Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences: The Comparative Analysis of Treatment of Environmental Issues in Three Primary School Textbooks for Ethnic Koreans Residing in China: Korean Language, Morality and Rule of Law, Character and Society

Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / The Comparative Analysis of Treatment of Environmental Issues in Three Primary School Textbooks for Ethnic Koreans Residing in China: Korean Language, Morality and Rule of Law, Character and Society

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Issue: Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2022 15 (9)
Authors: Dabin Kang; Isaac Lee
Contact information: Dabin Kang: University of Queensland Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; ; Isaac Lee: University of Queensland Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Keywords: Environmental Education; Textbook Analysis; Environment in China; Environmental Pollution; Chosunjok (Ethnic Koreans)
Abstract: This research analyzed the environmental content in three series of textbooks published for Chosunjok (ethnic Koreans in China). This paper examines the treatment of environmental topics in three series of textbooks for three subjects: Korean language, Morality and rule of law, and Character and society. Findings show that the textbooks included material regarding water pollution, air pollution and soil pollution. In the case of water pollution, the books present garbage dumping, industrial waste, lack of water and domestic wastewater as the only causes of water pollution. Chinese education authorities selectively select the environmental problems to show them as global issues rather than specifically China’s issues. In the case of air pollution, textbooks depict four environment issues: global warming, emission of industrial pollutants, vehicle emission and burning of crops. Regarding soil pollution, the books claim that the perpetrators of soil pollution are farmers rather than factories or companies, who are the actual culprits. None of the texts place any blame on the Chinese government or dominant groups for focusing on economic development to the detriment of the environment, nor do they portray any cases of environmental pollution in China. Overall, the textbooks educate only about general global pollution and promote the interests of dominant groups by selectively favoring particular environmental texts
Pages: 1279–1295
DOI: 10.17516/1997-1370-0928
Paper at repository of SibFU: https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/148210

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