ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses practical curriculum considerations. It begins by discussing the latest Chinese curriculum reforms, which have experimented with topical arrangements crossing national borders and integrating Chinese and world history – in contrast to the ‘traditional’ chronological and region - ally divided approach. Difficulties that have arisen in the implementation of these reforms are then described and analysed. A second section examines in greater detail the textbooks for ‘History’ and ‘History and Society’ produced in line with the new curriculum guidelines. Finally, in the form of a case study, the chapter discusses the problematic impact of the prescribed goals of ‘emotional attitudes and values’ on the process of textbook compilation, and the contradictions this has involved, thus linking up with the issues of ‘emotional and value-oriented’ education (and specifically patriotic education) already touched upon in several earlier chapters.
