ID :
28362
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 16:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/28362
The shortlink copeid
Textbook authors reject government's move to revise Korea's modern history
SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- Authors of history textbooks on Tuesday rejected the education ministry's policy to revise sensitive descriptions of North and South Korea's turbulent history, criticizing the conservative government of trying to control education.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology recently suggested that
secondary school textbooks be amended so that they clarify the dismal human
rights condition in North Korea and portray South Korea's separate founding as a
nation in a more positive way.
The history textbooks last underwent major revisions in 1997 as part of efforts
to set history right after decades of authoritarian rule. As 10 years of liberal
rule ended this year with the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak, calls for
a fresh revision mounted among conservative government officials and scholars who
believe the previous changes instilled leftist leanings in school textbooks.
"Such is nothing but a regression in the textbook policy and an attempt to
control history education so that it befits the taste of the government," a group
of nine authors said in a statement released in a press conference.
The authors are just a fraction of scores of history scholars whose works are
published by six different publishers. The ministry wants the revision completed
by the end of this month so that students will get the new books by the next
academic year, which starts in March.
The ministry wants the authors to take out some critical descriptions on the U.S.
and Soviet decision to put Korea under their trusteeship following its liberation
from Japan's colonial rule and the end of World War II in 1945.
The revision also casts a more positive light on South Korea's first president,
Rhee Syngman, whose government, founded in 1948, is criticized by liberal
historians as having alienated independence fighters and solidified the division
of the Korean Peninsula with support from the U.S. government.
The ministry also wants to mention the poverty and dismal human rights conditions
in North Korea.
"The government is demanding the revision according to the position of
politically motivated organizations without collecting various views from
historians and experts," said Joo Jin-hoo, a history professor of Seoul's
Sangmyung University and one of the authors.
The education ministry said it will talk with critics so that the two sides can
reach a consensus.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology recently suggested that
secondary school textbooks be amended so that they clarify the dismal human
rights condition in North Korea and portray South Korea's separate founding as a
nation in a more positive way.
The history textbooks last underwent major revisions in 1997 as part of efforts
to set history right after decades of authoritarian rule. As 10 years of liberal
rule ended this year with the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak, calls for
a fresh revision mounted among conservative government officials and scholars who
believe the previous changes instilled leftist leanings in school textbooks.
"Such is nothing but a regression in the textbook policy and an attempt to
control history education so that it befits the taste of the government," a group
of nine authors said in a statement released in a press conference.
The authors are just a fraction of scores of history scholars whose works are
published by six different publishers. The ministry wants the revision completed
by the end of this month so that students will get the new books by the next
academic year, which starts in March.
The ministry wants the authors to take out some critical descriptions on the U.S.
and Soviet decision to put Korea under their trusteeship following its liberation
from Japan's colonial rule and the end of World War II in 1945.
The revision also casts a more positive light on South Korea's first president,
Rhee Syngman, whose government, founded in 1948, is criticized by liberal
historians as having alienated independence fighters and solidified the division
of the Korean Peninsula with support from the U.S. government.
The ministry also wants to mention the poverty and dismal human rights conditions
in North Korea.
"The government is demanding the revision according to the position of
politically motivated organizations without collecting various views from
historians and experts," said Joo Jin-hoo, a history professor of Seoul's
Sangmyung University and one of the authors.
The education ministry said it will talk with critics so that the two sides can
reach a consensus.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
