100 groups sign up to support Spank Out Day

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[Taipei, 30 April 2006] - One hundred social groups in Taiwan [Province of China] signed up Sunday to support "International Spank Out Day" which was initiated in 1998 by EPOCH-USA to bring widespread attention to its desire to end physical punishment of children.

Members of the Taiwan civil groups, led by the Humanistic Education Foundation (HEF) , called for Taiwan parents and teachers not to spank their children or students, while offering educational information to parents and caregivers about non-violent discipline alternatives.

The group members suggested that instead of smacking upon a sudden impulse, make a phone call for educational consultation, exchange pithy formulas encouraging non-violent solutions, particularly during periods of anger, and seek supporting resources to help stop resorting to violence.

Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng, who was among several celebrities invited by the HEF to offer their "pithy formulas" to beef up April 30 "International Spank Out Day, " said: "Respect and understand children to avoid treating them violently."

Yu Lin, principal of the Tahchih Senior High School of Taipei, offered: "Giving the kids a big hand is better than giving them a smack."

Cheng Li-chun, chairwoman of the National Youth Commission, offered: "I understand what you mean, please don't spank me."

Former Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tuan Yi-kang said: "One less child spanked, one more healthy spirit born."

Chin Heng-wei, editor-in-chief of Contemporary magazine said: "Whenever we spare the rod, we begin to become civilized."

Taipei Deputy Mayor Chin Pu-tsung said: "Hands are created to pass love, not to spank."

Public Television Service President Hu Yuan-hui said: "When the rod is spared, zero is the distance between parents and children."

HEF officials said that various countries around the world, including the United States, Hong Kong, Kenya, Cameroon, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka, have held various events and programs every year to observe the "Spank Out Day, " which sometimes is also called "No Hitting Day, " "No Smacking Day" or "Day of Non-Violence for Children."

(By Deborah Kuo)

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