National Identity and the Moral Curriculum Development Regarding 'Patriotism' in Taiwan.

The "moral curriculum group" of the Taiwan Provincial Institute for Elementary School Teachers' Inservice Education is developing a moral curriculum based on a new curriculum standard. But how do group members deal with the problem of Taiwan's national identity? To understand the interpersonal decision-making process regarding the "patriotism" of the moral curriculum group in the political and historical context of Taiwan, a study collected and analyzed data through qualitative research methods, including content analysis, participant observation, and interviewing. First, meanings were interpreted and ideologies were criticized regarding "patriotism" in both the curriculum standard and the textbooks. Second, audio-taped records of discussions in curriculum meetings regarding"patriotism" were analyzed. Third, to examine group members' thoughts and the accuracy and objectivity of the interpretation, some group members were interviewed. Finally, literature regarding the political change in Taiwan was analyzed to understand the political and historical context of curriculum development. It was found that the decision-making process of the "moral curriculum group" could be divided into two stages: (1) the "editing group" made the initial decisions in editing the textbooks; and (2) the final decisions were made in curriculum meetings based on the initial decisions. Decisions regarding "patriotism," influenced greatly by political circumstances in Taiwan, were not only made based on group members' personal ideology, but also through arguments, negotiations, and compromises among members with different political standpoints. After martial law was abolished in 1987 and former President Chiang Chin-Kuo died in 1988, Taiwanese society became more democratic, and "Chinese Identity" gradually lost its political base and legitimacy and was eventually replaced by "Taiwanese Identity." However, the curriculum group members still tended to avoid using the terms "Taiwan" and "Taiwanese" in textbooks. This leads to confusion in national identity regarding "patriotism" in the moral curriculum. Contains 11 references. (BT)