Analyzes the evolution of Chinese national examinations with the "catastrophe" model. Goals, content, form, and process of exams were influenced by social and political forces. Competence over 4,000 years of Chinese history was defined as military prowess, Confucian-style scholarship, Western-style military expertise, proletarian…

Scholars have failed to develop theoretical and methodological tools for understanding Asian Americans. However, the issues are not totally ignored since there is a growing number of writers, historians, and poets who are producing promising works outside of the liberal tradition. Examples of authors and enriching works are presented. (VM)

Notes that the decline of English in India began soon after its introduction into Indian universities near the middle of the nineteenth century and was precipitated in part by too lofty aims and too little attention to Indian languages at the university level. (RL)

Reviews Japan's educational system in terms of three major time periods: the Meiji Period 1868-80, Occupation Period 1945-52, and from 1978 to the present. Discusses strengths and weaknesses of education in each time frame. Concludes that Japan's educational system is in need of reform once again, but questions whether it has the ability to reform…

Information and observations about Korean history, religion, philosophy, and culture, and their influence on Korean Americans' intellectual and psychological characteristics are provided in this paper. The author contends that although many Korean Americans have been in the United States for several generations, all members of this group reflect…

The seven essays in this booklet are summaries of presentations made at the Way of Japan Workshop Series. Topics range from traditional Japanese history and culture to modern Japanese society and U.S.-Japanese relations. A welcome from Yoshi Okawara, Japanese ambassador to the United States, delineates how American and Japanese may think in…

This article describes the different world views and sense of history held by typical United States and Chinese citizens. Based on a personal relationship between the author and a family of intellectuals in China, the article includes anecdotes from the Chinese Cultural Revolution. (JDH)

Surveys the existing treatment of Asia in upper elementary and secondary social studies textbooks. Treats improvements needed in such areas as: (1) global issues important to Asia, (2) content and approach, (3) economics and politics, (4) geography and resources, (5) international relations, and (6) treatment of subregions. Provides a…

The history of filmmaking in China and Japan and film usage in teaching are considered in this document. Pointing out how films describe historical context and culture, the document also describes various techniques of film making. Films in China were heavily influenced by western models and have tended to be tools of the power structure, as…

Examines projections about the future of Korea, predicting a highly diversified society built upon industrialization and moving toward an information society. Discusses the growing middle class and its societal implications and considers the effects of the country's increasing democratization. (GEA)

In the mid-1960s, the foundations of Participatory Research were being laid in Tanzania and around the world through the work of muckraking adult educators--President Julius Nyerere, Marja-Liisa Swantz, Orlando Fals Borda, Rajesh Tandon, Budd Hall and many more of their friends and colleagues. At the same time, a bunch of American kids were over…

The United States is entering a "post-European" reality, where the centers of world economics and politics have shifted. The world is increasingly dominated by Asia, and Third World nations represent America's most influential long-term economic and cultural partners. American educators must adopt their world view to the emerging global…

One in a series of booklets whose purpose is to stimulate greater and more effective understanding of world affairs among Americans, this seven-chapter report examines the political, economic, and anomalous positions of North and South Korea in the international system. "Traditional Legacies" traces the historical development of the two…

Surveys Korean arts and literature of the last 2,000 years, discussing fine arts, performing arts, the Korean language, systems of transcribing Korean sounds, and the beginning of modern Korean literature. Provides an illustration of the Korean language phonetic system and a sampling of Sijo poems in English and Korean. (GEA)

This paper examines educational policies in certain culturally plural South East Asian societies in relation to hypotheses concerning differences in educational policies resulting from the threat felt by the dominant elite and the effects of educational and national language policies on the assimilation or alienation of different ethnic groups.…