From mainland to island: The transformation of the elementary social studies curriculum in Taiwan, 1949-1993

During the four decades between 1949 and 1989 there were three elementary social studies curriculum development models in Taiwan: the Chou-Shan, Ban-Chiao, and Nan-Hai models. A fourth model began to be developed in 1993 and can be called the "1993" Model. Tracing the transformation of these four models not only provides us an opportunity to learn what happened inside Taiwan's elementary social studies community in the past but also helps us to reformulate both the aims of reform and its relation to its larger social context.;One of the purposes of this study is to probe the meaning of change (and reform) regarding Taiwan's elementary social studies curriculum transformation. Additionally, this study seeks to understand the values, and political and economic beliefs that are revealed in these elementary social studies curriculum development models and in their association with corresponding social conditions.;After analysis of the models, I suggest that there was little change in several domains: in the routinized procedures of developing elementary social studies curriculum; in reliance on predetermined and taxonomic goals; in adherence to the principle of expanding environments; in the reverence for systematic, technical, and rational methodologies; and in the division of labor used to produce curricula.;On the other hand, I believe that there was change in Taiwan's elementary social studies curriculum as it concerns: curriculum substance and scope, especially support for individual development and a problem-orientation; and in the membership of editing committees and teams, in large part because teachers increased their participation,;As a result of the analysis, we can see that the elementary social studies curriculum responds to changes in the social conditions surrounding Taiwan schools. Two different changes are important. One refers to the change in Taiwan's ideological commitments. A second change is in the language that is used to express and legitimate the changes.