The recent announcement by the Ministry of Education that it intended to make what it termed the “basic materials of Chinese Culture” — the “Four Books” — required course material for high school students is sparking divided reactions among teachers who fear it will place an extra burden on an already struggling system.
The high school Chinese cultural studies materials draft act announced by the ministry was in response to widespread bullying, drug use and gang problems among young people. Vice -Minister of Education Chen Yi-hsing (陳益興) recently said the situation had become “a worrisome social problem.”
The “Four Books” refer to the Doctrine of the Mean (中庸), Great Learning (大學), Analects of Confucius (論語) and Mencius (孟子), chosen by Zhu Xi (朱熹) in the Sung dynasty as an introduction to Confucian theories and ideas.
Participants at recent public hearings held by the ministry on the draft act confirmed the function of the basic cultural studies materials and said that the “Four Books” were the core of Chinese culture. However, they said the ministry should seek to resolve problems associated with the execution of the plan.
Opponents of the proposal say that while they do not oppose the material per se, it would put additional pressure on students.
A teacher and member of the National Teacher’s Association, Chang Chen-shou (張仁壽), said he worried whether students would be able to take in what was taught.
“I’m a physics teacher myself and sometimes my students don’t do well not because they are bad at physics, but simply because they don’t understand the question being asked,” Chang said.
Chang also questioned the effects of cultural material on students’ morals, adding that with the sudden addition of such materials as compulsory courses to the curriculum, schools would be compelled to reorganize schedules and hire new teachers.
“Currently, the birthrate is decreasing. Where are these teachers going to go when they have no more students?” Chang asked.
National Taiwan Normal University professor Wu Wu-tien (吳武典) said most educational sectors tacitly agreed with teaching cultural materials, as long as the materials agreed with Confucius’ own directive of “keeping up with the times.”
Wu said opposition was more concerned with the technical -aspects of the issue, such as curriculum organization.
With 12-years of mandatory education about to replace the current nine-year program, it’s time we sat down and reviewed the curriculums anyway, Wu said.
A master’s student nicknamed “Xiao Wei” (小薇) said she was indifferent to the introduction of the “Four Books,” as she had already studied them on her own.
However, she said that after seeing some of the material, she had difficulty buying claims by the ministry that the material would be taught in a “lively manner.”
“It still looks pretty rigid to me and it doesn’t spark interest. If they used anecdotal stories, I’m sure it would make the cultural material much more practical,” she said.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS