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Written by: Kwong Xiaobin and Hu Jiaxin
2020-08-19 06:00
Last update date: 2020-08-19 06:00The core subject of the New Senior Secondary General Education Subject has been repeatedly criticized by the establishment in recent years, and even pointed out the lack of supervision of textbooks. The Education Bureau launched the "Voluntary Submission of General Education Textbooks" Program at the end of September last year. Many publishing houses announced the revised content on Monday (17th). .
Among them, in the revised content of Unit 3 "Modern China", the textbook published by Lingji deleted the knowledge enrichment part of the "June 4th Incident" in 1989, and only stated that the June 4th incident occurred in 1989. As for the textbooks published by Ming Pao Education, the more detailed explanations of the "June 4th Incident" were retained, but Deng Xiaoping's southern tour and reform and opening up were also included. In addition, in the latest revision published by Ming Pao Education, the entire "Village Committee Election and Democratic Development" section was deleted. This section was originally mainly centered on the exercise topic of the Wukan Village incident in 2011, allowing students to analyze and explore issues.
Extended reading:
General education book submission for review | The new book avoids using "conflict" to describe identity, delete popular feelings and yet to return to the issue
The revised version of the general education book "released" Yaji Publishing deletes the separation of powers and the conflicts between China and Hong Kong to choose Hong Kong independence
After the revision of the Ling Ji "General Knowledge of New Thinking in High School (Third Edition)-Unit 3 Modern China", the brief description of "enriched knowledge" describing the cause, process and results of the June 4th incident was deleted. (Photo by Luo Guohui)
Lingji's retention of "official failure" aroused extreme dissatisfaction among the people
"Hong Kong 01" compared the revised content of five "Submission for Review" General Studies Unit 3 "Modern China" textbooks, and found that only the textbooks published by Ling Ji and Ming Pao Education still mentioned the "June 4th Incident". Among them, the age book "General Knowledge of New Thinking in Senior High School (Third Edition)-Unit 3 Modern China" was revised, and the brief description of "enrichment of knowledge" describing the cause, process and results of the incident was deleted, and only a brief description was left. "Official downfall" caused extreme dissatisfaction among the people, and eventually triggered the June 4th Incident.
Ming Pao Education Publishing retained a brief description of the June 4th incident in the reform and opening up section, and provided a QR code for the Hong Kong and Taiwan documentary for students to watch the film on the link. Add "...and until 1992, Deng Xiaoping Nan During the tour, he proposed that "development is the last word", demonstrating China's determination to reform and opening up, stabilizing public sentiment and foreign investment confidence."
After the revision of "High School General Education-Unit 3 "Modern China"" published by Ming Pao Education, 3 pages surrounding the Wukan village incident, "Village Committee Election and Democratic Development" were deleted. (Photo by Luo Guohui)
Teacher: Talking about reform and opening up, it’s hard not to touch on June 4th
The similar textbooks of Yaji Publishing House, Modern Education Research Society and Hong Kong Education Book Company did not specifically mention content related to the June 4th Incident. Among them, as early as 2016 when Yaji revised the modern China unit, the brief description of the June 4th incident with nearly 200 words was deleted.
Tian Fangze, a general education teacher and vice-chairman of the Education Association, said that in the past June 4th was a sensitive topic in textbooks, and the general education publishing house deleted relevant information in the early years. Tian said frankly that although June 4th is not the core of the modern China unit, Hong Kong people have been concerned about June 4th for more than 30 years. It is difficult not to touch June 4th when talking about China after reform and opening up in teaching. He pointed out that the supplementary explanation for June 4th in this paragraph does not have many words, and "you can't keep it low, even if you're fine." He questioned the publisher's political considerations.
Li Weixiong, director of the Federation of Education, believes that the June Fourth issue is "not afraid to learn." This paragraph of June Fourth supplements that if the information is more sufficient, it can be retained. However, it is impossible to speculate that publishers may delete the June Fourth materials for political reasons because June Fourth is not modern China. The key topics of the unit. He pointed out that students themselves can learn about it in the history class, and there are also large-scale memorial activities every year, so there is no worry that students will not have the opportunity to learn about related topics.
General education book submission for review | The new book avoids using "conflict" to describe identity, deletion of people’s sentiment and yet to return to the issue
The revised version of the general education book "released" Yaji Publishing deletes the separation of powers and the conflicts between China and Hong Kong to choose Hong Kong independence
Eight sets of general textbooks "voluntary submission for review" were introduced by the Education Bureau to withdraw from Pearson Port
Deleting the Wukan Village incident teacher’s approval is understandable
In addition, in the part about the development of China's political system, Ming Pao Education deleted 3 pages of the "Village Committee Election and Democratic Development" in the textbook. With reference to the old textbook, the three-page content mainly centered on the Wukan Village incident in 2011. It quoted reports and government responses. It set up exercises for students to analyze and explore issues, including the definition of rural democratic elections. Contact "Hong Kong Today" The teaching content of the unit is about democracy.
In the Modern China unit jointly published by Ming Pao Education and Mingchuang Education, the two pages of "Village Committee Election and Democratic Development in Wukan Village" were also deleted in the new revision.
Tian Fangze believes that the publishing house often revises the learning activities, and believes that the reform of the village committee in Wukan Village is not the focus of the general education examination, so the relevant deletions are understandable. Li Weixiong pointed out that in the past, the general books have talked about rights protection in the Mainland, but the subsequent development of the Wukan village incident has deteriorated and is difficult to determine, so it is difficult to evaluate related deletions.
As for the new revised version of modern education, two pages of content on "The History and Influence of the Cultural Revolution" were deleted, which significantly reduced the length of related topics. Both Tian and Li pointed to the non-curriculum and examination points of the Cultural Revolution, and the relevant revisions are reasonable.
General Studies DSE Education Bureau June 4th Incident
