Group 3

 

Dangerous Minds

 

 

The Analysis of “Dangerous Mind”─ The Ideology of Education in Taiwan

YE4A

Lisa Hsu

Ann Lin

Connie Dong

Constance Yeh

Wendy Chen

 

I. Plot (TV Drama: Dangerous Mind, 30 episodes)

 

The superintendent got a black-mail written by a student of Li-Ren junior high school. In the mail, the student informed against his school for three things: firstly, the school divides students into different class according to their scores. Secondly, the school allows teachers not follow the order of curriculum and they can have more time to reinforce some subjects. Thirdly, Mr. Zhan, his class teacher and math teacher, illegally has after school session. After visiting Li-Ren, though the superintendent knew the student’s informant is true, he just warned the dean of studies against some students’ complaint, otherwise both of them would get into trouble. Mr. Zhan knew about the mail and he found that the mail was written by his student Shen Wei. For this reason, Mr. Zhan used some means to force Shen Wei to transfer to another class.

 

Jay was Mr. Zhan’s student in school and after school session. He always had good performance in studying. He was a good boy, too. He listened to what his parents and teachers told him. He began to change after knowing Shen Wei. Because of Shen Wei’s inspiration, he wanted to be himself and become independent. He thought that he can start from the way of studying. So he had an agreement with his father: he could stop having after school session if he got over 95 in his math test of mid-term.

 

Jay studied hard and he got 95 in his math test. When Mr. Zhan knew Jay’s decision of quitting after school session, he warned Jay that he should study hard as usual or he would be treated strictly. Jay didn’t keep the warning in mind because there were other things drew his attention. He thought about the way of becoming himself and he worried about his parents’ marriage as well. One day, Jay wanted to improve that he is not a coward, so he read the comic book during Mr. Zhan’s class. Mr. Zhan was angry about that; he punished Jay by standing to have class. After class, Mr. Zhan told Jay that he wasn’t satisfied with his grades recently and he decided to punish Jay by having class in the corridor beside the classroom. He hoped the punishment make Jay study harder. He also told Jay that he wanted to talk with Jay’s parents and he hoped they can come to school as soon as possible. But Jay didn’t tell his parents what happened at school.

 

Jay kept having classes in the corridor for several days, but Mr. Zhan was still unsatisfied with Jay’s grade because he thought Jay can do better and he had great expectations for Jay. Mr. Zhan’s thinking was totally different from Jay. From Jay’s point of view, he was contented with his performance because he studied by himself not depending on after school session. Finally, Mr. Zhan blew up during his class and insulted Jay. Mr. Zhan also forced Jay to admit himself a shameless person in front of his classmates.

 

Jay was very frustrated by Mr. Zhan’s insult. He wouldn’t like to have class; for this reason, he went to the library and found something to read. In front of the bookshelf, he burst out crying. In his mind, he knew that he liked studying but he didn’t like Mr. Zhan’s way of studying. When he wandered to his classroom, he met the principal and told the principal what happened to him. But the principal ignored what Jay’s saying; on the contrary, she thought Jay should be responsible for his actions. In order to catch the principal’s attention, Jay told her that Mr. Zhan had after school sessions. However, Mr. Zhan denied all of this and told the principal that Jay lied to her because Jay wanted to take revenge. The principal believed in Mr. Zhan’s claim.

 

After that, Mr. Zhan asked Jay’s mother to come immediately. Mr. Zhan also punished Jay by standing in front of a wall. When Jay’s mother got into Mr. Zhan’s office, Mr. Zhan began to blame Jay’s mother for the failure of disciplining Jay. Mr. Zhan felt that Jay was spoiled by his parents. Mr. Zhan kept criticizing Jay and Jay’s mother and his action really enraged Jay. As a result, Jay came into conflict with Mr. Zhan.

 

Though, Jay made an apology to Mr. Zhan; in Mr. Zhan’s mind, Jay became a threat. Mr. Zhan was afraid that his illegal after school session would be informed again and made him lost his job. Therefore, he told the dean of studies that he couldn’t continue after school session. The dean’s daughter, Xin-Zu, was one of Mr. Zhan’s students in after school session. Zu-Hou, the son of president of Teachers-Parents Association, was also having the session. In order to continue the session and release Mr. Zhan’s worry, the dean told Jay’s mother to persuade Jay to make a statement to end the conflict. The dean’s requirement was that Jay had to admit that he was so angry about Mr. Zhan’s punishment that he lied about Mr. Zhan’s having after school session. The dean promised that Jay wouldn’t be penalized by school.

 

While everyone supposed that Jay’s statement would end the conflict, Mr. Zhan showed up in a committee meeting in school with Jay’s statement. The committee members had right to do the final decision of student’s rewards or penalties according to the school rules. Most of the members believed in Mr. Zhan’s claim, and they agreed with Mr. Zhan’s opinion that Jay’s behavior was a way of insulting a teacher. For this reason, Jay was given a demerit as the penalty.

 

Jay’s mother was shocked at the news, she requested Mr. Zhan to help; Mr. Zhan said that he can’t do anything. She asked the dean for help and stated that the conflict was not all Jay’s fault. The dean gave her unpleasant answer and said that he can’t change the decision of the committee. She made a great effort but all useless for Jay’s penalty. In the end, she decided to reveal to the press that the school treated her son unfairly. Her colleague, Chu Xieng, was willing to help and report. Chu Xieng also sought aids from an educational foundation. Professor Hao was an expert of the foundation and she became their advisor.

