The Power of Words: Literacy and Revolution in South China, 1949-95 (Contemporary Chinese Studies)

The Power Of Words Examines The Struggle For Literacy In The Linguistically Diverse, Socially Complex, And Politically Sensitive Coastal Province Of Guangdong In Southeastern China Between 1949 And 1995. Addressing The Mao Zedong Era As Well As The Profound Economic Changes Of Recent Years, Peterson Examines Not Only The Spread Of Literacy But Also How Literacy Was Conceived At The Elite Level And Used At The Popular Level. The Power Of Words Asks What It Meant To Be 'literate' In Chinese Rural Society After 1949.--book Jacket. Using A Wealth Of Local And National Sources, Peterson Focuses On The Making Of Official Literacy Policy; The Growing Importance Of 'people-run' Schools And Of The Communist Principle Of Voluntarism In Village Education; And The Chronic Political And Cultural Problem Of Teachers. Detailed Discussions Of The Effects On Literacy Of Farm Collectivization, Language Reform, The Two-track School System, The Cultural Revolution, And Recent De-collectivization Complete The Analysis.--book Jacket. The Power Of Words Is A Sophisticated Contribution To The Social And Political History Of China And To The Study Of Literacy Movements In Revolutionary Societies.--book Jacket. Glen Peterson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book is a social and political history of the struggle for literacy in rural China from 1949 until 1994. It aims to show how China's revolutionary leaders conceived and promoted literacy in the countryside and how villagers made use of the literacy education and schools they were offered. Rather than focusing narrowly on educational issues alone, Peterson examines the larger significance of P.R.C. literacy efforts by situating the literacy movement within the broad context of major themes and issues in the social and political history of post-1949 China. Following the recent trend toward regional and local history, this book focuses on the linguistically diverse, socially complex, and politically awkward southeastern coastal province of Guangdong. As well, Peterson conducted interviews with local officials and teachers in several Guangdong counties in 1988 and 1989. This social and political history of the struggle for literacy in rural China shows how China's revolutionary leaders conceived and promoted literacy in the countryside and how villagers made use of the literacy education they were offered.