Today is Teachers' Day. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan posted on Facebook, "Teacher, thank you for your hard work. Happy Teachers' Day!" and pointed out that Taipei City has promoted three educational reforms such as reducing one class for elementary, junior high and high school tutors and increasing tutor fees. Supporting teachers means supporting the future of children. City Councilor Hong Jianyi lamented that this year's words "Happy Teachers' Day" are a bit heartbreaking. Free nutritious lunches are well-intentioned, but the additional work may fall on teachers. The teacher shortage has hit a new high. He reminded Mayor Jiang that every additional policy that "lacks planning and supporting facilities" consumes more teachers' efforts and enthusiasm for teaching. We should listen carefully and understand the real reason why teachers are becoming more and more difficult to find and willing to stay.
Jiang Wanan mentioned that education is the foundation of Taipei and teachers are the core of education. Thank you to all the teachers for standing on the front line of education, accompanying children with their professionalism and enthusiasm, and laying the most important foundation for Taipei. Taipei City is promoting education reform with three arrows, including reducing one class and increasing tutor fees for elementary, junior high and high school tutors; increasing school administrative manpower and increasing teachers’ bonuses for part-time administrative work; comprehensively increasing the number of teachers’ psychological consultation hours and frequency, returning education to the teaching standard; and will continue to invest in education to be the most solid backing for teachers; fully defend the rights and dignity of teachers, and build Taipei into a city that respects teachers, values education, etiquette, justice and integrity.
Please read on...
Hong Jianyi said that this year's "Happy Teacher's Day" is a bit heartbreaking. Education is never just about teaching the textbooks. The growth of a child requires a teacher who is willing to accompany him or her, slowly turning knowledge into understanding, thinking, and finally becoming a teacher who can be carried with him or her for a lifetime. However, seeing the current situation of frontline teachers in Taipei, I can’t help but feel unfair for the teachers.
Hong Jianyi gave an example. The idea of free nutritious lunches is good, but from serving food, eating, gargling and brushing children's teeth, sorting out food waste, to finally getting the team together after school, who will bear the additional work? Will it finally fall to frontline teachers again? In the 2015 school year, Taipei City’s elementary and middle schools had a total teacher shortage of 1,865. Even after hiring 1,539 acting teachers, there was still a shortage of 326 teachers, both of which were the highest in recent years. Among them, after middle schools hired acting teachers, there was still a shortage of 241 people, almost double the 121 people in the previous year.
Hong Jianyi told Jiang Wanan that the municipal government can roll out one policy one by one. However, each additional policy that lacks planning and supporting support will consume more of the energy and enthusiasm of frontline teachers. Teachers' Day is here. I don't want the mayor to just say "Teachers have worked hard." They should listen and understand. Why are teachers becoming more and more difficult to find? The shortage is getting higher? Why are teachers who are willing to stay increasingly tired? True respect for teachers is not just a blessing, but a way for teachers who are willing to teach to teach well in a good educational environment with peace of mind.
