Are Taiwanese Youth Losing Respect? Lee Chia-tung Advocates Restoring Classroom Salutes, Analyzes 3 Mindsets: The Last One Is the Strangest

"Stand up, salute, good morning teacher!" is a shared memory for many during their school years. Recently, Lee Chia-tung, honorary chair professor at National Tsing Hua University, reignited discussion by posting on Facebook titled 'Restoring the Practice of Saluting Teachers Before and After Class.' He recalled his time at National Taiwan Normal University Affiliated High School, where even a physically imposing classmate—who was usually intimidating—became obedient in front of his homeroom teacher. In that era, 'respecting teachers and valuing education' was a societal norm, which Lee deeply misses. Thus, he proposes reinstating the classroom salute ritual and plans to formally recommend this to the Bo-You Foundation, believing its students would follow such etiquette.

In response, former legislator Cheng Yun-peng argued on Facebook on the 19th that respect should stem from 'necessity' and 'voluntariness.' He explained that necessity-based respect applies in courts or military settings, while voluntary respect occurs in religious or funeral contexts. In teacher-student relationships, professionally trained teachers should earn respect through competence, not enforced rituals. Cheng warned that mandating salutes creates an unequal power dynamic, making students feel inferior. He also criticized rote-learning systems, stating that few benefit while many suffer.

Cheng observed that most people experienced saluting in elementary to high school, but the practice faded in college. As education levels rise, he believes the need for such rituals diminishes because students understand the true nature of education. He identified three types of people who support restoring salutes: those whose professions require public respect, those conditioned since childhood, and those opposing the current authority by deliberately contradicting mainstream views—what he calls 'false moralism.' He called the third type the strangest, noting they reject institutional authority yet create new forms of it. He criticized supporters of corporal punishment as often falling into this category, sarcastically remarking, 'If you want the government to hit others, be ready to be hit yourself.'

Meanwhile, the Facebook page 'Chiang Mai Elephant,' run by a Taiwanese living in Thailand, expressed dismay over what they see as declining manners among younger Taiwanese. They noted that even simple thanks are often missing after receiving help, which they find disheartening. After reading Lee's post, they realized that traditional school etiquette has vanished, lamenting, 'No wonder today's college students don't measure up to my generation, who barely graduated from high school.' They contrasted this with the past, when corporal punishment was common and students deeply feared teachers.

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