2022 Taichung First High Senior School incident

On 11 March 2022, a verbal dispute broke out between music teacher Lu and four first-year students, including a student surnamed Chen, at Taichung Municipal Taichung First Senior High School in North District, Taichung, Taiwan. The conflict arose after Lu criticized the contents of the group's classroom presentation and the students disagreed with her comments, causing the teacher to become emotionally agitated.[1]Part of the incident was recorded by a classmate surnamed Chi and uploaded online, sparking nationwide discussion.

Incident

Parties involved

Teacher Lu, who taught music at Taichung First Senior High School, had more than thirty years of teaching experience.[2] The school's administrative staff described her as a conscientious and rigorous teacher.[3][4] Tsai Ling-hui, a professor in the Department of Traditional Music at Taipei National University of the Arts, wrote on Facebook that Lu had actively coordinated annual visits by the department's teaching team to Taichung First Senior High School to provide students with learning resources on nanguan and beiguan music.[5]

The school also stated that Lu was strict in disciplining students.[6] Previous teacher–student disputes had occurred, although neither the K–12 Education Administration of the Ministry of Education nor the Taichung City Government Education Bureau had forwarded any public complaints to the school.[4] Students considered Lu to be highly opinionated.[7] Alumni and current students had nicknamed her "Bai Yun (Taiwanese entertainer)", after the Taiwanese comedian of the same stage name.[7] In 2020, she reportedly became upset when students addressed her by the nickname during class, angrily reprimanded them, and threatened to deduct points from their grades.[8]

Student Chen, who prepared the presentation in question, was regarded by his peers as diligent and had spent Saturdays working on the project.[9]

Course of the conflict

In March 2022, Lu assigned several first-year classes to give group presentations on the theme of Chinese musical instruments.[10]

One group, consisting of Chen and three other students,[11][10] included material on nanguan and beiguan, traditional performing arts of Fujian and Taiwan, as well as the Taiwanese funeral ritual known as "spirit-guiding chant". Part of their slideshow used internet memes and Image macro.[2]

On the morning of 11 March, during the music class held from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the group uploaded its presentation to the classroom computer. After reviewing the slides, Lu concluded that parts of the content fell outside the topics previously assigned. In particular, nanguan and beiguan were second-year subjects rather than part of the first-year curriculum. Lu instructed the students to delete the material, reducing the planned 30–40 minute presentation to approximately 17 minutes.[2][10]

Chen argued that:

  • He had invested the most effort into those sections and hoped they could be retained;[9]
  • The teacher had never explicitly stated that the report should be limited to textbook content and therefore should not require the material to be removed.

For these reasons, Chen asked Lu to reverse her decision, but she refused. Lu also objected to the use of internet memes in the presentation，featuring Wang Leehom rather than Bai Yun, and reprimanded the students.[2]

Because the remaining content no longer met the original requirements, Chen began reading directly from the textbook.[10] At that point, Lu ordered the students to leave the podium and continued scolding them.[12] After calming down, however, she still allowed the four students to finish their presentation.[10]

As Lu became increasingly emotional, student Chi began recording part of the exchange on his mobile phone in order to protect his classmates' interests. Lu initially demanded that the recording stop and that the footage be deleted, but later withdrew the request. Chi uploaded the video to YouTube, where it received more than 100,000 views within a day.[3]

Former Taoyuan City councilor Wang Hao-yu claimed on Facebook that Lu became upset after the students played music related to the funeral ritual and used a meme featuring comedian Baiyun. Chi, who recorded the incident, refuted the claim and clarified that the meme had actually featured singer Wang Leehom. Lu herself later denied that the meme had been the reason for her emotional outburst.[13][10]

Aftermath

After Chi released the video, the dispute attracted nationwide attention. On the morning of 12 March, Taichung First Senior High School issued a statement emphasizing that student welfare would be its top priority. Later that day, Chi and four classmates held a press interview, claiming that the school had initially focused on asking students to remove the video rather than providing support. According to Chi, both his homeroom teacher and guidance counselor criticized his recording in a sarcastic tone and warned him that filming the incident might violate the law.[9]

Chi and several classmates called on the school to replace Lu, whom they regarded as unfit for teaching.[14] They also relayed Chen's opinion that the public should not treat the teacher's emotional outburst as a joke and instead focus on issues such as students' autonomy in presentations and teacher–student communication.[9]

