Recently, Qu Guizhi, a teacher at Beiyi Girls’ High School, caused a stir after being interviewed by China’s CCTV and expressing personal opinions. Following this, renowned writer Qiu Meizhen, identifying as a schoolmate and parent of Beiyi Girls’ students, published an open letter accusing Qu of “binding the school’s reputation” and urged her not to use the school’s name to express personal views.
On the surface, this debate revolves around protecting the school’s reputation, but it delves deeper into issues of freedom of speech and personal identity. Qiu Meizhen herself was revealed to be the wife of former DPP official Hua Jingqun, which shifted the debate towards questioning her identity and motives.
Regardless of Qiu Meizhen’s identity, the focus should return to the incident itself, defending Qu Guizhi’s right to freedom of speech as an individual, rather than allowing her identity to become a target for attacks.
First, Qu Guizhi never claimed to represent Beiyi Girls’ High School during the interview. Her identification as a “Beiyi Girls’ teacher” was a media convention and a representation of her professional identity, not an intentional use of the school’s name to amplify her influence. Interpreting this as “hiding under the school’s reputation” is clearly an exaggerated misinterpretation.
As a teacher, Qu Guizhi has the right to express personal views in her private capacity, a fundamental right protected by the Constitution of the Republic of China. Whether her opinions are appropriate can be debated publicly, but accusing her of “binding the school’s reputation” and demanding the principal to take a stand is undoubtedly an infringement on freedom of speech, and even an attempt to suppress academic freedom — a tactic often employed by green anti-socialists.
Beiyi Girls’ High School, as a prestigious institution, will not be shaken by the personal opinions of a single teacher. Instead, it is the exaggerated accusations that may truly harm the school’s image of diversity and inclusivity.
Furthermore, Qiu Meizhen’s use of her identity as a schoolmate and parent to voice her opinions also leverages the school’s reputation to enhance her argument’s weight. Worse, involving the Parent Association raises concerns about whether its authority is being used to exert pressure, contradicting her criticism of Qu Guizhi.
Qiu Meizhen’s demand for Qu Guizhi to “remove the school’s label” while using her own identity as a schoolmate and parent highlights a lack of consistency in her stance.
More importantly, Qiu Meizhen’s open letter escalated Qu Guizhi’s speech to the level of “causing global misunderstandings about Taiwan,” a baseless accusation that attempts to link personal opinions with national image, further shrinking the space for free speech, akin to a modern version of a literary inquisition.
It is worth noting that the debate over Qiu Meizhen’s identity as “Hua Jingqun’s wife” points to her connection with the ruling party, but this should not be the core of criticism. Rational and constructive dialogue should prevail.
Just as Qu Guizhi’s identity as a teacher should not be overly magnified, Qiu Meizhen’s family background should not become the sole criterion for judging her opinions. The focus should be on the reasonableness of both sides’ arguments, not their identities. The extreme personal attacks on Qu Guizhi by some DPP supporters, including threats to her job, are concerning.
The value of freedom of speech lies in allowing diverse voices to coexist, not in silencing dissenting opinions at a heavy cost.
Beiyi Girls’ principal Chen Zhiyuan maintained restraint in the incident, stating, “Some words are only meant for students,” demonstrating the rationality and responsibility of an educator. His silence is not incompetence but an effort to keep the school out of unnecessary political disputes.
In contrast, Qiu Meizhen’s open letter, though possibly motivated by love for her alma mater, has intensified divisions. True protection of the school’s reputation should respect everyone’s right to voice their opinions, not suppress dissenting views.
Finally, to Qu Guizhi: Your courage is commendable. In a pluralistic society, expressing personal views inevitably sparks debate, but this is the cornerstone of democracy. Regardless of external criticism, you have the right to speak your mind.
Similarly, to Qiu Meizhen: Your opinions deserve respect, but using your identity as a schoolmate to impose moral high ground on others is not the way to demand silence. What we need is dialogue, not confrontation; understanding, not accusations. Only then can the spirit of Beiyi Girls truly endure.