Parent Questions Distribution of Good Luck Charms, Alleging Violation of Administrative Neutrality; Hualien County Magistrate Candidate Clarifies

(CNA, Hualien County, 14th, by reporter Chang Chi) Yu Shu-chen, the Kuomintang (KMT) nominated candidate for Hualien County Magistrate, was questioned by a parent for violating administrative neutrality after distributing 'good luck charms,' which were procured by the township office, to students about to take the comprehensive assessment program exam. Yu Shu-chen, the current Ji'an Township Mayor, said that the distribution was not mandatory and that encouragement for children should not be politicized.

The controversial 'good luck charm' for success contained a small blessing card signed 'With blessings from Auntie Mayor Yu Shu-chen.' A parent felt that their child, who attends a junior high school in Hualien City, received a gift from the mayor of Ji'an Township, who is also a candidate for county magistrate, and questioned whether having teachers help distribute them violated administrative neutrality.

Yu Shu-chen responded in the afternoon, stating that she comes from an education background and has long been concerned about the educational environment. She also serves as a consultant for the parents' association and president of the China Youth Corps Friends Association. She has been distributing the 'good luck charms' for three consecutive years, and expanded it to the entire county last year. She said she was acting on the principle of positive education and didn't think much of it, but it was being politicized.

On the 29th of last month, the Ji'an Township Office invited principals and directors from 26 junior high schools across the county to distribute 2,500 'Champion's Good Luck Charm Blessing Gifts.' Yu Shu-chen said she only gave them to the teachers and let students who wanted one take one, with no rule that everyone had to take one. Furthermore, they were given to the children, not the parents, so there was no political objective, and it should not be slandered or attacked.

The Hualien County Government stated that although it is not yet the official election period, it is still recommended that schools place the 'good luck charms' at a collection point for students in need to pick them up themselves, and that it is not appropriate for school faculty and staff to help distribute them. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150514