Thursday, January 11, 2007

North Korean Education: from 7 years old, “Become the Dictator’s Soldier”

The Daily NK examined a North Korean 1st grade elementary school language textbook published in 2005. The 1st grade elementary school language textbook is similar to textbooks in South Korea, focusing on reading skills, writing and acquisition of basic vocabulary.

However, … 80% of the content in North Korean textbooks focus on idolizing Kim Il Sung. Excluding three classic tales such as ‘The ant and the grasshopper’, the book uses [idolization of] Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il to improve reading skills.

Irrespective of being a textbook for 1st graders, warlike expressions such as ‘Let’s become [Kim Jong Il’s] heroic army’ and ‘Strike the Americans with kid tanks’ frequently appear in the books.

Only 7 years old! The truth is North Korean children are taught to become the leader’s gun and bombs from their first day of school throughout life.

[The Daily NK]

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