The Representation of Teachers in Taiwanese Children’s Literature, 1960–2012

Abstract

This study investigates the images of teachers presented in Taiwanese children’s books published between 1960 and 2012 using the narrative theory outlined by Nikolajeva (Child Lit Assoc Q, 28(1):5–16, 2003). A purposive sample based upon the portrayal of school life is applied. One hundred and one books were identified as texts in which cultural messages about teachers were embedded. With respect to the depiction of teachers, three salient characteristics emerged from these texts: most images are positive; the teacher is often portrayed as a powerful animal; and the teacher is typically Han Chinese. Additionally, the modes of discourse that these writers used show their preference for realism, the first-person male perspective, and humor. As these findings attest, writing children’s books portraying teachers and school lives is a practice regulated by pedagogical and didactic intent. These findings provide insight into the ways that teachers see themselves and their profession, in addition to how they are seen by others.