Essay Contest Result
The Image of Korea Described in American Textbooks
During the course of the twelve-year-long curriculum followed in American elementary and secondary schools, how many states, out of 51, teach Asian society, culture and history without prejudice? How many states include any content on Korea in school textbooks? Unfortunately, except for California, Georgia and New York, there's hardly anything on the subject, and even if included, the content is often incorrect.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, there has been a general breakdown of trust in American society, as well as a rise in the level of indiscriminate violence against people of Asian origin. Korean-Americans were not an exception. In the United States, the population of ethnic Koreans is part of the Asian-American population. It would not be an overstatement to say that in the second half of 2020, much American news coverage included violence against Asians. Over time the number of acts of not only physical violence but also microaggressions against students on campus has increased. As an educator, this writer laments that unprecedented racial discrimination against Asian students has taken such forms as derogation, disregard, contemptuous words and actions, unresponsive e-mails, avoidance of greetings and the like, and wants to offer help. One of the solutions might be to launch a petition campaign around the United States to initiate studies on Asian history since understanding of Asian culture and history would help Americans better understand Asians. Under the title "Asians Are Also American!" on the website "change.org", this writer started the campaign by sending an e-mail to President Joe Biden and pleading with American public schools to teach Asian history as part of the mandatory curriculum. But upon confirming the content of American textbooks on Asia, this writer could not help but discontinue the petition because the teaching of Asian history in public schools with the existing textbooks would be problematic. The content consisted of Asian history centered on China, and the colonial view held by Japan, while only a vague idea of Korea held by Americans would be delivered to American students. (The actual materials related to Asian history are not included in this essay because the department in charge of this project has already obtained it.)
After the bill stipulating that Asian American history should be taught in public schools in the state of Illinois was passed in June 2021, the clock started ticking. Currently, Asian history is taught in public schools in California, New Jersey and Georgia, as well as to students taking AP courses, but the passing of such a bill could mean that all students attending public schools will soon study Asian history. The urgent problem this writer sees is that Korean history is seriously distorted in American textbooks because their content is based on an objective interpretation of Asian history by Chinese or Japanese authors. A bill passed in one state could mean that the same bill will be passed in other states. If the problem of American textbooks is not corrected now, in about ten years or so, all American students in fifty-one states will have learned that Asian history revolves around China and Japan, with Korea as their tributary state.After the bill stipulating that Asian American history should be taught in public schools in the state of Illinois was passed in June 2021, the clock started ticking. Currently, Asian history is taught in public schools in California, New Jersey and Georgia, as well as to students taking AP courses, but the passing of such a bill could mean that all students attending public schools will soon study Asian history. The urgent problem this writer sees is that Korean history is seriously distorted in American textbooks because their content is based on an objective interpretation of Asian history by Chinese or Japanese authors. A bill passed in one state could mean that the same bill will be passed in other states. If the problem of American textbooks is not corrected now, in about ten years or so, all American students in fifty-one states will have learned that Asian history revolves around China and Japan, with Korea as their tributary state.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the majority of elementary and secondary schools all over America have held classes at home via the Internet. A number of Korean parents started to study with their children and had a chance to read textbooks. In American schools, textbooks are loaned to students, who usually leave them in school. In the case of the reading and learning platform Epic, Korean parents found incorrect information on Korea.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, there has been a general breakdown of trust in American society, as well as a rise in the level of indiscriminate violence against people of Asian origin. Korean-Americans were not an exception. In the United States, the population of ethnic Koreans is part of the Asian-American population. It would not be an overstatement to say that in the second half of 2020, much American news coverage included violence against Asians. Over time the number of acts of not only physical violence but also microaggressions against students on campus has increased. As an educator, this writer laments that unprecedented racial discrimination against Asian students has taken such forms as derogation, disregard, contemptuous words and actions, unresponsive e-mails, avoidance of greetings and the like, and wants to offer help. One of the solutions might be to launch a petition campaign around the United States to initiate studies on Asian history since understanding of Asian culture and history would help Americans better understand Asians. Under the title "Asians Are Also American!" on the website "change.org", this writer started the campaign by sending an e-mail to President Joe Biden and pleading with American public schools to teach Asian history as part of the mandatory curriculum. But upon confirming the content of American textbooks on Asia, this writer could not help but discontinue the petition because the teaching of Asian history in public schools with the existing textbooks would be problematic. The content consisted of Asian history centered on China, and the colonial view held by Japan, while only a vague idea of Korea held by Americans would be delivered to American students. (The actual materials related to Asian history are not included in this essay because the department in charge of this project has already obtained it.)
After the bill stipulating that Asian American history should be taught in public schools in the state of Illinois was passed in June 2021, the clock started ticking. Currently, Asian history is taught in public schools in California, New Jersey and Georgia, as well as to students taking AP courses, but the passing of such a bill could mean that all students attending public schools will soon study Asian history. The urgent problem this writer sees is that Korean history is seriously distorted in American textbooks because their content is based on an objective interpretation of Asian history by Chinese or Japanese authors. A bill passed in one state could mean that the same bill will be passed in other states. If the problem of American textbooks is not corrected now, in about ten years or so, all American students in fifty-one states will have learned that Asian history revolves around China and Japan, with Korea as their tributary state.After the bill stipulating that Asian American history should be taught in public schools in the state of Illinois was passed in June 2021, the clock started ticking. Currently, Asian history is taught in public schools in California, New Jersey and Georgia, as well as to students taking AP courses, but the passing of such a bill could mean that all students attending public schools will soon study Asian history. The urgent problem this writer sees is that Korean history is seriously distorted in American textbooks because their content is based on an objective interpretation of Asian history by Chinese or Japanese authors. A bill passed in one state could mean that the same bill will be passed in other states. If the problem of American textbooks is not corrected now, in about ten years or so, all American students in fifty-one states will have learned that Asian history revolves around China and Japan, with Korea as their tributary state.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the majority of elementary and secondary schools all over America have held classes at home via the Internet. A number of Korean parents started to study with their children and had a chance to read textbooks. In American schools, textbooks are loaned to students, who usually leave them in school. In the case of the reading and learning platform Epic, Korean parents found incorrect information on Korea.
A textbook for four-year-old students, for example, introduced Korea using the statement that "Korean is the main language of South Korea" alongside a picture of Korean matrons drinking soju on the lawn. This example led this writer to pay closer attention to the content of the Epic series on Korea and randomly selected a part on Korea out of the textbooks designed for 9- to 12-year-old learners. One textbook titled "South Korea in Our World" was authored by Jim Pipe. The very first page introduces cities of Korea with photographs of Itaewon, an area in Seoul famous for shopping and nightlife – for learners as young as 9 to 12 years old! The historical facts are far from correct. Was Korea ever occupied by Russia? This is merely one example out of many errors in the book. One section titled "Endangered Wildlife. South Korea's Buddhist Temples. 'It's a Fact!' includes nothing that is correct. Here, the Jindo dog, which is an indigenous dog native to Jindo Island, is described as a wild endangered animal.
The section 'It's a Fact!' describes how much Buddhist priests love gardens. Below it is one photograph, which is, in fact, Hyangwonjeong Pavilion of Gyeongbokgung Palace, but as it lacks a caption it appears to be directly associated with Buddhist gardens. The site of the Garden was established in the second year under the reign of King Sejo of the Joseon dynasty and the actual garden was built under the reign of King Gojong. Hyangwonjeong Pavilion was a scenic rest area for the king and royals. In sum, the Epic textbook teaches American children who know nothing about Korea that Korea was once occupied by Mongolia, Russia and Japan; modern women sit around the lawn chatting and drinking soju; Buddhist monks love ponds and gardens; and a species of wild dog (Jindo) is an endangered species.
The section 'It's a Fact!' describes how much Buddhist priests love gardens. Below it is one photograph, which is, in fact, Hyangwonjeong Pavilion of Gyeongbokgung Palace, but as it lacks a caption it appears to be directly associated with Buddhist gardens. The site of the Garden was established in the second year under the reign of King Sejo of the Joseon dynasty and the actual garden was built under the reign of King Gojong. Hyangwonjeong Pavilion was a scenic rest area for the king and royals. In sum, the Epic textbook teaches American children who know nothing about Korea that Korea was once occupied by Mongolia, Russia and Japan; modern women sit around the lawn chatting and drinking soju; Buddhist monks love ponds and gardens; and a species of wild dog (Jindo) is an endangered species.
Starting with the state of Illinois in 2021, American students in public schools will mandatorily study Asian history. However, if no corrections are made to the erroneous contents on Korea in American textbooks, American students will learn a Sinocentric version of Asian history as well as a justification for Japanese colonialism as facts. The problem is not limited to history. There are so many textbooks that contain carelessly chosen facts and photographs, archaic contents, and unverified facts. Upon discovering such erroneous contents, Korean parents and this writer have continued to file complaints and request revision. However, the request, especially to revise the part in Korean history, has not been fulfilled. We have been told to submit adequate historical data to prove the point and even if submitted, the stance would merely be Korean. This writer urges that before it is too late, or before America learns that Korea is a tributary state of China and Japan, the revision of American textbooks in America must be handled at the state level.
Both written descriptions and visual images of Korea in American textbooks are very important because they are most likely the first and last chance for American students, who are not necessarily interested in Korea, to learn about Korea properly. The inclusion of correct contents on Korea in American textbooks would be one of the best ways to promote Korean culture in the minds of Americans. This writer strongly believes that it is only by regularly inspecting the content and containing correct information on Korea in American textbooks that Korea and her culture and history can earn respect.
The foundation of textbooks is to contain accurate contents and photographs in accordance with educational ethics. This writer urges that an appeal be lodged with the American education board about the distortion of Korean history in American textbooks, that any erroneous content on Korea be revised and inspected on a regular basis, and that the Korean education board nurture authors specializing in American textbooks.
Both written descriptions and visual images of Korea in American textbooks are very important because they are most likely the first and last chance for American students, who are not necessarily interested in Korea, to learn about Korea properly. The inclusion of correct contents on Korea in American textbooks would be one of the best ways to promote Korean culture in the minds of Americans. This writer strongly believes that it is only by regularly inspecting the content and containing correct information on Korea in American textbooks that Korea and her culture and history can earn respect.
The foundation of textbooks is to contain accurate contents and photographs in accordance with educational ethics. This writer urges that an appeal be lodged with the American education board about the distortion of Korean history in American textbooks, that any erroneous content on Korea be revised and inspected on a regular basis, and that the Korean education board nurture authors specializing in American textbooks.
[Excellence Prize]
Amy JY Hutchinson
(Country of Activity : USA)
Amy JY Hutchinson
(Country of Activity : USA)
