Abstract
National identity has been a very controversial issue in Taiwan society. It is also the main cause of socio-political and ethnic conflicts. In this regard, education for national identity at the elementary and secondary school levels has been swinging all the time, struggling in search of a positioning and direction among diverse forces of political ideologies. This article will first introduce the origin and historical context of the national identity issue in Taiwan. Then, the contradictory ideologies of national identity underlying Taiwan’s social studies curriculum and textbooks since the 1990s will be critically examined. Next, drawing from the findings of empirical research, teachers’ perspectives concerning the struggle and challenge of teaching national identity in their classrooms will be analyzed. Finally, the author will reflect upon the swing and challenge of educating for national identity in Taiwan’s elementary and secondary schools.
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