Children and Youth in History

Document Based Question

by Susan Douglass
(Suggested writing time: 45-50 minutes)

Using the images and texts in the documents provided, write a well-organized essay of at least five paragraphs in response to the following prompt.

• Based on analysis of evidence in the documents, assess the importance in Meiji Japan of developing a system of universal education as a requirement of nation-building.

Include in your discussion evidence of:

• leaders' and intellectuals' views on the purposes and goals of education,
• elements identified as needing change in Japanese society, and the obstacles to achieving it,
• justifications for achieving educational goals by establishing universal, compulsory education, and
• the sources of motivation for reforming education and the models on which the new education system would be based.

Your essay should:

• have a clear thesis,
• use at least six of the documents to support your thesis,
• show analysis by grouping the documents into at least two groups,
• analyze the point of view of the documents, and
• recognize the limitation of the documents before you by suggesting an additional type of document or source to make your discussion more complete or valid.