The school planned to hold a meeting on 14 March to clarify the circumstances of the incident and determine how to proceed. It also announced that a School Incident Review Committee would discuss Lu's suitability for teaching.[15]

Following mediation on 14 March, Lu admitted that she had failed to control her emotions and expressed willingness to apologize to the students. Chen and his group subsequently stated that they would no longer request her removal.[10]

Public reactions

Views on the dispute over the presentation content

The Taichung City Government Education Bureau[b] instructed Taichung First Senior High School to promptly determine why there had been a discrepancy between teachers and students regarding their understanding of the presentation requirements.[16] Huang Chien-hao, a Taichung City councilor[c] and alumnus of the school, argued that special classes such as mathematics and science gifted programs at the school often teach beyond the standard curriculum schedule. He maintained that exceeding the scope of classroom content should not be used as grounds to reject students' work, nor should students' autonomous learning be restricted.[17]

Educators, including Chen Chien-ming of Chung Ming High School, argued that students should not be criticized for going beyond the classroom syllabus. They noted that under contemporary educational trends and the implementation of Taiwan's 2019 Curriculum Guidelines for 12-Year Basic Education, teaching and learning need not be confined to rigid boundaries.[1]

Views on the teacher's disciplinary methods

Following the incident, the Education Bureau instructed the school to prioritize students' rights and psychological well-being, and stated that it would supervise teachers in adopting positive disciplinary practices and rational discussion.[16]Taichung City councilor Lai Chia-wei expressed hope that teachers would avoid authoritarian disciplinary attitudes that might discourage students from pursuing independent learning.[18]

Chen Chien-ming, Director of Academic Affairs at Taichung Municipal Chungming Senior High School and deputy secretary-general of the Taichung Senior High School Curriculum Development Center, stated that the incident demonstrated the students' high degree of initiative.He argued that teachers should persuade students through reason and address issues objectively rather than resorting to coercive or high-pressure methods, and that emotionally charged language should not be used to question students.[1]

Writer Hsu Mei-yi expressed regret over the music teacher's emotional reaction and praised student Chen for maintaining a clear and rational explanation of his views despite facing unequal power relations and harsh criticism.[19]

Views on whether the student's recording violated the law

Psychiatrist Shen Cheng-nan believed that student Chi's recording might have violated the law.[20] Attorney Tang Kuang-yi stated that if the recording involved secretly recording a person's non-public activities without legitimate cause, it could constitute illegal recording, a type of offense against privacy.[21]

Li Shan-chih, director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Taichung City Government, argued that because the incident occurred in a classroom, which he regarded as a public setting, and because the dispute between the teacher and students was conducted openly, the requirement of a "non-public activity" necessary for a privacy offense was not met. Attorney Lin Shih-min likewise stated that the student's purpose in recording was to preserve evidence and protect his rights, which constituted a legitimate reason and therefore did not satisfy the requirement of "without cause" under the offense.[21]

