Stories and poems on love writtenby well-known authors, Chinese and foreign, ancient and contemporary, have been added to middle school textbooks in a special unit titled "love is like a song," an unprecedented endeavor in this east China metropolis.

Students in more than 50 Shanghai-based middle schools will use the new textbooks while taking Chinese courses in the new semester starting on September 1.

Three stories and four poems were added, including love poems by Russian poet Pushkin, excerpts from Jane Eyre by noted British novelist Charlotte Bronte and Chinese love classics written by ancient and contemporary Chinese writers such as Qin Guan, Su Tongand Shu Ting.

The alterations aim to better tailor Chinese textbooks to the actual needs of the contemporary middle school kids and help them to better understand the most beautiful of human feelings, said Prof. Fan Shougang, chief editor of the new textbook from the Shanghai Education Publishing House.

With the development of information technology and media industry, people in China, including students, are exposed to news and information on love at an unprecedented rate and scale. In Chinese society, however, love, both spiritual and physical, remains a traditional taboo and a topic seldom touched on in the Chinese curriculum, though it is a factor widely believed to divert students' attention from study.

According to Fan, students' exposure to love and lack of effective guidance in this regard very likely lead curious adolescents to incorrect understanding and behavior.

"We hope literary classics on love will help guide students to go through the chaotic period of puberty smoothly," said Prof. Fan.

The meticulously-selected literary pieces try to deliver messages such as, "love is great but should not be blind," "love means being faithful and helpful to the beloved" and "lovers should be equal and independent in the relationship."

Trial courses were held in various schools across Shanghai municipality to test the acceptance of the newly added unit on love. In the No. 1 Middle School affiliated to East China (Huadong)Normal University, the 15-year-old students were stunned and pretty shocked by the bold content changes in their textbooks while showing obvious interest in the "sensitive topic," recalled teacher Gao Zhengguo.

Although tutoring on the unit proceeded smoothly, the junior class fell into long silence when it was asked to comment on "puberty love" and "whether Internet love is real," said Gao, who agreed that it was still a taboo for students to openly talk about the topic now.

"Teaching the new unit is quite a challenge to me owing to the difficulty of getting to the point," said Gao.

The new unit remains controversial among parents, too. Supporters thanked editors for delivering messages that they wanted to but are too embarrassed to send. Opponents worried that the "sensitive contents" might lead their kids to falling into love too early.

"It demands effort from more than students, teachers and publishing houses to allow frank discussion about love in middle schools," said teacher Gao.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2004)