 

After Chu Xieng’s report, there was an article spreading in the school. The anonymous writer declaimed against the report and pointed out that Jay was a trouble maker and Jay’s parents were unreasonable persons. In the article, Mr. Zhan was described as an innocent teacher. Jay discovered Mr. Zhan wrote the article. Without thinking the consequence, he used the same way to fight back. Unluckily, he was caught by a teacher while he was spreading his articles. The school saw Jay’s behavior as a proof of rebellion. At the same day, the school announced Jay’s demerit.

 

Mr. Zhan felt that he needed to do something more against the report. He made a statement with all teachers’ signatures on it and faxed the statement to the press. The same newspaper reported the statement. Again, Jay fought back, but this time, he was not alone. He took action with his friends as well as his parents. Their action drew a couple of media to report. Their reports became the pressure of the principal. Finally, the school proposed to have a meeting of negotiation. Jay’s parents invited Mr. Qiu, a legislator who concerned the educational issues, to lead the meeting. After negotiation, the school withdrew the penalty of giving Jay a demerit.

 

Since Mr. Zhan’s illegal having after school session was proved in public, the school must deal with this. So the committee which was responsible for teachers’ rewards and penalties was held. Mr. Zhan was given a chance to state. He said the session was requested by the parents though it was illegal. He claimed that even he had after school session, his aim was not to make money, he only wished his students can get good grades in the test and have chances to get in good senior high schools. In his point of view, he didn’t do anything wrong. All of the committee accepted Mr. Zhan’s declaration and decided not to give any penalty. But the committee required Mr. Zhan to quit the session as well as his duty as a class teacher and the class’s math teaching.

 

Most of the students of Mr. Zhan’s class objected to change class teacher. They wouldn’t like spending time to get used to a new teacher because the test was coming. In their minds, Mr. Zhan was a good teacher and Jay was a trouble maker. They wanted Jay’s leaving and Mr. Zhan’s staying. They boycotted Jay and some of them even bullied Jay. Under the circumstances, Jay agreed to transfer to another class. Because Miss Peng always treated Jay well, Jay hoped he can transfer to her class.

 

Miss Peng was the only one that welcomed Jay to her class. Miss Peng’s class students and other teachers were unpleasant with Jay. Jay was like an invisible man in the class. The physical teacher even called Jay a rebel in front of the class. The parents didn’t please with Jay, either. They didn’t want Jay in their children’s class. They regarded Jay as a bad model to their children; they assumed that Jay would have negative influence on their children’s behavior and studying. They threatened Miss Peng to solve the problem, or they wouldn’t let their children go to school. Even though Miss Peng was under the stress, she still treated Jay as usual and insisted on her ideals. Jay realized that he had no alternative but to transfer to another school.

 

Jay concealed the truth about school from his parents; since he didn’t want his parents have arguments over his school affair. In fact, what he wanted was to transfer quietly. He was unable to fight against the whole school; in addition, he didn’t like anyone to worry about him. When Jay’s parents found out the truth, they was shocked. For this time, they decided to respect Jay’s will. However, things were not going very smoothly. When the other schools knew what Jay had done, they rejected Jay’s application. Though there was a school accepted Jay, the school asked Jay to conceal the real reason for transferring in order to avoid some students’, parents’ and teachers’ opposition. After much consideration, Jay’s father decided to beg the school Li-Ren, the teachers and the parents to accept Jay. He didn’t want his son to live a life of lying. Finally, all of them agreed to let Jay came back to Miss Peng’s class.

 

During the process of begging, Jay’s father eventually realized what Jay had to suffer at school. Without asking for Jay’s opinion, Jay’s father decided to reveal Jay’s suffering to the press. He hoped the report would let the school review their way of treating students. In fact, on the contrary, the school demanded Jay to leave and viewed Jay’s parents as unreasonable persons. For this reason, Jay and his father claimed the right of studying and fair treatment by standing in front of the school gate with their placards. Jay’s mother made a statement in front of the media. In Professor Hao’s view, their actions were not effective. Therefore, the day after, Professor Hao conducted their actions of protest. Through the media, more and more students knew Jay’s story and came to support him. The principal found the event become bigger and get out of control; this made her anxious. She wouldn’t like to get into trouble, so she tried to do something to make up. At first, she announced that some teachers’ behaviors were bad models and the school didn’t approve of them. Then she invited Jay’s family into school and apologized for school’s overlooking. She hoped the protest would finish after these efforts. But Jay’s protest expanded unexpectedly; finally, it became a protest of a mass of students, teachers and parents. All of them wanted to express their feelings and opinions toward school and the education. They all expected that their problems can be solved as well.

 

Minister of Education noticed the protest and wanted to stop the protest. Therefore, the minister and his assistant came to Li-Ren; they wanted to meet with Jay’s family to solve Jay’s problem. Jay told everyone to write down their opinions and problems as soon as he got the news. Jay hoped he can be the channel of communication. With everyone’s note, Jay and his parents came in to meet with the minister. In front of Jay’s family, the minister blamed the school. The minister said that school shouldn’t discriminate any students and he ordered school to improve immediately. The minister also told Jay that he didn’t have to worry about any discrimination. When the minister asked Jay to stop the protest, Jay brought up his wishes. Jay hoped the minister can listen to other people’s opinions and solve their problems too. The minister accepted and made a promise that he would bring the notes with him and solve the problems as well. After making a deal with the minister, Jay came out and declared the result of the meeting. At the same time, Jay announced that their protest was success and came to an end. While people were leaving, Ally found the notes were thrown away in the garbage can. As a result, people grouped again. They chased the minister’s car and demanded the minister to explain. The minister simply said there must be some mistake and then just went away. Meanwhile, the minister called the dean and told him that it was time to expel the crowd. At last, the protest ended up in police expelling.

