A passing grade could save their lives. Welcome to elementary kidnapping, a new training program in the island's primary, middle and vocational schools which teaches kids how to survive an abduction. The courses were started by the Education Ministry at the request of parents who fear that Taiwan's surge in violent crime will eventually touch their families. The crime brought at least 50,000 mostly middle-class citizens onto Taipei's streets one Sunday afternoon in a solemn expression of concern. While at work, they are unable to control everything that happens to their children.
Parents have reason to worry.
The schools training program teaches youngsters to stop and think before walking alone along certain streets, when riding in buses and taxis, and before entering an elevator with strangers. If abducted, children are instructed to try to convince their kidnappers to take them somewhere public, where they can signal for help. If that fails, they should cooperate to a point. They don't tell us kids anything about it. If the kidnapping drags on, children are advised to maintain their strength, not to refuse food, and to keep their spirits up by thinking positively about being rescued, visiting friends and watching movies.