Should Textbooks Use Non-factual Stories?

Recently, fabricated stories in chinese language textbooks for primary school students ignited heated debate as an online post specifying contents in educational material as untrue spread quickly online.

the textbook in question has a story about thomas edison, the great u.s. inventor. in 1854 when edison was only seven, his mother needed emergency surgery for acute appendicitis. However, a lack of sufficient lighting made it difficult for the doctor to begin the procedure. this critical moment gave birth to a pioneering solution. edison used mirrors to amplify the dim light of candles so that the doctor could start the surgery. his mother was saved.

However, the truth is the first appendectomy was conducted in 1886. it would have been impossible to cure edison’s mother of appendicitis 32 years prior to the required medical procedure being available.

the public are divided on whether official textbooks that are regarded as authoritative sources of knowledge should use untrue information to teach primary school students. supporters say chinese textbooks are not about history but literature and should be permitted to contain some fabrication so that young students can better understand lessons. however, others maintain that the negative influence caused by allowing falsehood to remain in textbooks is far-reaching. it will lead students to question values of honesty and integrity, thus undermining the authority of the whole education system.