Teaching children what they need to learn to survive can be a controversial topic. Some argue that teaching children should focus on the literary works and historical lessons of their own country rather than those of other countries. I think that this opinion makes sense to some extent.
Teaching children their own history and culture can lead to the continuity of values. Without learning national values through the examination of historical events and cultural tendencies, children will grow up without having learned the values of their own society, resulting in the breakdown of national cohesion and intergenerational resentment. This can also lay the foundation for self-identity. Without knowing where they come from and who their ancestors were, children might develop a confused sense of self as they grow up, which can lead to psychological issues, such as a sense of lacking something in life.
However, teaching children only the national culture and history results in a lack of cross-cultural understanding. Without understanding cultural and national diversity, children may struggle to comprehend their own values and traditions, as this requires comparing different aspects. For instance, a Japanese child can understand why Western cultures are less collaborative than their own through a comparative analysis of their own culture. There is also the issue of humility. When children learn about various cultures and histories at an early age, they will realize that their nation is not superior or inferior to any other country, thereby fostering humility—a critical ingredient for world peace.
These discussions suggest that if we focus on teaching children only national values and history, we may help develop a cohesive society with individuals who have a well-shaped identity. However, this idea will also produce societies that are blind to a complete understanding of their own past and individuals who are biased against other nations. Therefore, I believe that we should combine teaching national and international cultures and histories to develop a society of individuals who can contribute to global peace based on a solid national identity.
