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Our education system has failed.
We have not succeeded in producing the next generation of Chinese leaders. We have only succeeded in producing the next generation of Western workers that will work for white leaders. The reason is not because of our lack of technical skill. It is because we are losing our own heritage.
The new literature textbooks will not include the articles of Lu Xun 鲁迅, the most famous modern author in 20th century China. In some cases, the most provokative (and with most literary and historical value) articles hvae been deleted, or replaced with less radical ones.
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中学课本中，鲁迅的《阿Q正传》、《纪念刘和珍君》等多篇作品被删除，广东版则将《药》换成《祝福》。而巴金反思文革的文章和余华的小说等被新选为课文。（《广州日报》9月8日报道）
Why? Perhaps it is because Lu Xun's articles are too provokative, too rebellious for the "harmonious" modern China? Or is it because our society now bears a surprising resemblence to the old society that this hardcore Communist writer despised? What is more surprising is how writings reflecting on the Cultural Revolution have been added. Is this a good sign, or is it a signal that the government is losing faith in the very principles that brought it to power? However, this issue is not merely political. Lu Xun is, regardless of his political leanings, one of the best writers of the 20th century. His works have literary merit as works of fiction alone, and they represented the contemporary trend in Chinese literature. To censor a writer who has educated generations and was a leading 20th century thinker, is a CRIME against literature, students, and an insult to our intelligence.
An incomplete list of other texts deleted or edited include:
《朱德的扁担》
《狼牙山五壮士》
《荷塘月色》
《林教头风雪山神庙》
《葫芦僧判断葫芦案》
Modern history textbooks mention Chairman Mao much less than before. Is this a good thing? Perhaps, perhaps not. However, he was the absolute most important Chinese leader in world politics for the first 70 years of the 20th century, and as such he and his policies should be taught with historical accuracy.
?????????????????????
In 1917, there were 391 brothels in Beijing, 3500 prostitutes, and as many as 7000 private prostitutes.
In 1949 November, all prostitution in Beijing was brought to a halt.
This is not taught in history textbooks. Yet it is extremely important as a cultural event. it shows that the enthusiasm following liberation showed that age old customs and habits can be broken through willpower alone. If nothing else, it shows an important phase of Chinese history which is unique to mankind and has scholarly significance as a phase of history regardless of politics.
Indeed, the entire 1950's is nearly absent from our history textbooks, despite the fact that it is one of the most important periods in Chinese history, a transition between traditional and modern society, and one of the greatest eras of social change in history rivaled only by Britain and the Soviet Union's industrial revolutions (and that of no other country, as there has been no social change greater than Britain 1800-1900 or USSR 1917-1940, or China 1949-1959). Is it because it is too politically sensitive? No! There is more talk about the Cultural Revolution than the 1950's! Perhaps it is because the education department doesn't want students to think about how the 1950's compare to now.
Our textbooks are not emphasizing our traditional culture. They are not teaching modern history. They are not teaching critical thinking. They are not teaching patriotism. They are teaching a watered down history that would put the censors of the Cultural Revolution to shame. At least they didn't censor Lu Xun back then. In fact, I would not be surprised if currently, the teachers teach more U.S. history in our schools than Chinese history.
Despite our growing wealth and power, we should remember to not lose ourselves, both as individuals and as a nation. What Chinese people pride themselves on is standing up for basic principles, and what could be a greater crime than to purposely forget ones own heritage?
We have not succeeded in producing the next generation of Chinese leaders. We have only succeeded in producing the next generation of Western workers that will work for white leaders. The reason is not because of our lack of technical skill. It is because we are losing our own heritage.
The new literature textbooks will not include the articles of Lu Xun 鲁迅, the most famous modern author in 20th century China. In some cases, the most provokative (and with most literary and historical value) articles hvae been deleted, or replaced with less radical ones.
ÐÂÓïÎĿα¾ ³ѸµÄ¶¼É¾ÁË »¹ÊDz¿·Öɾ³ý_°Ù¶ÈÖªµÀ
中学课本中，鲁迅的《阿Q正传》、《纪念刘和珍君》等多篇作品被删除，广东版则将《药》换成《祝福》。而巴金反思文革的文章和余华的小说等被新选为课文。（《广州日报》9月8日报道）
Why? Perhaps it is because Lu Xun's articles are too provokative, too rebellious for the "harmonious" modern China? Or is it because our society now bears a surprising resemblence to the old society that this hardcore Communist writer despised? What is more surprising is how writings reflecting on the Cultural Revolution have been added. Is this a good sign, or is it a signal that the government is losing faith in the very principles that brought it to power? However, this issue is not merely political. Lu Xun is, regardless of his political leanings, one of the best writers of the 20th century. His works have literary merit as works of fiction alone, and they represented the contemporary trend in Chinese literature. To censor a writer who has educated generations and was a leading 20th century thinker, is a CRIME against literature, students, and an insult to our intelligence.
An incomplete list of other texts deleted or edited include:
《朱德的扁担》
《狼牙山五壮士》
《荷塘月色》
《林教头风雪山神庙》
《葫芦僧判断葫芦案》
Modern history textbooks mention Chairman Mao much less than before. Is this a good thing? Perhaps, perhaps not. However, he was the absolute most important Chinese leader in world politics for the first 70 years of the 20th century, and as such he and his policies should be taught with historical accuracy.
?????????????????????
In 1917, there were 391 brothels in Beijing, 3500 prostitutes, and as many as 7000 private prostitutes.
In 1949 November, all prostitution in Beijing was brought to a halt.
This is not taught in history textbooks. Yet it is extremely important as a cultural event. it shows that the enthusiasm following liberation showed that age old customs and habits can be broken through willpower alone. If nothing else, it shows an important phase of Chinese history which is unique to mankind and has scholarly significance as a phase of history regardless of politics.
Indeed, the entire 1950's is nearly absent from our history textbooks, despite the fact that it is one of the most important periods in Chinese history, a transition between traditional and modern society, and one of the greatest eras of social change in history rivaled only by Britain and the Soviet Union's industrial revolutions (and that of no other country, as there has been no social change greater than Britain 1800-1900 or USSR 1917-1940, or China 1949-1959). Is it because it is too politically sensitive? No! There is more talk about the Cultural Revolution than the 1950's! Perhaps it is because the education department doesn't want students to think about how the 1950's compare to now.
Our textbooks are not emphasizing our traditional culture. They are not teaching modern history. They are not teaching critical thinking. They are not teaching patriotism. They are teaching a watered down history that would put the censors of the Cultural Revolution to shame. At least they didn't censor Lu Xun back then. In fact, I would not be surprised if currently, the teachers teach more U.S. history in our schools than Chinese history.
Despite our growing wealth and power, we should remember to not lose ourselves, both as individuals and as a nation. What Chinese people pride themselves on is standing up for basic principles, and what could be a greater crime than to purposely forget ones own heritage?
????
