Taiwan court rejects student's $2M compensation claim against school over writing punishments

A junior high school student in Taichung, Taiwan, sought 2 million New Taiwan dollars in national compensation from his school, alleging that he was subjected to excessive writing assignments due to lateness and poor academic performance. The student claimed these punishments led to depression and a refusal to attend school.

However, the Taichung District Court dismissed the claim, stating that punctuality is a fundamental aspect of character and upbringing. The court found that the teacher's disciplinary actions, including assigning writing tasks for frequent tardiness and incomplete homework, were a normal exercise of their educational and disciplinary role. The student's frequent lateness and failure to submit assignments were noted.

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Punctuality is a basic character trait and upbringing.

In response to the lawsuit, a former classmate of the student spoke out online, defending the teacher's dedication. The classmate described the teacher as deeply committed to the students' academic progress in a public school setting, setting goals and implementing minor benchmarks. They clarified that punishments often involved writing course content, not just random texts, and were usually resolved after major exams.

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The homeroom teacher is truly a very dedicated teacher, willing to keep an eye on our studies in a mixed public school, allowing us to set our own goals and set small thresholds.

The classmate also revealed that the student who filed the lawsuit transferred after less than a semester, having experienced only one or two major exams. They alleged that the student's parent persistently harassed the teacher with civil lawsuits, criminal complaints, and national compensation claims, sometimes disrupting the class. This constant pressure, the classmate added, visibly affected the teacher's mood, with tearful eyes observed after meetings or phone calls.

The online commentary sparked widespread discussion, with many netizens expressing sympathy for the teacher and criticizing the situation as an educational anomaly. Some users inquired about the student's name, but it was mentioned that the student had changed their name. The former classmate stated their intention was not to condemn the student but to present a more accurate account of the situation.

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A teacher who is so dedicated can be treated like this. Even as minors, we are very disappointed with this society.