Now is not the time to mess with the classics

"Why do I have to study when I feel like playing?"

That was one of my most frequently asked questions when the playful child in me refused to be chained to the study desk.

Then, some carrot-and-stick parenting would follow, urging me to realize that "books can bring about access to gold and a beautiful girl", a famous quotation from a well-known Confucianism classic.

It worked for me. At least, I was persuaded to bury my head in a book for the good of my future.

But now, alert parents and teachers may think twice before throwing out similar phrases.

The Shandong Education Department on Dec 28 announced it was banning the use of classic texts to pupils without some screening of the contents first.

Officials from the department expressed their concern that some information in the writings could be outdated and harbor inappropriate subliminal messages that could twist students' values.

Well, I'm all for educational reform, but when I saw the news, a mixed sentiment of disappointment and indignation rushed over me.

Words about the Mencius' mother going to the trouble of moving her residence three times just to avoid bad influence on her son were deleted because the authorities thought it was better that children learn to fit into hazardous situations.

The inspiration about the meaning of study used by my parents to spur me on was also banned because education officials worried it was likely to convey the wrong incentives and make kids too egotistic.

They rolled out the excuse that the purpose of learning is to make our country stronger.

Is there a moral crisis hitting the nation or some research that heaps blame on these ancient scriptures?

If not, why are we sudden ready to read negative messages into these sentences?

Prior to these interpretations, I was happily occupied by the positive and less tortuous accepted meaning of the lines. It is poignant to feel a mother's unconditional love and care.

It means she wants to give her son the best environment in which to grow up, and it is a pleasure to study after you realize that it will color your future life.

The intention of the education reform was supposed to engender critical thinking and moral spirit.

But if teachers can explore the pearls of wisdom, warts and all, wouldn't students acquire both of those desirable qualities?

They would get a chance to know under what circumstances these ideas were created and learn firsthand that even generally acknowledged truths, as time evolves, cannot be mechanically applied to all situations.

So, the real problem could boil down to how teachers should rightly and flexibly give lessons.

Explaining to students the implications underneath the concepts and telling them about the exceptions under the modern light would ensure that classes do not turn out to be morality lectures.

Students will be more likely to fully assimilate the classics by feeling a connection to ancient sages and learning they are only human, just like themselves.

Instead, attempts to compile a textbook of the impeccable will make people into passive thinkers.

Besides, are we really in a position to decide which part of the classics should be delivered to our kids and which should not?

Suppose that I were on the same wavelength with the Shandong education department, I might put a ban on some world-famous fairy tales.

Take the Little Red Riding Hood story. Would the ending, with the heroic hunter killing the wolf, not predispose our young kids into becoming bloody murderers? Doesn't it instill a violent personality in them? I believe most people would call that ridiculous and laugh it off.

Deep down, I hope relevant departments will think hard about this issue and take the right action.

Tampering with the classics could produce just as bad consequences as they fear will come from the unedited texts.

In the end, the only thing that will come from these moves is that people will have more to shoot the breeze and complain about.

For China Daily

(China Daily 01/10/2011)