Whether the student's use of a mobile phone violated the Ministry of Education's Guidelines on the Use of Mobile Devices on Campuses Below Senior High School Level also became a matter of debate. The Taichung City Government Education Bureau responded that teachers should first explain the rules governing mobile phone use. However, if a teacher is suspected of violating laws or regulations, students should not be prohibited from using mobile phones to collect evidence.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 聯合新聞網. "中一中音樂課師生衝突 專家：這年代沒有超出範圍的事" [Teacher-Student Conflict During Music Class at Taichung First Senior High School — Experts: Nothing Is Off-Limits These Days]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "中一中音樂老師怒罵學生「報告牽亡魂」 校方5點聲明" [Taichung First Senior High music teacher angrily berates student over "summoning the dead" presentation; school issues 5-point statement.]. Archived from the original on 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2026-06-24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. 1 2 聯合影音. "牽亡魂惹怒？音樂老師情緒失控風波 中一中5點聲明" [Did a "summoning the deceased's soul" ritual cause offense? Taichung First Senior High School issues a 5-point statement regarding the music teacher's emotional outburst.]. 聯合影音 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  4. 1 2 "「在那邊牽亡魂！」台中一中音樂報告師生衝突影片遭PO網，校方出面回應" ["They're performing a ritual to summon the dead over there!" — Video of a teacher-student clash during a music presentation at Taichung First Senior High School goes viral; school issues a response.].
  5. ↑ 中時新聞網 (2022-03-12). "獨》台中一中教師大暴走 教育人士力挺：別消費一位難得的好老師" [Exclusive: Taichung First Senior High School teacher’s outburst sparks controversy; educators rally in support: "Don't exploit a rare, excellent teacher."]. 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  6. ↑ "飆罵非首次 大學老師挺她教學認真" [Not the first time she has lashed out; university colleagues vouch for her dedication to teaching.].
  7. 1 2 "中一中爆走音樂老師起底！被叫「白雲」氣炸 學生爆這些事令人怒" [Background revealed on the Taichung First Senior High music teacher who lost his temper! He flew into a rage over the nickname "Bai Yun" (White Cloud); students expose infuriating details.]. Archived from the original on 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2026-06-24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ↑ "起底台中一中暴走女師！被取綽號「白雲」氣炸了　拍桌嗆學生扣成績" [Exposing the Taichung First Senior High School teacher who lost her temper! Furious over the nickname "Bai Yun," she slammed the desk and threatened to deduct students' grades.]. 蘋果新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2022-03-12. Archived from the original on 2022-03-20. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "中一中「牽亡歌」衝突學生說話了　籲校方汰換不適任教師" [Student involved in Taichung First Senior High "Soul-Guiding Song" clash speaks out, urging school to replace unfit teacher.]. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2026-06-24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 聯合新聞網. "情緒失控點非「白雲」 中一中音樂師願向生致歉" ["Baiyun" Not the Trigger for Emotional Outburst; Taichung First Senior High Music Teacher Willing to Apologize to Student]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  11. ↑ "師生互嗆3分鐘「中一中安排溝通」？學生反擊：沒收到通知" [Teacher and student clash for 3 minutes—did Taichung First Senior High arrange a dialogue? Student retorts: "We received no notification."].
  12. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2022-03-12). "畫面曝光！中一中學生報告南北管、牽亡魂 音樂老師飆罵要求刪除" [Footage Exposed! Secondary School Students Report Nanguan and Ghostly Pleasures; Music Teacher Berates and Demands Deletion.]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2025-09-17. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  13. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2022-03-14). "王浩宇稱中一中女師遭學生霸凌 學生打臉怒控「留言被隱藏」" [Wang Hao-yu claimed a female teacher at Taichung First Senior High School was bullied by students; students refuted the claim, angrily alleging that their comments had been hidden.]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  14. ↑ 鄧木卿 (2022-03-12). "中一中牽亡魂爭議　學生稱遭施壓...輔導老師：你很有成就感嗎？" [Controversy over "summoning the dead" ritual at Taichung First Senior High: Student claims pressure... Counselor asks: "Do you feel a sense of accomplishment?"]. www.ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  15. ↑ "台中一中要求下架老師怒罵影片 學生盼尋求外界法律協助" [Taichung First Senior High School demands removal of video showing teacher angrily scolding students; students hope to seek external legal assistance.].
  16. 1 2 NOWnews今日新聞 (2022-03-12). "批中一中「牽亡歌」衝突反新課綱　議員透露曾被澆熄自信" [Councilor Criticizes "Funeral Chant" Protest Against New Curriculum; Reveals Confidence Was Once Crushed]. NOWnews今日新聞 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  17. ↑ "中一中音樂老師不滿學生報告超前 校友直批：難以理解" [Taichung First Senior High music teacher dissatisfied with student's presentation running ahead of schedule; alumni sharply criticize: "Incomprehensible."]. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2026-06-24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ↑ 聯合新聞網. "音樂課報告南北管 中一中師竟怒稱是牽亡魂 還要求刪掉 校方上午說明" [After a student at Taichung First Senior High School presented a report on *Nan-Bei-Guan* music in class, the teacher angrily dismissed it as "music for summoning the dead" and demanded its deletion; the school is set to issue a statement this morning.]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  19. ↑ 三立新聞網. "中一中師生課堂上互嗆　作家提1原因讚學生：沉穩的勇氣" [Teacher and Student Clash in Class at Taichung First Senior High; Writer Praises Student for "Composed Courage"]. 三立新聞網 (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  20. ↑ "中一中師生衝突 校友開砲：影片貼網路是錯誤做法" [Conflict Between Teacher and Students at Taichung First Senior High: Alumnus Criticizes Posting Video Online as Wrong Move]. Archived from the original on 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2026-06-24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. 1 2 3 聯合新聞網. "不尊重當事人／學生任意錄影 教師無所適從" [Teachers Left at a Loss Over Unauthorized Filming of Students or Parties Involved]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2022-04-02. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
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