 

Ⅱ. Analysis

 

A. The authority of teacher

 

In the tradition opinion of Taiwanese, teacher is authoritative and has to be respected. The drama reflects how authoritative teacher is in Taiwan.

In the drama, Zhan hanged in the test sheet which the score were under 90 by throwing down the ground, because the students were asked to have 90 points or higher in math test. Students picked the test sheet up on the ground disapprovingly, but they never speak to Zhan for stopping throw the test sheet down the ground. Jay roared for the demand, in his mind only.

 

Teacher Zhan asked Jay to do the math question on the black board, after several re-do, teacher Zhan announced to students:” We won’t take break if Jay is not able to have the correct answer”. Zhan even borrowed the following classes for Jay to do the math question. Zhan said to class: “Jay is your classmate, should we give him up?” “No,” said students. “So, the class will wind up when he answer the question.” said Zhan. No less to say, all the students were sick of Jay.

Teacher Zhan asked all the students should have good grade on math. Jay got 80 points on one of tests. When Zhan hanged in the test sheet, he asked Jay:

“Are you satisfied with the grade?” asked Zhan.

“Yes,” said Jay.

“Are you satisfied with it?” Zhan asked again.

“Yes,” said Jay.

“Are you satisfied with the grade?” Zhan asked again loudly.

“Yes,” said Jay with confuse voice.

“Are you?” asked Zhan with loud and angry voice.

 

In part 6, Jay read comic book in class in order to prove he is not looser to his schoolmate. Jay was punished to stand on the back of classroom, but he was happy by proving he is not a looser. Zhan was exasperated by Jay’s attitude. He punished Jay to sit outside the classroom by the window and said:” You’ll have the class and reflect on your behavior right the seat from now on until you have better grade.” Jay was not allowed to come into the classroom without permission. Unfortunately, Zhan was still not satisfied with Jay’s grade which is 79 points.

“What’s the score? You really live without sham.” Zhan said loudly in class to Jay.

“I didn’t study hard enough.” said Jay.

“You got the bad score is because you live without sham or don’t study hard enough?” shouted Zhan.

“I didn’t have good grade because I live without sham.” said Jay

“Be louder, I can’t hear you.” said Zhan.

 

Jay repeated the sentence so loud that all the classmates heard.

Teachers, in Taiwan, can speak any word, sentence, even threaten student in class without considering whether the esteem of student is heart or not. The conversations above in the drama are also truly happen in our school live. We used to hear the words from teacher to student: “If you couldn’t have a good grade, you’ll see.” when we were in junior or senior high school. Take an example of out team member, when she went back to Taiwan in her fifteen and studied in first grade of WenZao five-year college, she got a very bad grade in grammar test. Her teacher said to her in the class: “Didn’t you stay in the US for years?”, a sarcasm, obviously. How would the student treat her? They were laughing under the stage and thinking that stayed in the US for years didn’t mean anything about her English ability.

 

We were taught since the first day we went to school that we should respect teacher, obey every rule and order which were asked by teacher, and we were not allowed to speak any word which might provoke teacher. Teacher is absolutely right in every situation, so the authority of teacher is not allowed to be challenged.

 

B. Different attitude of administration of school to the punishment of teacher and student

While the argument happened on teacher and student, teacher usually has the chance to explain or to do self-justify, but student has no the equal chance. Teacher Zhan demanded the student reward and punishment committee to record Jay a demerit. Jay hadn’t told his mother that Zhan asked her to come to school since the first time Zhan punished him to sit outside classroom several days ago. When Jay’s mother came to school, Zhan blamed Jay’s mother: “How do you teach your son? You didn’t teach him well. Do you know how to be a mother?” It caused the pushing by Jay to Zhan. In addition, Zhan came up with a written repentance of Jay which repented for the black mail. He complained to the administration of school that Jay pushed him. Zhan strongly recommended the student reward and punishment committee to record a demerit as punishment to Jay. The committee only asked the truth from teacher Zhan and believed Zhan’s saying, but never confirm with Jay the detail of why the pushing happened. As a result, Jay was recorded a demerit.

In contrast, as Zhan was accused for the after school session, he had a chance to explain why he broke the law. He explained on the teaching evaluation meeting that the after school session was demanded by student parents, not for self benefit. He had no choice but accepted the demand of parents because the lesson is good for the grade, and that is the purpose of parents to send their children to study at school.

 

“I don’t think that I did wrong. I’m playing a role of good teacher, and I’m doing what a good teacher should do.” claimed Zhan.

 

Most evaluators of the teaching evaluation committee are teachers, no less to say,the evaluators agreed with his exculpation. As a result, Zhan wasn’t punished.

 

How powerful is the teacher’s word? To take an example from our team member, She had learned English at the cram school when she was 9 years old. Her teacher of English complained to her mother that she was absent for English lesson twice. Her mother was so angry, and she was hit with stick by her mother without any chance to explain that she was not the one who absent, that her classmate was.

Student, in Taiwanese society, is not allowed to provoke teacher, or come with the opinion which is different from teachers’, especially the opposite. Teacher is the one whom the school protected when the argument happened on teacher and student. And the student almost is the one who is punished.

 

C. The value of enter higher school the doctrine: Education Ideaology vs. Reality

 

1. What is the value of Credentialism?

In order to being top of others, education is important for one person. Students cram to be famous high school students and they recite everything as possible as they can. The student is compelled by the pressure of highly competitive society, they become ambitious but withous true capacity. Their parents also believe that if their children can get into better school, then they can get a better job in the future and have better career. Parent’s thinking influences their children. Students can’t help but obeying what their parents want them to do. This value is widespread in Asia.

