Humanistic Education Foundation: Group Psychotherapy

Suffering after corporal punishment, a feather duster tells you.
VML Taiwan brings more reflections on corporal punishment to Taiwanese society.


Corporal punishment is rare in Western families, but it is still common in Taiwanese families. In daily life, Taiwanese parents often use various objects to physically punish their children, such as feather dusters, hangers, belts, slippers, rulers and other items. Even on the Internet, there are often reports about the "Ten Pros of Corporal Punishment".

4/30 is "The International Spank Out Day". Taiwan hopes to become a country that does not punish children physically. The Humanistic Education Foundation hopes that through the video, parents will be encouraged to give up corporal punishment and instead educate their children through love.

We found that corporal punishment of children is actually a temporary impulse of parents. After corporal punishment of children, many parents will experience pain and self-blame. If we want to communicate with the parents, we cannot blatantly point out that the way parents use corporal punishment is wrong. Therefore, the film hopes that the painful feelings of "others" after beating and scolding children will make people think about whether corporal punishment is really the most effective way of education.

Who will talk about the feelings after corporal punishment?

We let these objects, misused as tools of corporal punishment, tell the story. Corporal punishment of children is not their original job. After every corporal punishment, these props are also full of guilt. The inner words of these props are actually the inner voices of parents after corporal punishment of their children.


The results was a huge success.
◆ The film received public responses, support and sharing from many Taiwanese legislators, city councilors, civic groups, and educational groups.

◆ Reported by 16 news medias.
Bring more reflections on corporal punishment to Taiwanese society.
—Liberty Times—

Corporal punishment cannot change children, only love can.
—Economic Daily News—

The inner voices of a feather duster.
—The Central News Agency—

The government needs to invest resources to guide parents to learn good communication methods.
—Udn Online Newspaper—

◆ 37 schools in Taiwan voluntarily reposted the video to respond to the educational philosophy of no corporal punishment.

◆ The number of parents who signed the "Declaration on Not Hitting Children" online increased by 260%.

◆ Finally, we saw the results. Taiwan's Ministry of Justice to make an official announcement: to amend Article 1085 of the Civil Code. It is stipulated that parents who protect and educate minor children should consider the age and development level of the children and must not commit physical or mental violence against the children.