Recently, some netizens left a message on the website of the Zhejiang Provincial Government "Zhejiang Province People Call Me a Unified Platform", suggesting that "Water Margin-related content be removed from primary and secondary school texts and extracurricular reading materials".
The netizen believes that ""Water Margin" viciously slanders and ugly women, the plot is extremely illogical, unprincipled praises the indiscriminate killing of innocents, and the degree of destruction of the three views of mankind refreshes the lower limit of human beings... There is no need to find text materials from poison novels, and it is forbidden for any school to recommend Water Margin to students as extracurricular reading materials. ”
In response to this suggestion, the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province replied on February 8, and the following is the original text (slightly deleted):
Regarding this issue, since ancient times, there has been a saying that "I don't read "Water Margin", I don't read "Three Kingdoms", and the famous scholar Mr. Liu Zaifu also believes that "Water Margin" "contains poisonous gas and bloody gas", so why is "Water Margin" included in primary and secondary school texts, and even advocates reading the entire book? Finally, the content of "Water Margin" can be selected into the textbook, and we believe that there are three main considerations:
First, the literary value of "Water Margin" is huge. "Water Margin" is the first novel in Chinese history to be written in the vernacular, creating a precedent for the vernacular chapter hui novel. It can be said that "Water Margin" is a very down-to-earth literary work that best reflects reality and human nature, and many innovations in the book have been imitated by later literature. From a grammatical point of view alone, the whole book is "like marching", and the layout of the plot is very proficient, and the grass snake gray line method is used vividly. The Ming Dynasty literary scholar Jin Shengxi once pointed out that the fifteen innovative grammar methods in the Water Margin book, including the method of inverting, the method of sandwiching, the method of falling ink, the method of pricking the needle and mud, and the method of quoting, are still often seen today. Through reading, middle school students can appreciate works from the aspects of text language, character shaping and plot design, and improve their language skills and appreciation.
Second, Water Margin is a good vehicle for critical reading. At present, there is no evidence that contemporary teenagers have strayed into the abyss of violent crime, which is directly causally related to "Water Margin". Even if we take a step back, there are too many reading channels today, but the "blocking" method alone cannot solve the fundamental problem. It is better to block than to loosen, and it is better to lead than to lead, and only rational guidance is the key to solving the problem. Compared with letting students "read freely" as they please, from another point of view, why is it not wise for the content of "Water Margin" to be selected into the textbook? We should let students understand the "essence" and "waste" in classical Chinese novels, interpret it with a rational attitude, and achieve "poison" through interpretation. Critical reading ability is the core competitiveness of the future, in fact, many teachers have paid attention to the cultivation of critical reading and thinking habits in teaching, and have accumulated certain teaching experience, which is very beneficial to students' reading thinking and even personal development.
Third, "Water Margin" contains rich educational value, which is actually an extension of the previous two points. Water Margin does not show us a "right" world, but a diverse world. There is good, there is evil, there are all kinds of last resorts between good and evil, fantasy, forbearance, struggle, compromise, resistance... Behind every word and deed is the complexity of human nature. The rich and profound core is the reason why "Water Margin" is included in the famous book, and it is also the fundamental reason why it is worth reading again and again for us (including primary and secondary school students). Through the process of critical reading, students can effectively screen information and "stand up" to analyze and think about the deep meaning, and reading exerts its true meaning. Therefore, the important thing is not what books you read, but how you "read each book well", and guide children to read in a targeted manner, so that they can learn to judge and absorb the essence in classic books (including "Water Margin"), in order to truly let reading lay a good spiritual background for students.
Xiaoxiang Morning News reporter Luo Yige