Since my first progress report, I have narrowed my topic down to focus on how the Meiji Restoration influenced Japan’s engineering education practices today. Some of the questions that will be addressed include but are not limited to: What pressured Japan to implement the Meiji Restoration? What were the major influences for education during the Meiji period? What was the significance of modernization for Japan? How did the Meiji restoration influence/ shape / transform the Japanese government? What did it do for Japans Military? The Meiji period lasted from about 1868 to 1912 with the death of the emperor. When the Meiji restoration began, Japan was a far behind the rest of the world in technological development, education practices and military advancements (AFE).
What were the main influences for education system? Japan looked to the Western world (including the US and many European countries) to improve their primitive and almost failing education system that was currently implemented. The Japanese sent out representatives from missions for possible inspirations to eventually spread throughout Japan (AFE). Once they returned from their educational surveillances, government officials introduced public schools to Japanese culture, which would have a long lasting effect on what Japanese education practices have developed into today.
My research will go into much more detail about the exact changes Japan implemented for its education system and not only its immediate effects but also its long lasting ones as well. Which will then tie into how it has shaped engineering education practices today. I will also discuss which countries contributed to certain aspects and how. As of now that it what my research is shaping up to be. Any suggestions would be helpful and much appreciated. Are there any significant questions I am forgetting to address? Am I including any questions that do no necessarily belong in this paper? Thanks for you comments.
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/japan/japanworkbook/modernhist/meiji.html
http://museevirtuel.ca/Exhibitions/Meiji/english/html/education.htmlMehl, M.. Chinese Learning (kangaku) in Meiji Japan (1868-1912). History, January 2000, Vol. 85 Issue: Number 277 p48-66, 19p
I like how you have narrowed your topic to a specific time period, I feel that this way you can have a more complete project that is not spread to thin. When reading over your questions that you plan to ask, one idea I had was to include specific names or people. Did the Emperor have any influence on the change or lack of change during this period or was transformation carried out by engineers themselves? Were their specific engineers or other influential people of this period that are now idealized today for introducing advancements to the field? You can also include a short section that describes why Japan was so technologically undeveloped during this time. What reasons contributed to this lack of progression and how did this time period change this situation.
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting how Japan looked to the West to improve their education system and how this had long lasting effects. However, what was the initial reaction from the Emperor, government and people of higher social status when these ideas were originally introduced during the Meiji period. Were the representatives who were sent out punished for introducing education that was against the norm or were they admired for their knew knowledge? These are just suggestions that can help to put a Ethnic Studies perspective on your report in addition to the historical part.