Currently used text books in Korea

EXTREME “RIGHTISTS” in Korea, the New-rights are currently under issue due to the publishing of a new contemporary history textbook. Unlike existing textbooks, the Daean textbook written by the New-rights has evaluated the era of Japanese colonial rule in an affirmative way. Such a fact is becoming a controversial issue because of the difference in analysis and the doubt that there has been political intervention. However, some regard this phenomenon as acceptable, because difference in one’s perspective is necessary to improve the quality of education. Being aware of the seriousness, The Yonsei Annals has covered this issue in order to share its seriousness with Yonseians.

Daean textbook: A new history book that is published by the New-rights

Pro 1: Kim Sung-hoon (Soph., Dept. of History)
  One should be clear about what “political” really means. Is there anything on earth that is   not political? Isn’t this government designated textbook also a political means to reflect the national benefit?
The fact that the Daean textbook of the New-rights has been strongly influenced by their political interest cannot be denied. However, history textbooks that have been used from the 1980s until now have leftist viewpoints. The perspectives of the leftists have dominated the basic ideology of Korea’s history field of study. This fact indicates that education or textbooks cannot be absolutely free from the influence of politics, so I agree in the participation of private publishers in writing our textbooks.

Pro 2: Alias (Sr., Dept. of Chemical Engin.)
   If a political analysis on education is made without distortion of historical facts or unreasonable assertions on an exorbitant level, it should be accepted. There are diverse perspectives involved in education and students have the rights to know diversity as well as being educated with it. This reality exists because if only one interpretation from one perspective is taught, students can regard it as a universal truth. This can hamper the student from recognizing relativity.
   Since the government has the authority to write history textbooks, it is inevitable that the ideology of the prevailing political power is reflected. Therefore, private publishing companies should be supervised by academic groups when making textbooks in order to avoid biased contents. 

Pro 3: Kim Jeong-min (Fresh., University College, Business Admin.)
    The participation of politically influenced publishing companies should not be a problem when they are under restraint and supervision. People are concerned that a certain ideology could be implanted to students, when that happens. Implanting a certain ideology to students should be avoided, because an inappropriate education policy can make students adopt biased viewpoints.
    However, current government-made textbooks do not hold balanced perspectives.  These textbooks can include errors by presenting the government’s ideology unintentionally, which I believe to be a dangerous phenomenon. In order to teach our students to have diverse stances on social issues, allowing private publishing companies to print textbooks to a limited extent may be possible and even desirable.

Pro 4: Lee Hee-kyung (Assistant Prof., Graduate School of Education, Major of English Education)
   A textbook has a significant role in making one’s sense of value and morality to students. Not only publishing companies but every institution, mass media, and individual in a society have their own point of view and sense of value. The problem is how this degree of expression is presented and how controversial their opinions are, there is no one who is completely free from his/her own values when judging contents.
   The notion of neutrality changes as time and history passes. Considering various senses of value which exist in our time, it is strongly advised that oversight agencies verify the printing company’s responsibility as well as pursue the truth. With such qualifications satisfied, entrusting private publishers in making textbooks should not be a big problem.

Con 1: Jang Sin-il (Fresh., Div. of Foreign Language & Lit.)
   Permitting private publishing companies, with particular political opinions, to publish history textbooks is simply wrong. Many high school students lack the ability to examine   contents critically.
   The rightists hold strong and distinguishable positions and such characteristics are likely to be reflected in the process of creating new textbooks. These positions should be regarded only as another way of thinking. However, there is a possibility that students would regard such analysis as an absolute fact. In order to protect students from unconsciously obtaining biased viewpoints, history textbooks should be managed by the government.

Con 2: Yu Hye-jin (Soph., Dept. of Education)
   Education should be absolutely objective. The overall purpose of education is to teach students diverse ideologies and historical views without linking to a certain political stance as well as to make them have the ability to judge controversial issues.
   Before giving the right to choose a certain ideology on their own, letting them learn through textbooks, that are influenced by political purposes can deprive the rights of students to be free from ideological powers. The rights of students should be protected under the name of objective education.

Con 3: Rheu Woon-sun (Jr., Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engin.)
   Certain textbooks produced by publishing companies, which have political characteristics such as the New-rights, were criticized due to their biased content. The most important thing in education is to teach students impartial facts and help them be able to accomplish critical thinking.
   As a result, the government should be responsible in publishing better textbooks by combining various viewpoints rather than allowing private publishers. Moreover, they should cautiously research and select viewpoints, so that students can maintain diverse opinions.

Con 4: Suh Bo-hyuck (Prof. Institute for Peace Study at Ewha Advanced Academy)
   Allowing political influence in the process of making textbooks should be limited. Such an intervention might be accompanied with two fatal mistakes: the absence of a specialist and strong political influence.
   If a majority of participants have certain political backgrounds, it is hard to maintain balance, which ultimately makes them produce content which presents a one-sided perspective. This can bring about an outcome which is not objective.
Moreover, when there is strong political influence, it is hard to secure specialists from diverse fields. With the lack of specialists, one cannot expect high quality products.
   As a result, the participation of politically affected private publishers in education, the production of age sensitive materials should be carefully considered before it progresses.