Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-04-26
Education in Japan.

Education in Japan.
Among the treasures OF the Bureau OF
Education is an exhibit of Japanese ed
vocational progress. This exhibit is es-
pecially valuable in giving the old meth
DDS of teaching in contrast with the new,
and as marking the facility with which
the japanese intellect grapples with the
scientific truths of the most advanced
civilization. The history of this eXhib-
it is rather an interesting one. When
the first Embassy of Japanese came to
this country they called on the Commits
sioner and made inquiries into the work.
ings of his department.. Not satisfied
with examining the department itself,
they came day after day propounding
questions which showed not only deep
interest in the matter, but most intel
ligent conception of the merits and the
Importance of the American education
al system. The information they re-
ceived was carefully digested and sent
back to Japan, and the prominent part
the educational business had played in
the very extraordinary social and pOlit-
ical revolution which the country went
through was shown in the exhibit sent
to the Centennial. At the close of the
latter the japanese authorities begged
the acceptance of this exhibit by the
Bureau of Education. The old-fash-
Toned school-hOuse in Japan, as illus
trated by Il painting, was a bare room
with no desk but the low stand in front
of the teacher and another on his side
to place books on. The teacher squat
ted on the floor So did the pupils.
The teacher read aloud, and the pupils
repeated after him. TO memOrize was
the alpha and omega of japanese school
instruction.
The new-fashioned school-house in
Japan, as illustrated by drawings and
engravings. is generally handsome
building, often a temple whose worship
has ceased and whose devotees are dead.
The teacher has desk modelled after
the American style, placed on plat
form, and garnished like the New Eng
land preceptor's. The desks and seats
of the pupils are fashioned after the
same pattern. In Japan they write
with a brush instead of a pen, and make
their ink by triturating hard paints
against a prepared stone. The ineradi-
cable instinct of the people to draw eN-
plains the universal use of the brush,
and their constant practice from time
immemorial gives the secret of their
wonderful skill with color. In the eX-
hibit are specimens of machinery, sur
gical and mathematical tools, educa-
tional appliances, and various kinds of
mechanism required by modern sciences.
There are Japanese copies from Occi-
dental models but they are not slavish
imitators merely. Their intelligence
is shown in the frequency with
which they adapt their own original
devices to American machines, always
improving on the model. Among others
is a school globe. This is wire frame
covered with linen. on which is painted
the natural objects to be studied. The
destruction of this globe does not in
volve the great outlay for a new one
which our costly globes would make
necessary in the event Of destruction.
Again. they adapt an angle measure to
a spirit or water level thus killing two
birds with one stone In the exhibit is
a model of Japanese house. This
has become disarranged, and no native
mechanic has been found skillful
enough to mend it. In the narrow linn
its of two small rooms are thus shown
the progress of centuries which really
was contaminated in few years. Yes
terdav the feudalism of the Daimio
regime exhibits its medieval tendcn-
cies. usages and spirit; to day the same
actors are manifesting the temper and
the tastes and exhibiting thorough ia
miliarity with the customs of the pres
ent age. The exhibit is complete in
every respect, and is one Of the most in
teresting and suggestive collections
ever prepared by man.-Notao'aat Re-
publican.