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.
PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FENG, TAIPEI TIMES
"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The NTA considered filing a libel lawsuit against Tsai, but rescinded on Tuesday because of Tsai's second apology.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 (
The polled teachers placed President Chen Shui-bian (
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 (
"The DPP will urge its lawmakers to be rational in their words and deeds and punish indiscretions," Chen said.
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) hosted a dinner in Taipei last night with key Taiwanese suppliers to celebrate the successful mass production of the company’s new Blackwell AI systems. Speaking to the media earlier yesterday, Huang thanked Nvidia’s Taiwanese partners for their contributions to the company’s ecosystem, while also sharing his plans to meet with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀). In response to rumors that Nvidia will launch a downgraded Hopper H20 chip for China in July, Huang dismissed the reports, saying, “That is not true.” He clarified that there
RSS