Human-rights organizations yesterday pushed for corporal punishment to be banned under the Educational Basic Law (教育基本法), saying that this would be the perfect new year's present for children.
The convener of the Humanistic Education Foundation, Shih Ying (
Ban
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
National Alliance of Parents Organization president Emily Hsiao (
Two students who have studied abroad since their teens and were introduced by the names Chris and Linda at the press conference said the threat of corporal punishment used to make them afraid to go to school.
"Corporal punishment can affect a student's sense of dignity and it can also repress creativity. If you look at students from abroad, they are full of ideas and are not afraid to express themselves," Linda said.
"It's also not very fair that corporal punishment is applied to students for not doing well because every student differs in their academic ability -- that can't be helped," Linda said.
Little Progress
The issue of corporal punishment has been much debated in Taiwan, but there has been little progress in achieving a consensus.
Last month, a 33-year-old teacher created much controversy when he severely beat a student who failed to hand his homework in on time.
Shau E-ming (
"At least resources would be allocated to [stamping out] corporal punishment in the expenditure list if it was included in the law."
Shau said that clarifying what would constitute corporal punishment and specifying details for fines for offenders would be next on the agenda.
Taichung Parents Development Association president Luo Long-cheng (
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