A New Taipei City councilor has been called in to mediate a dispute between a teacher and the parents of a student at a junior-high school in New Taipei City (新北市) over a drawing made by the student.
Early this month, an art teacher told his students to draw their classmates as a way of remembering each other after they graduate next month, independent New Taipei City Councilor Chin Chung-yu (金中玉) said.
The teacher gave one of his students a warning after he found that she was drawing him instead, Chin said.
Photo: Huang Pang-ping, Taipei Times
The teacher said the student then drew another picture of him with a pair of horns on his head and wings on his back on the back of the paper, Chin said.
The student apologized, but said she did not know why the teacher thought the drawing looked like him and that if it did, it was an “accident,” Chin said.
Chin said the teacher thought it was a very good drawing and showed talent and a quick mind, but he felt he could not let the student get away without making a sincere apology.
If the student is willing to admit that she is in the wrong and her parents can come to school to talk about the matter, the teacher said he would be willing to drop the case and not give her a major demerit, Chin said.
However, the parents think it is “preposterous” for the student to be given a major demerit for allegedly “disrespecting a teacher” by making a simple drawing, Chin said.
The parents also think that the drawing was a free expression of creativity and students should be encouraged to be imaginative and creative, Chin said.
It is up to the viewer to determine whether the drawing resembles the teacher, Chin said, adding that personally, he felt the drawing resembled him more than the teacher.
“I don’t think it [the drawing] deserves a major demerit,” he added.
The dean of the school said it would seek to uphold both the rights of students and teachers.
The school is convening a disciplinary hearing, but that does not necessarily mean it will give the student a major demerit, the dean said.
“We will continue to negotiate with both sides over the matter,” the school said.
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