教育部要求增书法课 China enhances calligraphy education

新华社消息，随着电脑键盘的普及，中小学生汉字书写能力有所削弱，教育部要求各地中小学加强书法教育。
The Ministry of Education has ordered primary and secondary schools to increase calligraphy classes in an aim to combat widespread keyboard use that has cramped children's penmanship, Xinhua reported.

根据周五公布在教育部网站上的指导意见，三至六年级的小学生，每周要安排一课时的书法课，普通高中应设置与书法有关的选修课程，中小学校还可在形式多样的课外活动中开展书法教育。
In a notice issued on the MOE website Friday, students in grades three to six will have one hour of calligraphy class every week, and senior high schools should set up calligraphy as an optional course. Primary and secondary schools should also introduce various after-school activities on calligraphy.

概括来讲，书法教育应培养学生正确的写字姿势，书写规范汉字，养成良好习惯。
In general, the courses will teach students to write standard Chinese characters in a proper way, using the right gestures.

高年级学生还应学习鉴赏历代重要书法家作品。
Students in higher grades should also learn to appreciate the work of ancient calligraphers.

意见要求，书法教育基础较好的地区和省份，应争取在今年秋季即九月份开学开设书法课。
According to the notice, provinces and regions with adequate education resources should start calligraphy lessons in September, the beginning of the fall semester.

(China.org.cn August 29, 2011)