China promotes traditional culture

Chinese philosophy and moral values are strongly linked to traditional culture. In order to further promote the traditional culture among the youth, exclusive textbooks have been unveiled and many schools are trying to teach the students their cultural legacy.

Singing the ancient literature rather than reading. This is a fresh way to keep the students' attention on Discipline of Children, an introduction to Confucian principles. All the students in this primary school have one lesson on traditional culture each week, but they don't have any exams.

Zhang Wen, student of Huguosi Primary School, said, "We do a lot of things like watching films, singing the classics and even role playing. I enjoy it very much."

Yang Haiying has been teaching lessons on traditional culture for almost two years. She felt it is very important to continue the current classics teaching, and they are planning to offer more lessons on subjects including Daoist philosophy and Tea culture in the coming years.

Yang Haiying, teacher of Huguosi Primary School, said, "Many students have taken the lessons to heart even when they are over, so the main purpose of this classics teaching is to guide their behavior, and teach them to do the right things, rather than just reading and reciting."

Recently many schools have realized the importance of teaching traditional culture and arts, and some parents hope the lessons could be a part of their school education. A series of teaching textbooks on traditional Chinese culture was unveiled this September.

According to Zhang Jian, who is responsible for the series, the materials focus on traditional Chinese classics like the Analects of Confucius and the Art of War. They also include calligraphy and traditional Chinese opera.

Zhang said, "We don't want to go back to the ancient ways of learning, but rather to encourage creative teaching. We hope the teachers can use these textbooks to teach students with modern facilities and creative teaching methods. Therefore the students could be attracted and truly interested in the traditional culture and arts."

Putting the textbooks into trial use is just a beginning; detailed teaching planning and training are also needed. Many hope these lessons could plant a seed of traditional culture and arts in the students' hearts, and that the seed will grow one day.

Reporter:＂Classics teaching plays an important role in promoting traditional Chinese culture. For the young students, reading and reciting the classics may not take much time, but putting the moral values into practice is a long term project. And it will require more creative teaching methods."