 

2. The value of enter higher school the doctrine: Education Ideaology vs. Reality

From the doctrine, we divide the episode into five sections in order to discuss the relationship or the differeces between ideaology and the reality in Taiwan’s education.

a. Learning is equal to The Basic Competence Test For Junior High School Students and the grade?

b. The screen of illgal behaviour between the school administration and the officials: abnormal class, lessons after class, abnormal class division.

c. The standard of differentiating students: the grade

d. The standard of differentiating teachers: the grade of students

e. After school session

 

a. Learning is equal to The Basic Competence Test For Junior High School Students and the grade?

Jay: You become an inferior stream student. How do you prepare for the test? If you don’t care about the test, you don’t need to go to school.

Shen Wei: Learning is not equal to the test. The reason why I still go to school is for study. I really hate Mr. Zhan. He changes the learning into the test.

 

In Mr. Zhan’s class, apart from learning, tests are important. Students confuse about the meaning of learning. They take the test as learning. However now only Shen Wei and Jay know the difference between learning and the tests.

 

a. The screen of illgal behaviour between the school administration and the officials: abnormal class, lessons after class, abnormal class division.

(The superintendent got the black mail and he went to LiRen Junior high school to check whether the matter is true or not. After asking students questions, he walked with the dean of studies.)

 

The superintendent: As far as I know, “Happy Song” is the song of elementary school.

The dean of studies: I guess it is.

The superintendent: So they didn’t have musical class, did they?

 

The dean of studies: Jay has already written a repentance letter for you and the matter can be solved. Even students’ parents or the president of the school has questions, you can have this repentance letter as an evidence for your innocence.

 

After Shen Wei’s black mail, the dean of studies and the superintendent try to cool down the matter. They all know the fact of abnoraml class and of lessons after class. Although the teacher does do some illegal things, he still is in his position. Under enter higher school the doctrine, the dean of studies needs to hide the secret because Mr. Zhan is the so-called good teacher who can rise the rate of entering higher school. The school timetable is being changed beyond this doctrine. Some classes which are considered unimportant for the test are taken by the other important subjects. The after school session is also propsed by the students’ parents. Those parents try to keep their children not behind others, so they invite Mr. Zhan to teach them after class. The dean of studies knew this matter and acquiesce this plan. What he did is trying to rise the reputation of school. The superintendent kept good relationship with the dean of studies. They are at same side.

 

Compare with reality

 

The rate of birth of children is lower and lower while more and more schools are establishing. In the competitive society, the school has to find a way being leader of other schools. The test orientation becomes the principle while the children are separated into different catogory. Then the advanced class and the inferior stream are created. Under the policy of normal classifying class, the school obeys it superficially. The administrator will divide better resources for advanced class in order to have good reputation after those students being famous higher school students.

 

a. The standard of differentiating students: the grade

Shan Min: I am this school’s student. In fact, there are few classroom installed with air conditioned. And these class is being used by good grade students. Although we are in academically inferior stream, we are human, we should be treated equally. Once I went to a classroom with air conditioned, I was expelled by a teacher. He said I shouldn’t belong to this class.

 

In the competitive junior high school, the grade is the standard of differentiating good students from bad students. Students who get good grade are the hope of rising rate of entering higher school. The dean of studies will treat them very well, such as providng an air conditioned classroom, better teachers…etc. Students who are in inferior stream will get fewer resources and be looked down upon by other teachers. This is the differential treatment which argued by all students.

 

Compare with reality

 

There is one student’s feeling of junior high school. He said, “In our classroom, there are seven rows. Once your score is improved, then you can seat one row forward. In school, you will be judged by your score. Some parents will judge their children by the score not by the behavior. But the score is anything? If you have good score, then you are a good student. If you have bad score, then you are a bad student. Everything children do is only judged by the score. Although now foreign education culture is integrated, the credentialism can’t be denied by parents.” A great sadness is around the students. They are ocupied by the trend or the arragement of parents and becoming a testing machine.

 

a. The standard of differentiating teachers: the grade of students

Ms. Peng said, “ I am an English teacher of LiRen Junior High School. I am a “bad teacher”. My class’ english grade is never been into top five of school ranking. I was even accused or threatened by students’ parents for accepting Jay into my class. This is Mr. Zhan. His class’ math grade always keeps being top of school ranking. He is so-called good teacher in the mind of parents and the director.

 

The responsibility of a teacher is to teach, provide knowledge and to educate students well. What students should do is to receive, digest, and to make the knowledge become part of themselves. However the meaning of learning is confused by those parents, they mistake learning as the job of teachers. Apart from it, the grade becomes the standard of differentiating teachers. Because of extreme fear of losing competence than the other students, parents impose heavy study labor on the teachers and their children. Teachers face dilemma between teaching and achieving parents’ need.

 

Compare with reality

 

(On the protest, Ms. Peng stands out and delivers a speech after Mr. Jian.)

Ms. Peng: I was confused about the meaning of good teacher and bad teacher. And now I know it. Obviously the teacher who can answer to everyone’s expectation is a good teacher while the one who can’t is a bad teacher. Then what kind of expectation do everyone have? We need to be tough because of parents’ requests for many tests, higher grade and good score. We need to be relaxed because of parents’ requests for freedom and happiness so we provide music lesson and physical education. But the dilemma is we can not be the person who achieve everything they request. Mr. Zhan once was a good teacher, and now he is being called “bad teacher”. I am just a teacher. I can’t fortell the future of Taiwan’s education. The only thing I know is we are working hard being a good teacher.”

