Textbooks in Hongkong use questionable stereotypes in lessons

In Hongkong there is an issue about the depiction of its multicultural mix using stereotypes in primary school textbook. Critics notice that there are dubious examples in the textbook lessons that are not appropriate to enhance the students’ view of the world. Describing people of different nationalities and their jobs by choosing clichés like the white British English teacher and the Filipino woman as a domestic helper is the wrong approach, the former teacher Tom Grundy claimed. Furthermore an exemplary case is a chapter with the topic “China is my motherland, I am a Chinese person” that is complicated for students of ethnic minorities who are living in Hongkong. A former book editor says there are warnings about possible problem topics but the whole subject is difficult and guidelines are missing. Since the government wants teachers to develop their course material themselves and doesn’t recommend any textbooks, it is unavoidable that lessons are characterized by its author’s “narrow world views”.

Information:

http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/.../textbooks-fail-promote-racial-harmony

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