Halting At the Altar

It's not exactly Las Vegas, but divorce rates in Taiwan are among the highest in Asia, with one in three marriages ending before death does it part. In response, concerned lawmakers passed a "family education bill" that requires couples to take a four-hour family management course before tying the knot.

The class will instruct nuptial novices on the practical matters of married life, such as child rearing and budgeting. But some women's-rights activists say the measure will do little to reduce splittist behavior. Sociology professor Ku Chung-hwa says marriages are on the rocks because women are no...