 

Now teacher’s obligaton is not only to teach but also to care about the score of students. In school, teachers face stressful teaching environment. They encounter the difficulty of how to be a good teacher. Following school’s strategy, teachers have to care the ranking between classes and bear the hope of students’ parents. Because of credentialism, teachers have to find a quick way to help students get good score easily and quickly. They design endless test paper for students and students recite all of them until the day’s coming.

 

a. After school session

Parents think school material is not enough for their children to prepare for the test so they invite school teacher to teach after class. In the episode, Jay said, “ Yes. This is Mr. Zhan. He is our daily school math teacher and our cream school teacher. My best friend’s father offers his luxury office as our classrooom. We are studying in most expensive building in Taipei. The big bright french window seems to foretell our bright future.” In the wish to make their children to be top of other students, parents do their best to invite teachers to teach more detail and complicated knowledge to their children.

 

Compare with reality

 

According to one interview, abou seventy percent of children are receiving after class session. One parent said, “If my child can be top of other students, then I don’t need to worry anything. My plan is that transferring my child into a famous school and inviting tutors to teach and improve the English, Math and Chinese. If my child can have good career, my work will be paid off.” In the final part of interview, 104 human resource bank makes a conclusion which is parents have extrem fear of losing. Students are forced to have lessons after class. So-called good teachers will also be invited to teach their students after class.

 

D. Edge out student who does not belong to the same clan

Under the stressed of school’s reputation, school won’t allowed students to have much opinions of their own, and for those student who bravely speak out for themselves, like Jay in this film, were label as “bad students” later on.

 

In this film, we can see 4 different parts or ways that shows out how a school, teachers, students and their parent will react when they meet someone who label as “bad student”. Following part will individually discussed each part in the film, and how it was in contrast with Taiwan’s education situation.

 

1. School’s reaction

 

Jay was ordered and forced to change class at the beginning because of the “Mr. Zhan’s after-school session accident”, then later on was forced to transfer to other school. The reason which school gave is because all the students want to have Mr. Zhan back to school to continue to teach, but the problem is that if Jay is still in the same classroom; Mr. Zhan will not come back. Under the pressure coming from students and parent, the Dean of the Studies of Li-Ren Junior high decided to let Jay change to other class, and hope can make clear to other students. But after this incident was reported by the news, it makes school very angry. They think that Jay’s action of telling the medium had strongly damage the school reputation, after the report was being shown, Li-Ren Junior high asked Jay to transfer to other junior high school.

 

“Long time ago, Jew were striking out of Germany; Black were expelled to take bus; the aboriginal were driven away from their grassy land. Now, Jay is expelling from LeJen Junior high, just because we were different.”

The story plot which played in the film is exaggerated, we don’t know if there really students were forced to transfer to other school just because they disobey school policy, or we should said, “For schools own good” policy. But, it is common that school divided students into “advance class” and “inferior class” by their scores, and give better study environment to “advance class”. Why Jay was punished in the film? If it other teacher, the incident won’t be extend this large, and maybe he won’t have to change class. The thing is Mr. Zhan is the best Math teacher in Li-Ren junior high, and also the teacher of the “advance class”. Students or we should say parent and school can’t sacrifice this “good teacher” especially before the big and important level education exam. In contrast with Taiwan’s junior high school, even though the Ministry of Education had already ordered that school cannot divide students by their scores, but under the pressure of parent of wanting to have a better source to study, and so-called “school’s reputation”, still lots of junior high school in Taiwan divide student in different reasons.

 

2. Teachers’ reactions

After Jay change to other class, finally Mr. Zhan come back to school and keep teaching his “after-school session” and “advance class” students were happy that they can finally keep up their studies. But things have different view in Jay’s newly class, people seems to treat him like invisible man.

“To tell the truth, I think is ridiculous for teacher to be punished just because he is aware of students’ scores.”

 

"I was thinking about to begin again, but this is a weird beginning. Chinese teacher is blind eye to see I raise hand to ask question; Physics teacher tell me that I can do whatever I want; class leader told me that she is class leader, don’t have to mind about chair. I am like invisible man! Ellie is invisible man, Koh Wei-chi is invisible man, Shen Wei is also invisible man, as long as not belong to same clan as others, all is treated like invisible man….”

 

“Physic teacher: If there is dissentient person in the class, it will be much harder for me to teach! Let’s say, you can do whatever you want as long as you don’t disturb other students, you can read the book you like. As long as you don’t complain, I won’t complain on you, is that okay?”

Ms. Peng, Jay’s new class teacher, accept Jay to come to her class, but after her students’ parents know about Jay’s situation, they all come to Ms. Peng and ask her to take care of this problem, because they don’t want their children to hang with “bad student”. Ms. Peng tries her best to explain that Jay is not a bad student, and ask everyone to give him a chance. After that, she turned to Dean of Studies and asks for help, but still did not solve the problem. All of the students were gone, just because they don’t want to be in same class with Jay. Finally, Jay is left alone in the class, and teachers all have same problem too, “they ridiculous to teach only one student!”

The plot which shows in the film actually happened quite often. Although students did not boycott classes in group, but is true that often teacher will make an agreement with those student who they think will disturb the study. And as our group member’s experience, some teacher just simply pretend they did not see this student because she is asking too much questions; every time she wants to speak the teacher will just stop her or forced her to shut up. Other then that, teachers sometimes competes with each other secretly, which means, if they have the chance to handle “advance class” they will gain much more good reputation, and will pay more respect by school.

