Curriculum

Japanese Textbooks

September 05, 2001 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

After a summer filled with protests by historians, human-rights groups, and high-level officials from neighboring countries, educators in Japan appear to have shunned controversial history textbooks for middle school students.

All but 10 of the country’s 542 public school districts have said they will not use the textbooks that critics say gloss over Japan’s military aggression before and during World War II. (“Foreign Exchange,” May 9, 2001.)

The books, for example, omit information about Japanese soldiers’ violence against Korean and Chinese women during the war.

The Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform produced one of the textbooks in question because of the “self-deprecating” tone of current Japanese history texts, according to a statement from the organization.

Government officials from South Korea and China have sent angry communications to the Japanese government over the past several months, saying the decision to approve the texts for use in public schools was a threat to diplomatic relations.

Japanese officials reviewed the texts and ordered some changes, but refused to rescind their approval.

Several private schools and at least three public ones for students with disabilities are planning to use the books.

The authors have also come under attack. Last month, an office in Tokyo, where one worked, was damaged by fire. Police told local newspapers they suspected arson.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s textbooks are also coming under scrutiny from historians and educators for glossing over the brutality committed by its own military, and for enhancing the image of the right-wing government.

Children’s Vote: Advocates for children are hoping a few million votes will get the attention of world leaders this month. When the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York City Sept. 19-21 for its first special session on children’s issues, members will be presented with the results of a voting campaign on improving the lives of the world’s children.

Say Yes for Children, a campaign sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, is asking people from around the world to pledge their support for 10 actions to address issues of health, safety, and education for children everywhere.

Votes can be entered online at www.unicef.org. For more information, call (800) FOR-KIDS.

—Kathleen Kennedy Manzokmanzo@epe.org

Related Tags:

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar The Trump Budget and Schools: Subscriber Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
End Student Boredom: K-12 Publisher's Guide to 70% Engagement Boost
Calling all K-12 Publishers! Student engagement flatlining? Learn how to boost it by up to 70%.
Content provided by KITABOO

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Curriculum How to Teach Tariffs: 8 Resources and Lessons
Wondering how to broach tariffs with your students? Check out these resources and lesson plans we've gathered.
2 min read
Image of shipping boxes from different countries.
iStock/Getty
Curriculum What Makes Curriculum 'High-Quality'?
Only 1 in 4 school and districts leaders say their administration has an official definition of "high-quality instructional materials."
4 min read
Blurred photo of a math formula with a vector illustration of a woman holding a clipboard and a man holding a notepad. Both appear to be examining the math equation.
iStock/Getty
Curriculum Gulf of America or Gulf of Mexico? How Teachers Are Handling Trump's Name Change
Educators share their views on the Gulf of America name change.
Riley Griffin, of Sedalia, Mo., gets help from teacher Cara Cairer as he works on a paper mâché globe at Heber Hunt Elementary School in Sedalia, Mo., on Feb. 29, 2012.
Riley Griffin, of Sedalia, Mo., gets help from teacher Cara Cairer as he works on a paper mâché globe at Heber Hunt Elementary School in Sedalia, Mo., on Feb. 29, 2012.
Sydney Brink/Sedalia Democrat via AP
Curriculum What Teachers Are Saying About the Lawsuit Against Lucy Calkins and Fountas and Pinnell
Educators on social media had lots to say about the lawsuit filed against the creators of popular reading programs.
1 min read
Photo of children and teacher with books on floor for reading, learning and teaching. Study, school and woman with kids for storytelling, help and fantasy, language and skill development.
iStock/Getty