ID :
33737
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 16:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/33737
The shortlink copeid
Seoul high schools switch history textbooks amid 'left-leaning' controversy
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Scores of Seoul high schools have canceled purchase
orders to a major publisher whose history textbooks are accused by some as being
"left-leaning," amid a push by the conservative government to have the books
revised, officials said Wednesday.
More than 30 high schools in Seoul have switched from Kumsung Publishing Co. to
other publishers for their history textbooks for the upcoming academic year,
officials of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said.
The move will curtail the adoption rate for Kumsung's history books to 36 percent
from the current 51 percent, according to the officials. Initially, 124 out of a
total of 241 schools that have modern Korean history as part of their curriculum
had ordered Kumsung's books, but a quarter of them have since withdrawn their
orders.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has reportedly asked Kumsung
and four other textbook companies to revise their modern and contemporary Korean
history textbooks. Right-wing scholars have demanded the books' authors take out
critical notes on the decision by the U.S. and the Soviet Union to put Korea
under their trusteeship following its liberation from Japan's colonial rule at
the end of World War II.
Conservatives have also said the textbooks should cast a more positive light on
South Korea's first president, Rhee Syngman, and add descriptions on contemporary
North Korea that detail its poverty and human rights conditions.
The history textbooks last underwent major revisions in 1997 as part of a liberal
drive to set history right after decades of authoritarian rule.
President Lee Myung-bak's inauguration in February ended 10 years of liberal
leadership. Lee has led the charge to revisit how textbooks cast the narrative of
South Korea's modern history.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education recently held a training session for
school principals to "set right left-leaning textbooks" and arranged lectures by
center-right scholars and professionals for high school students.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
orders to a major publisher whose history textbooks are accused by some as being
"left-leaning," amid a push by the conservative government to have the books
revised, officials said Wednesday.
More than 30 high schools in Seoul have switched from Kumsung Publishing Co. to
other publishers for their history textbooks for the upcoming academic year,
officials of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said.
The move will curtail the adoption rate for Kumsung's history books to 36 percent
from the current 51 percent, according to the officials. Initially, 124 out of a
total of 241 schools that have modern Korean history as part of their curriculum
had ordered Kumsung's books, but a quarter of them have since withdrawn their
orders.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has reportedly asked Kumsung
and four other textbook companies to revise their modern and contemporary Korean
history textbooks. Right-wing scholars have demanded the books' authors take out
critical notes on the decision by the U.S. and the Soviet Union to put Korea
under their trusteeship following its liberation from Japan's colonial rule at
the end of World War II.
Conservatives have also said the textbooks should cast a more positive light on
South Korea's first president, Rhee Syngman, and add descriptions on contemporary
North Korea that detail its poverty and human rights conditions.
The history textbooks last underwent major revisions in 1997 as part of a liberal
drive to set history right after decades of authoritarian rule.
President Lee Myung-bak's inauguration in February ended 10 years of liberal
leadership. Lee has led the charge to revisit how textbooks cast the narrative of
South Korea's modern history.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education recently held a training session for
school principals to "set right left-leaning textbooks" and arranged lectures by
center-right scholars and professionals for high school students.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
