Education In Taiwan (Part 1)

Part 1 Problems With Public Schools: teachers

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Part 2 Why Can't We All Be Home-schooled

Part 3 Experimental Schools Won't Fit Us

Part 4 How To Work As a Taiwanese English Teacher

When talking about education in Taiwan, many people comment "hopeless", many teachers feel "helpless" and many parents are "senseless". It is indeed a tough field to step in and make a career IF one wants to stay decent.

Previously we mentioned the 3 systems in Taiwan which are homeschooling, public schooling and experimental schooling. Worry not, this time let's only dig into public schools which most of us are/were enrolled in.

National schools are good in terms of its "sense" of stability, security, and credibility. Of course, tuition-wise, they're the most affordable as well. From preschool to college, these government-funded or government-run facilities are most likely to be the top choice for us not just for the reasons above but they're also likely to be the closest to our neighborhood. Hence, we tend to assume they're the best/better for us.

Is this really it?

We'd like to target nowhere else other than the heart of this system, teachers. To be an "official" teacher in Taiwan, one needs to at least

1. have a bachelor degree

2. finish "Teacher Education Program(2 years)"

3. complete and pass the internship from school or schools (6 months)

4. acquire teacher certificate (applicable after internship)

5. be accepted in the interview held by schools during June to August yearly

Difficult enough? We believe so. The whole process would have taken roughly 3 years or more and during this time, you won't be able to have a full-time job and likely not part-time, either. Where do you get the money? Not from you.

Hey, but it must mean that this person REALLY wants to be a teacher. He/she must be a person with great passion, patience, and skills. Having people this determined must also mean prosperity for our education, right? If you've ever worked in this field, unfortunately, you'll think otherwise. Here's a jump to the conclusion. It wears people out.

The long-lasting process ensures candidates to acquire enough knowledge and necessary skills to be teachers. However, without financial support, how can one both pay for college and all the fees (travel, exam, rent...etc.). The everyday struggle between ideals and reality doesn't shape a holy teacher but destroys a potential great teacher.

The problem with this long-term "survival the fittest" candidate selecting system is that it doesn't give you the strongest one but merely one that survives.

Furthermore, have you worked with school teachers? It's overwhelming how a good number of them don't work well with others because of their bigotry, cynicism, and "hate/dislike" to children or students. You'll be blown away knowing that students have to learn from these people who are entitled as certified teachers but only see teaching as a means to wealth. It truly murders our souls to be part of it but could only watch evil happen.

Take Andy's morning classes in an elementary school as an example. Students come for English class but are often called back by their homeroom teacher for pointless/unrelated tasks such as lining up as a class(when the majority already arrive) or finish tasks of other classes, namely correcting homework. "Can I borrow these students", she would often say. When being rejected, she would send students to ask the same question which is worse because this messenger is also delayed for class. She would also say to students that "learning isn't important(literal quote)" or that students are "sentenced to prison(no recess) for a semester". Does this sound like someone who's qualified, and well experienced (more than 15 years)? Students have shown obvious fear to this power-lust, manipulator but who would take their innocent words? What's worse is that there's nothing that the school managers or other teachers could do. This is a job that once you're in, you'll have to try really hard to get kicked out. Chances are, bad teachers only get transferred or suspended temporarily.

Being a school teacher is indeed stable for you cannot change, secure for you don' get fired and credible for people don't know the ugly truth and therefore believe you.

We haven't lost hope though.

#education