I. Foreword

  Despite of the political reforms, old social and cultural conventions are still hindering the practice of democracy in Taiwan. In order to remedy the situation, spreading ideas of rule of law and human rights to school children is an important job. To that effect, Chung Hwa Rotary Education Foundation, Taipei Bar Association and Judicial Reform Foundation, have been jointing together to form a project called the ‘Planting Seeds of Law-Related Education in Taiwan’ (PSLRET) since May 2003.

II. Goals and Missions

(1)               Initiating a proposal to government for  including law-related education into important educational developments; integrating governmental and civilian resource to form a non-profit-making and politically neutral “Foundation for Civic and Law-Related Education”, so as to develop a well-founded and distinctive law-related education in Taiwan

(2)               Promoting a new kind of law-related education rather than the old dogmatic one in order to prepare youngsters to be an enlightened and responsible citizenry that is committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy in Taiwan. 

(3)               Translating and Adapting the series of “Foundations of Democracy：Authority, Privacy, Responsibility and Justice” published by the Center for Civic Education (U.S.A.) as the key curriculum materials in the law-related education programs in the K-12 levels in the schools. Seeking partnership with schools that might implement the programs, finding partnership with local Rotary Clubs that might fund the programs, forming partnership with local bar associations that might help teachers who are going to implement the programs.

III. Organization

    On May 23, 2003, Chung Hwa Rotary Education Foundation, Taipei Bar Association and Judicial Reform Foundation, respectively, recommended three representatives, brought nine representatives in total, to form a commission that is dedicated to the project for raising fund and overseeing implementation of the project. In July 2006, with a donation of 23 millions NT$ by Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the commission has been transformed into the Center for Law-related Education under the supervision of Judicial Reform Foundation. In addition, there is a director who is charged with drafting work plans and holding relevant workshops to pursue the goals of the project. Now three full-time secretaries are employed to assist the executive director.

IV. Works completed

     By December 2006, the project has translated and adapted the K-3 and 4-6 grades of the series of “Foundations of Democracy：Authority, Privacy, Responsibility and Justice” published by the Center for Civic Education (U.S.A.) into Chinese language. The total of 15000 copies of the K-3 of the series and the total of 10000 copies of the 4-6 of the series have been published. There are 248 lawyers who have been trained to help teachers familiarized with the K-3 of the series. There are 29 schools and 12 district educational authorities which have partnerships with the center, and 3490 teachers who have been trained for the project. In addition, the concept of privacy and that of justice of the K-3 of the series were filmed in cooperation with National Institute of Educational Resource and Research. The 7-9 and 10-12 grades of the series are currently being under bigger adaptations for replacing American laws and cases into Taiwanese ones.