 

3. Parents’ reaction

 

Hearing that because of Jay’s problem that makes Mr. Zhan don’t want to keep his after-school session, as the level examination coming up, parents were irritable of wanting Mr. Zhan to come back to school, so parents ask school to take responsible for this incident, so Jay was forced to transfer to other class. Same thing happened in Jay’s new class, except this time, parents’ action were much bigger, and soon all the students were absent from classes. As long as Jay in the classroom, their children will not be there.

From the beginning of the film, we can easily found out that in much of the episode, we can hear such thing as:

 

“Don’t hang around with that kind of people, it will dropping down your grades and turn you into bad students too.”

 

This is a quite common sentence that will come out from parent’s mouth, in Taiwan’s real life, and as in our group members’ experience, parents always sub consciously dived their children’s friend by scores or behaviors. Those who did not have good score will be label as “bad student” and those who have good score will be label as “good student”. Although, some of the parents have break away to the so-called “score shackle”, but still, “being with good student the better” this kinds of thought still are raising high in now a day’s society, especially in education field.

 

4. Students’ reactions

 

At first, when Jay is in “advance class” nothing major happened between him and his classmate. But, after Jay starts hanging around with Shen Wei, student who other think is trouble maker, his classmate begin to think that Jay is one of the trouble maker too.

Shen Wei: “Influences are very dreadful.”

Zu-Hou: “Since when you become a bad student? I know you fall in love with Xin-zu, and hang around with Shen Wei. You are unusual, and I am different from you.”

Jay: “I used to think I am a good student, try to live my life as best as I can, there is just a line between depraved people and me. Only that I never thought this line will be this weak.”

Soon after, Jay’s chair and table were taken out by other students, because they think what Jay did had already disturb their “peaceful” study life, especially when level examination is coming up, they really don’t have time and heart to bother Jay’s problem. They want Mr. Zhan back, they want good teach back, they want their score back.

Jay: “No matter what happened, my table and chair always lays outside of the classroom. Last time is because of teacher, this time is because of classmate…”

Students boycotting other students are also quite common in school, except they are not as exaggerated as what happened in the film. Is natural for students to form little group in school, especially when parents and teacher to implant the thought of “better to be with good student”. In such a young age as junior high student, is easily influence by their community. Our group members have this kinds of experience too, for example, we all have the experience of being friend with student from the “bad class” and then were told to stay away form them. After all, under the pressure of parent and future career, most students choose to obey to their teacher and parents in order to process a better score or study life.

 

E. Bureaucracy problem of educational system

The superintendent from education bureau came to Li-Ren Junior high because Shen Wei wrote to the bureau and complained about having abnormal class lesson, and use music lesson to take exams of other subjects. After superintendent come to school, he is clearly known about the situation, but tacitly allow this situation to happen.

 

Superintendent: (second times to school) “Hmm, good, now you have music lesson. School has improved, very well.”

 

Even though the Education Bureau had declared that school cannot classify the students by score, cannot have after-school session, cannot substitute classes for other use, but still, every one let it happened.

In the end of the film, because the protest was getting bigger and bigger, so finally Minister of Education Bureau decide to come to Li-Ren junior high to take a look and see what had happened. He collects all opinions from teachers, students, and parents and promise to treat their opinion in serious way, but soon was found out by students that they left all their opinion in the garbage can.

Jay: “You deceive us, why we find out our suggestions in the garbage can?”

MOE: “Sorry is all mistakes.” (At the same time, call the dean of studies) “Call the police to come and dispel these people.”

School principle: “Thank you, they all are good teachers. We will solve these problems in the finest way. Thank you, thank you.”

 

In contrast with Taiwan’s society right now, the last scene which MOE said in the car was very shocking! It seem like a simple “sorry” can solve every problems. We did not say that all of the officials are like this, but it is really pathetic that we have this kind of government. Accepting is one thing, doing is another thing, and we think is the most big denounce which should be face seriously.

F. Actions which Parents Could Take

 

1. Media Involvement

In the TV drama, Dangerous Mind, Jay and Mr. Zhan encounter a conflict. Jay’s mother has tried to solve the problem with school but school just wants to ease the problem instead of tackling it, therefore, school failed to solve the problem of inappropriate punishment for Jay, after school session issue, and the interloping of Jay’s right of receiving education. Knowing the school’s attitude toward the conflict, Jay’s mother, therefore, asks media for help. Hoping the exposure of the news can force school to straighten out and pay attention to the problem.

The equipment for media’s morality has also been concerned in the TV drama. There are two kinds of media; one is media that scrutinizing the news before publishing the news. Chu Xieng is the example of the media with morality in the drama. The reason he reports the news is to expose scandal and high light the injustice. For example, the news about inappropriate punishment for Jay was rejected by the editor for the editor think that the news is not agitative enough, Chu kept tracking the news in order to uncover the scandal happened in school. The other kind of media is the media that scandalizing without observation. They dig out the scandal in order to boost the sales volume. They don’t care much about the factualness and authenticity of the news, all they want is sensational dirt. For example, after the first council meeting with school and the press, Jay’s parents and school didn’t meet any agreement at the end. While Chu was worrying about he doesn’t have material to write about the news, the other reporters decided, however, to write everything happened during the council. They claim that if they report any misleading news, they would just post an apology to settle down the mistake.

 

2. Foundation Involvement

 

In The Dangerous Mind TV drama, Jay’s mother ask her friend who is also a reporter to report the news that Jay has received unfair school punishment after Jay’s mother failed to communicate and solve the problem with school. Chu invites Professor Hao of a foundation to be the consultant in order to balance the news from objective point of view. Professor Hao is the representative of the foundation; she plays a coordinator role between Li-Ren high school and Jay’s parents. Jay’s parents hope that school will pay attention to the matter by the interference of the foundation.

