Revised textbook turns to Chinese traditional culture

EDUCATION FOR A NEW WORLD

Primary and middle schools in China had uniform textbooks before an education reform in 2001, which allowed schools in different provinces to use different textbooks. More than ten publishers have released their own textbooks, including the Language and Culture Press.

This is the first revision the press has made in more than a decade.

"We did so because the previous version had been used for too long," said Zhu, the senior editor.

They have replaced some outdated articles, such as one about intercontinental missiles that was originally adopted to teach students expository writing.

"The missile described in the story was produced by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, which is far removed from students today," she said. "So we have replaced it with another about Internet emojis."

Editors substituted an article about the Nanjing Massacre with a better-known version by Chinese-American writer Iris Chang.

Chinese writer Mo Yan's speech after winning the Nobel Prize was also selected for the book.

"Each year, we poll local schools about articles that teachers and students like or dislike," Zheng said. Some articles with obviously propagandistic language were removed after complaints were received.

Huang Huifen with the education bureau of Shaoguan in south China's Guangdong Province has worked as a primary school teacher for more than 20 years. "The new textbook pays more attention to the language, which is easier for students to accept," she said.

Liu Jinping, the teacher in Luoyang, said studying Mo Yan's speech could encourage students to read more of his work.

"A textbook is a window through which children look at the outside world," she said. "They should not only see tradition, but also be introduced to interesting new faces."