“I want my children to learn Chinese literature and moral values through the program, but it doesn’t mean that we are against localization. The two things coexist,” she said.
Shih said Confucius encouraged diversity in education and stood for a harmonious society and would not oppose the development of any language or culture.
In response to the growing emphasis on localization, the Taipei City Government initiated an effort to establish regulations in 2005 to honor those who made great contributions to education and culture in Taipei City.
Chen Wei-ying (陳維英), a local teacher in Datung who dedicated his life to building schools and promoting education in the area in the 18th century, became the first person honored at an ancestral shrine in the temple in 2006.
Similar efforts to give formal recognition to the contributions of local educators are also planned for Confucius temples in Hsinchu and Changhua, Shih said.
He added that Taipei Confucius Temple will continue its efforts to strike a balance between Chinese culture and localization.
RSS