 

3. Legislator Involvement

 

Apart from the two mentioned resource which parents can use, legislator is also another one. In the drama, the legislator is the host of the council meeting. Jay’s parents invite the legislator to be the host is to force school to solve the problem.

 

4. Compare the Drama to Reality

 

We think the Dangerous Mind truly represents the phenomenon in Taiwan. When conflicts happen between parents and school and school neglects the problem, parents eventually will find media, foundation and legislator as the coordinators to help them communicate with school. Parents also hoping that by the emergence of the news, school will be forced to settle down all the problems and unfair treatments that occur to students. Mostly, parents in Taiwan will firstly ask legislator for help, legislator often is willing to be the coordinator and help clear up the conflict. However, when the involvement of legislator can not improve the situation, legislator and parents will further find other resource which is the media as the tool as a reinforcement. If the parents do not have the connection with legislator, asking foundation for help is also very common.

G. Communication Patterns

 

1. Teacher And Student Communication

 

In the drama, Jay keeps imagining himself able to speak what he really wants to say to Mr. Zhan. However, in reality, Jay is afraid of expressing his own thoughts to Mr. Zhan; he can only say what Mr. Zhan expects him to say. For instance, Mr. Zhan asked Jay “what grade did you get?” Jay answered “I got 80” Mr. Zhan said “are you satisfied with it?” Jay answered “yes, I think I did a good job.” Mr. Zhan asked Jay again with threatened tone “are you satisfied with the grade you have?” Jay answered with fear “no, I am not satisfied with it.” In the dialogue, we find out that Jay is afraid of challenging Mr. Zhan, therefore, he said what Mr. Zhan expects him to said as an answer. It is one way communication; Jay is not allowed to express his feeling and point of view because the authority of Mr. Zhan, thus the communication lost its balance.

 

Communication pattern of Miss. Peng and Jay is much more balanced, for example, Jay asked Miss Peng “what if classmates never come to school?” Miss Peng “Jay, you don’t have to worry about it, they will come back to school again.” Jay asked again “ Miss Peng, what can you do if those parents and students really accuse you of an inappropriate teacher?” Miss Peng answered “You don’t have to be worry, they were just intimidating me.” Jay asked once again “Why you keep telling me not to worry about it?” Miss Peng answered “well, because in your age, you are not suppose to worry about those things that bothered you.” In the dialogue, we can find out that Miss Peng and Jay both have mutual understanding for each other; they try to be in the others’ shoes. Miss Peng gave Jay the opportunity to make questions and she also answered every one of them. They asked and answered, Jay can express his feelings freely because Miss Peng is not a threatening teacher to Jay. Miss Peng is the symbol of communicative teacher in Taiwan society, apart from the traditional kind of teacher who often acts authoritatively in communication; Miss Peng is willing to treat students as a friend, hence creating the two-way communication pattern. Authoritative and communicative teachers both exist in Taiwan society; therefore, we think the TV drama honestly presents the circumstance.

 

2. Parent And Teacher Communication

 

In the plot, Mr. Zhan criticized that Jay’s mother is not a good mother. He thinks that the reason Jay performed badly recently at school is because Jay’s mother spoiled Jay and agreed Jay that he can no longer attend after school session. Mr. Zhan classified Jay as a problem maker and thinks that Jay is not a good student by the poor performance in examination, he also think that Jay’s mother doesn’t know how to educate her son thus he doesn’t want to communicate with Jay’s mother. In the scene of the dram, Mr. Zhan is accumulatively talking to two mothers whose children perform well in class and tests but he choose to omit the appearance of Jay’s mother in the office. We think the most reason that Mr. Zhan neglect Jay’s mother lies on the different perspective of cultivating children, therefore, they don’t communicate to each other.

 

The communication between school and Jay’s parents were varied by how much school was forced by the media and the consensus of the public. For instance, after Jay were converted to another class, those parents started to ask Miss Peng for converting Jay to another class in order to protect their children from being influenced by Jay. They threaten Miss Peng by taking their children home and not attending school. They claimed that unless Jay is converted to another class, otherwise they will continue to confront. Fear that the protest is going bigger scale; school asks Jay to convert to another school without consideration of Jay’s right of receiving education. After being rejected by many other schools, therefore, Jay’s father beg Li-Ren junior high school for letting his son stay in the school, school agree to let Jay came back to Li-Ren but they request Jay’s father signing an agreement to assure that Jay’s parents will not interfere ferule. However, after Chu Xieng release two reports of “Teacher prohibit me from going to school” and “Father protects son for going to school”, school started being highly examined by media and general public. Only after that, school apologizes for neglect Jay’s right and not tackles the conflict. The communication between school and parents is not active, school often neglect the importance of communication with parents. School always ease the problem without really solving it, take one of our team members’ sister’s experience as an example, she was mistakenly accused as a thief by a teacher, the teacher scolds her for the bad behavior, tells every students that she is a thief and asks her to kneel down in front of the corridor as a punishment without investigation. Her parents learn about the news and examined the fact, they went to school for a fair treatment of their daughter and justice regain. School promised to deal with the problem and punish the teacher. After months, there was not still concrete action of investigating. In the case and what TV drama presents, it shows that school only communicate with parents and solve problems when it encounters consensus pressure.

 

3. Parents And Children Communication

 

In the drama, there are four types of communication between parents and children including:

 

Firstly, authoritative communication which parents wouldn’t allow children to give any opinion. Zu-Hao and Zu-Hao’s father is the model of authoritative communication. In the drama, Zu-Hao’s father always told Zu-Hao how to do and what to think, he always claim that the order he gave Zu-Hao is for Zu-Hao’s own good and it’s for protecting him from harm. Even though, Zu-Hao has something to say, he is used to keep his thoughts in his heart without saying it. Zu-Hao used to be Jay’s good friends at school, but since Jay stop having after school sessions, Zu-Hao’s father ordered Zu-Hao to keep distant with Jay. Zu-Hao obeys his father’s order and didn’t try to fight against his father’s order.

