"Correct" History Textbooks

[Anonymous]

That picture of Kim Jong Un and the caption, "The Nightmare That Is North Korea"... perfect, haha (that's actually a link to another story, but still). There's an old saying: "it's not paranoia if the other side is really trying to kill you". I think it may apply here, in support of the conservative argument that the North should be portrayed in South Korean texts as the nuclear-ambitious, militarily-intimidating power they in fact truly are. Liberal arguments that this would "brain wash" South Koreans into seeing the North as an actual threatr..., well, they ARE! So, unfortunately, no good can come from down-playing that fact. Sometimes recognizing reality can be a depressing endeavor, and liberal South Koreans need to acknowledge that, until the current regime is somehow ousted or overthrown, there can be little cause for hope, or for attempts to make North Koreans look any less aggressive than they in fact are.

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-1022-kirk-south-korea-textbook-controversy-20151022-story.html
We have discussed in class the objections from Korea to Japanese history texts omitting grim details from Japan's colonial past. The above link is to an Op-Ed piece discussing the arguments and controversies regarding how South Korean high school textbooks represent North Korea. There is a government branch, the National Institute of Korean History, has plans to release a "correct" history textbook in two years. Others have been likening such a move to disseminating propaganda.
I suppose decisions regarding what to include and not to include in any history text could lead to accusations of bias. Choosing material for a math text is less likely to offend disenfranchised parties or finger-point at colonizers or invaders.
The author states that from the liberal Korean point of view the right for schools to choose textbooks is a freedom akin to electing representatives, part of "an unending struggle or protest against repression."
I can imagine history teachers in the US viewing government written textbooks with an eye of suspicion. We have had to deal with government written education reform (No Child Left Behind), not to mention government written education standards.

[Anonymous]

The essential question appears to be not whether or not the Korean textbook should be rewritten but whether objectivity can play a role in its publication. As is the case in most history textbooks, ours included, objectivity is discarded for dominance. Hence the party most dominant, writes the narrative. Ultimately, the initial goal of attempting to tell a more thorough history should be commended and allowed for edits or in the case of textbooks, editions.

[Author]

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