Short description:

Inspired by the author?s observations of the language curriculum as a practicing teacher for 20 years, this book addresses how the high school Chinese language and literacy (Yuwen) curriculum in China was controlled and directed in the post-Mao era.

Long description:

Inspired by the author?s observations of the language curriculum as a practising teacher for the past 20 years, this book addresses how the high school Chinese language and literacy (Yuwen) curriculum in China was controlled and directed in the post-Mao era. Examining the social and political domination from 1980 to 2010, the book offers insights into how teachers and schools responded to the top-down curriculum change in their teaching practice.

This book discusses some of the most important questions concerning China and its education system: What changes have occurred in the Chinese language and literacy curricula; how and why the changes have occurred; who has been in control of the process and outcome; and what impacts the curriculum changes may bring not only to China but to the international sectors that "export" education and degrees to China and Chinese students. The author provides answers to these questions crucial to both the contemporary Chinese society and the students who come out of that system. This critical inquiry of the Yuwen curriculum and its implementation provides a valuable and timely showcase for understanding the ideology of China's future generation and the social and political transformation in the past three decades. In addition to researchers, this book is expected to have impact on policymakers in China and beyond, where Chinese migrants and international students constitute a substantial learning population.

"This book explains why and how the number of texts by Lu Xun and Mao Zedong in China?s?Yuwen?textbooks has been drastically reduced. It is essential reading for anyone interested in changes in Chinese language and literacy education."

Yiyan Wang, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

"This book is based on a timely and nuanced research inquiry in one of the contemporary Chinese core curriculums. It provides a delicate showcase of understanding the social and political changes in the past three decades in China."

Yangbin Chen, La Trobe University, Australia

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1: Introduction 
Chapter 2: Social Approaches of Literacy Studies and Language and Literacy Curriculum Studies: Western Perspectives and Disputes
Chapter 3: Ideological Control and Subject Autonomy: Major Debates on Yuwen Education in China after 1949
Chapter 4: Scope and Methods
Chapter 5: From Mao?s literate subjects to high Suzhi (quality) literate citizens: High school Yuwen syllabuses in the post-Mao era (1978-2003)
Chapter 6: Whose Texts and what Texts: Findings from Textbook Analysis
Chapter 7: Yuwen Teachers? Perceptions of and Reactions to the Curriculum Changes
Chapter 8: Discussion and Conclusion: Text and Power
Conclusion: Text and power

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Appendix 1: Ethical Approval by Human Research Ethics Committee (USYD)
Appendix 2: Interview questions
Appendix 3: Letter circular

Index