Representatives of an association for teachers of private schools yesterday proposed that teachers should be allowed to have a day off on Teachers' Day -- despite a central government decision last year that stopped the traditional practice.
As Teachers' Day draws near, educators from private schools are raising their voices in protest against having the holiday taken away from them.
It was decided that teachers would not have the day off because of an initiative to give teachers long weekends every other week.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Huang Cheng (
"With the aim of carrying on Chinese traditions and showing respect for teachers, teachers should take a day off on Teachers' Day and celebrations should be held at each school to pay tribute to educators," Huang said.
Director of the association, Chen Hsi-an (陳璽安), said teachers no longer enjoyed the same reverence as they used to and the situation had worsened since last year, because the holiday was abolished and most celebrations were muted.
Chen said private schools should be given the right to determine if there should be called a Teachers' Day holiday.
In response, Minister of Education Ovid Tzeng (
"However, private schools also have legal responsibilities and they must tread carefully," Tzeng added.
"I don't mind working on Teachers' Day," Lo Yu-ping (
Chia Yuan-kai (
"The meaning of Teachers' Day is very special, it is a time when teachers should be honored. Though the holiday has been called off, it should not affect the status of teachers."
Amy Lin (
"Government policy should be consistent. Workers take a day off on Labor Day, why shouldn't teachers have a break on Teachers' Day?" Lin said.
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