Second, authoritative parent who listen to their children’s perspectives, merely. Dean of Studies and Xin-Zu is the model of this type of communication. After the after school session scandal was uncovered, Xin-Zu’s father, who is also the Dean of Studies at school, requested her to lie about the fact. Xin-Zu told her father “You want me to lie? How can you ask me to lie?” When knowing his daughter’s attitude toward the request, the dean immediately turn his tone from requesting to threatening. He said “It is you lie or I lie.” And then the conversation was over. So we think, even though Xin-Zu can express her thoughts to her parents, her parents are still much dominated.

 

Third, no communication conducted. This is the most extreme communication type in the drama, Wei-Chi and his father is the example of this communication pattern. Wei-Chi’s father is very deep addicted to gambling, he even had his house for a wire room, thus he has no time in taking care of the family, nor having a real conversation with his son. Wei-Chi’s mother is a victim of home violence so she had alcoholism problem, therefore, she couldn’t have lucidness to talk to his son. In the circumstance, Wei-Chi no longer talks to his parents and almost every time they talk they end up arguing or having conflict and flight.

 

Fourth, parent who listen to and communicate with their children, attentively. Jay and Jay’s parents are the example of this type of communication. In fact, Jay’s parents were too busy to listen and communicate with Jay. But after having dispute with Mr. Zhan, Jay’s mother started to pay attention to Jay. She ever said to Jay that “Why you don’t tell me what have happened in school? If you have told me that, I could have done something about it earlier. How can I help you if you never told me?” This represents that Jay’s mother is aware of the importance of communicating with Jay. She doesn’t give Jay any order to follow instead she wants to know what had happened at school by Jay’s point of view. Aside from Jay’s mother, Jay’s father also began to communicate with Jay. After the council meeting with school and the press, Jay’s father said to Jay “I wish you can think about what you have done so far, are you really not at fault? Shouldn’t you be responsible for the whole thing at least a little bit?” after the conversation, Jay’s father left Jay to think about the questions and few days later Jay went to his father and told his father what he have thought about the entire thing. Jay’s parents didn’t tell Jay what he should do or what he shouldn’t do, they leave the choice to Jay to make and listen to his opinion thus they have a two-way communication.

 

In Taiwan, parents don’t have much time spend with their children because they are too busy with work and children’s time tables are mainly dominated by school and after school sessions. Moreover, the traditional way of cultivating children is to give them order and ask kids not to disobey the order. Those orders were explained as good deeds so parents never really reflect themselves if they really listen to what their kids’ want. So we think the four types of communications between parents and children are reflections of our society nowadays.

 

Ⅲ.Conclusion

 

Basically, “Dangerous Mind” reflects the reality in Taiwan, especially the issue of education. In order to response to requests of people, the ministry of education has started the educational reformation since 1994. During the decade, the ministry of education changes lots of things from educational policy to measures executing in school. However, students are implanting the idea that “diploma equals to success”, education is valuable only when it is explained by an outstanding school, high school and university. As for the ideology of education in Taiwan, we think it is very hard to eradicate the “diploma equals to success” value of Taiwanese people. Unfortunately, the educational reformation doesn’t work; instead, it makes other problems and becomes a mess because of lacking cautious evaluation, complete planning and practical means. Until now, the ministry of education doesn’t propose any practicable resolutions to solve the problems. All of these really make students, parents and teachers feel disappointed and frustrated.

 

On the other hand, we see the power of people show up continuously. More and more people concern the educational issue; they take actions and want to make differences. They can be a group or organization to supervise the government, reveal the problems or promote some proposals or ideas. Some of them even have their schools or programs to carry out their ideology of education. Because of their efforts, we have chances to know multiple views of education and review the education in Taiwan.

 

Ⅳ. Resolution

 

Parents ignore the purpose of study at school nowadays. They only care about that could their children be able to study in a famous junior, senior high school,

college, and university or not. The purpose of study is to learn the knowledge of different field in order to inspire personal interesting to study particular subject. Study at school is to learn how to get along with people, respect people and elder, and team work. Parents should modify their opinion of the main purpose of study which is study for learning knowledge and cultivating better personality, not study for testing. If students could learn well, then they can test well and study to the chosen school.

 

The responsibility of the ministry of Education is to implement the policy of normal classifying class exhaustively in order to balance the teaching resources to students and equalize the learning right of students.

 

We believe that the concept of education can be straightened by the better, full-scale and all things considered education reform. And the power of people is the key to make the ministry of education change, no matter in the past or in the future. Therefore, we should continually support the actions or activities that try to improve the education in Taiwan. It is the whole society that has to face and share the result of education, whether it is good or bad. As a result, everyone should care about the educational issues and gets involved; the issues are not the responsibility of certain people. We should realize the influence of us and take positive actions to make difference.

 

Index

 

I. Plot (TV Drama: Dangerous Mind, 30 episodes)………………………………….1

 

Ⅱ. Analysis…………………………………………………………………………..6

A. The authority of teacher………………………………………………………6

and student…………………………………………………………………….7

Education Ideaology vs. Reality………………………………………………8

 

Ⅲ.Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….22

 

Ⅳ. Resolution………………………………………………………………………..2

 

Work division

Part Writer

I Wendy

II

A,B Connie

C Ann

III.

IV. All