wednesday (7/31) morning readings

[Anonymous]

Two Notes on Elementary Education: The first paragraph would be a great source to use when explaining to a class how education was used to influence nationalism. The second paragraph would be a great way to show the students that every generation seems to think "kids today have no respect."

[Anonymous]

Running accross samurai warriors with those masks would certainly instill fear. Was the samurai culture really that colorful in the time period? It seems that western culture did not have the color technologies until much later. Another observation on human nature is the fact that we like to go back and reenact these battles like they were the good old days. I am thinking civil war reenactments in the US. Heck (cleaned upfor the forum) I would not want to go back to those barbaric days. I do see the value in not forgetting the horrific things we did in the past, but for the Japanese, these festivals keep the whole culture alive.

[Anonymous]

So beheading in Japan does not carry the significance that it would in China? Death is death, and itself significant, but beheading in China would include the destruction of that which your parents created, your body. In Japan not as meaningful since Confucius' respect for family not part of culture? Or not?

[Anonymous]

If someone hurting your neighbor is doing so honorably to avenge his leader, choose to honor the attacker's loyalty and do not go to your neighbor's aid. Just take the word of the people entering your neighbor's house with the intent to kill.

Interesting that this actually makes sense.

[Anonymous]

On "The Great Principles of Education" there is a definite resistance to adherence of western ideas and purely mastering factual information without an understanding of how to apply it in a "moralistic framework". Although the Japanese are acknowledging the need to take new approaches in education in consideration, they are also acknowledging that this places traditional values at risk. I particularly like the articles mention of the importance of elementary education in forming citizens with strong values which will carry them throughout their lives.

[Anonymous]

So, I "borrow a lot from the internet. One resource I use for powerpoints is Power point Palooza http://www.pptpalooza.net/. I used one about imperialist Japan in order to prepare students for the Japanese invasions of Asia. Now I know what more of these slides are about. I can feel comfortable not winging it as much as I have.
edited by rwann on 7/31/2013

[Anonymous]

130 years for us to say we are sorry for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.....remember executive order 9066 internment of Japanese American citizens. it was found illegal in 1980 and gave $20000 to internees or hiers but not until 1988 we officially apologize...not exactly 130 years...but you get the picture.....

[Anonymous]

Let's remember that during this time America was also focusing educational value on civic duty, which includes creating a workforce but also focuses on good citizens. 1693[font='Times New Roman'] - John Locke's [/font]Some Thoughts Concerning Education[font='Times New Roman'] is published, describing his views on educating upper class boys to be moral, rationally-thinking, and reflective "young gentlemen." His ideas regarding educating the masses are conveyed in [/font]On Working Schools, [font='Times New Roman']published in 1697, which focused on the importance of developing a work ethic.[/font]

[Anonymous]

I find it amazing that a peasant army was able to defeat the samurai. I guess it just shows that whoever has the better weapons hold the power? Why did the peasants side with the emperor over the samurai or were they forced to join an imperial army?

[Anonymous]

Students find it interesting to compare the modernization (or industrialization) of Japan verses Russia. Japan started late but was quick to industrialize, Russia started fairly early and took a very long time. I have students analyze why this is.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Steve for the info on the movie Ronin, I don't recall a lot of details but I do remember the special ops team. The title of the makes complete sense now.

[Anonymous]

I think it would be comparable. We discuss knights in British Lit. It would be an interesting lesson to compare the two. Thanks David!

[Anonymous]

I find the accomplishments of the Meiji period quite impressive, it was a very pragmatic move on the part of their leadership to pull the country so aggressively into the period of industrialization. However, it is also a testament to the people of Japan and all of the positive attributes that still makes that nation so fascinating to study.

[Anonymous]

In this mornings lecture, missionaries were discussed and how they were important. The example that stuck was how the Jesuits focused on the long term gains of converting the Chinese and "accepted" some of the Chinese practices of honoring ancestors. Early British Lit. deals a lot with the spreading of Christianity and missionaries using the same tacits. We discuss how old pagan beliefs are mixed with Christian beliefs in Beowulf. I would like to see if I could find some similar texts for China where they are mixed together, so that the students could compare and contrast.

[Anonymous]

I found the modern manifestations of The Treaty of Nanjing quite insightful. The PRC's current foreign policies have been clearly impacted by this and other historical events. Once again, proof as to why we must study history in order to better understand present day geopolitical issues!

[Author]

Posts