Education Emancipation Organization : Students stage flash protest in Taipei

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Students stage flash protest in Taipei

TAKING TO THE STREETS:The students warned that should the Ministry of Education fail to revise its changes to curriculum guidelines, they would organize larger protests

By You Pei-ju and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with Staff writer

Members of the Northern Taiwan Anti-Curriculum Changes Alliance yesterday afternoon stage a flash protest at the Taipei First Girls’ Senior High School in the hope of drawing more public attention to their opposition to the Ministry of Education’s changes to high-school curriculum guidelines.

Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times.

Scores of student organizations from various high schools in Taipei staged their first flash protest at the Taipei First Girls’ Senior High School yesterday in the hope of drawing more public attention to the issue of their opposition to the Ministry of Education’s controversial changes to the high-school curriculum guidelines.

Northern Taiwan Anti Curriculum Changes Alliance spokesman Chu Chen (朱震), a student at Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, criticized the process under which the ministry decided to adjust the high-school curriculum guidelines as overly rash and hasty, saying that even the Taipei High Administrative Court had ruled that the ministry had broken the law.

Chu was referring to the Feb. 12 High Administrative Court ruling that the ministry must make its information more transparent and complete for public scrutiny.

If the ministry does not change its mind and insists on implementing the changes in August, the students’ demonstrations would continue, Chu said, adding that students would hold talks and seminars, and work with their peers in central and southern Taiwan to organize larger demonstrations next month.

Yesterday’s protest was the first and it was experimental in nature, Municipal Neihu Senior High School second-year student Huang Mao-shan (黃茂善) said, adding that the alliance would be holding flash protests at each school in Taipei to let everyone know the widespread discontent over the ministry’s changes.

Taipei First Girls’ Senior High School was chosen because it is opposite the Presidential Office Building, Huang said.

Minister of Education Wu Se-hwa (吳思華) appeared on the Executive Yuan’s “open microphone” YouTube broadcast last night to explain the guideline adjustments, reiterating that the ministry has decided that both the new and old versions of textbooks would be allowed.

The difference in material between the new and old versions would not be included in the college entrance examinations, Wu said, adding that the ministry was starting an immediate review of the changes.

Students yesterday urged Wu to answer questions about the controversial guidelines “sincerely,” or risk seeing students take to the streets in protest.

The first of the ministry’s planned meetings on campuses for students to communicate with the ministry over the guidelines was held at National Taichung First Senior High School on Tuesday night last week.

It ended with scuffles at the entrance to the campus, when several dozen students stood hand-in-hand to block a car carrying Wu from leaving after the two-hour meeting.

At 8:30pm on Friday, the ministry announced that it was postponing the remaining three hearings.

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Menu of Teachers' Union Activities

Teachers' Union chapters need to be more actively democratic and responsive to its members needs. It is important to achieve this by creating sub-committees that would address areas of interest to members and get many members involved. Each sub- committee would be comprised of teacher and para-professional volunteers and facilitated by an elected committee member. Sub-committee membership is the vehicle for any interested teacher or para-professional who would like to become more active in social or political issues affecting the teachers' union chapter,improve the flow of information to  members, and make improvements to  work

environment.

MENU OF UNION ACTIVITIES Listed below is each objective and a proposal for sub-committees that would be created to realize that objective. Maybe you have an idea for another sub-committee? Remember, the form and direction of each sub-committee takes shape through you.

OBJECTIVE -ACTIVITY “To cooperate to the fullest extent with the labor movement

and to work for a progressive labor philosophy to awaken in

all members a labor consciousness and sense of solidarity

with labor.”

1. Union Solidarity Committee: Discuss labor issues with

possible petition drives. Update and advise colleagues on

contract issues. Contact and keep up with labor issues in

other schools in the area and worldwide..

****************************************************************

“To protect the schools against unsound economy and against efforts at domination by political, economic, religious, or military group.”

2. Sweat-free School Committee: Help your school join the

movement against sweatshops by identifying violators and

using union-made items at school.

3. Tolerance Committee: Discuss and recommend ways for

helping students get along better and helping teachers

understand cultural diversity. Work with clubs and the

student organization to promote cross-cultural sensitivity.

**************************************************************

“To promote education as a social agency for developing

the capacities of the young, for enlightened adults, and for

working toward a society motivated by the ideal of service and democratic participation.”

4. Teachers’ Resource Committee: Organize and expand

the teachers’ library resources such as videos, text,

classroom activity manuals, and member services brochures.

This includes the maintenance of office equipment, such as

the copy machine, computer, printer, and television. ****************************************************************

“To make members aware of their political responsibilities.”

5. Bulletin Committee: Update, decorate, and maintain the

union message boards. Monitor and maintain our list-serve.

Consider creating a chapter newsletter.

****************************************************************

“To advance the economic and professional interests of

members.”

6. Financial Advisory Committee: Act as an adviser to both

new and old colleagues with their financial questions on 401K, tax deferred annuity, DA, pension, and payroll.

7. In-Service Training Committee: Act as an advisor assisting

colleagues on licensing requirements, degree fulfillment, as

well as available classes for professional development, and

credits toward salary steps. Have information on sabbaticals. *****************************************************************

“To establish the active participation of education employees

in the formulation of educational policies.”

8. Education Committee: Discuss trends in education,

standardized testing, and effective teaching methodologies.

Create and develop a bank of useful teaching methodologies,

materials and plans. Assist colleagues *****************************************************************

“To work for democratic administration and supervision.”

9. Union-Administration Consultation Committee: Form an

agenda from sub-committee suggestions and prepare for

consultation meetings with the principal as required of elected Committee members. Report to the rank and file.

10. School General Assembly Committee: Attend, present our

petitions, and report on G.A. Required of Committee Delegates. ******************************************************************

“To protect members whenever necessary.”

11. Safety Committee: Advise colleagues on strategies for

classroom management and violence prevention. Instruct on

the procedures established for dealing with disruptive students.

12. New Teacher Support Group: Help new teachers maneuver in your school and give advise on clerical matters. how to survive an observation, and how to file grievance reports. Review mentoring candidates and help with selection.

13. Health Committee: Advise on insurance plans and make

available listings of doctors, dentists, and labs. Make available

 information of stress management. Work toward making your

school a safer school. Meet with cafeteria personnel to discuss and develop healthier lunch menus.

*****************************************************************

I believe each sub-committee can work toward creating a new

union environment in our schools, one of action, inclusion, and service. Each person can contribute to their area of expertise. In these days of union entrenchment, we must be more active to protect the gains you have made and make sure we’re fairly represented.

Education Emancipation Organization

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Students stage flash protest in Taipei

Students stage flash protest in Taipei

TAKING TO THE STREETS:The students warned that should the Ministry of Education fail to revise its changes to curriculum guidelines, they would organize larger protests

Members of the Northern Taiwan Anti-Curriculum Changes Alliance yesterday afternoon stage a flash protest at the Taipei First Girls’ Senior High School in the hope of drawing more public attention to their opposition to the Ministry of Education’s changes to high-school curriculum guidelines.

Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times.

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Bread & Roses Curriculum

A Socially Conscious Approach to Literacy