learning.
On questions concerning his son's nationality, Tzeng admitted that his son has US citizenship and does not plan to renounce it.
Tzeng, who acquired US citizenship during his stay in the US, officially renounced it on Monday, since Taiwan prohibits those holding public office from holding dual citizenship.
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