Figure 1.--This Korean class was photographed in 1922. There are several interesting observations here. Note that the children are being taught Japanese. Note the Japanese characters on black board. The language of instruction during the Japanese occupation was Japanese. I am not even sure the children were allowed to speak Korean at school. Note that the teacher is wearing traditional clothes, in fact a Korean-style dress. The children look quite young, about 6-7 years old. The class room is very stark. The students do not have paper or a slte to work with. We do see a couple books to the left. Also notethe strict classroom demeanor. Put your cursor on the image to see the rest of the class.

There are three basic periods in modern history which affect Korean schools. There was the period before the Japanese seized control of Korea (1909). We have no infoirmation on Koren schools during this period. We assume the schools were very traditional. We do not know how many children actually attended school. The next period was the Japanese colonia era (1909-1945). As far as we can tell, the Japanese significantly expanded the school system. Instruction was conducted in Japanese and part of the educational objectives was to supress the Korean lanuage and culture. This was followed by the independence period following World War II (1945). During this period Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union in the north and the United States in the south. Schools in the two areas developed along very different lines. South Korea has a very modern school system with high aschievement levels. The Korean schools have played a role in helping to create one of the most successful economies in the world. We know very little about North Korean schools.

Independent State ( -1909)

There was the period before the Japanese seized control of Korea (1909). We have no infoirmation on Koren schools during this period. We assume the schools were very traditional. We do not know how many children actually attended school. Korea was a Chinese client state which over time exercised varying degrees of independence. The schools that existed in Korea would have been very significantly influenced by Chinese educational standards and methods.

Japanese Colony (1909-1945)

The next period was the Japanese colonia era (1909-1945). We have little information on schools during the Japanese occupation. Hopefully our Korean readers will provide some information. As far as we can tell, the Japanese significantly expanded the school system. Instruction was conducted in Japanese and part of the educational objectives was to supress the Korean lanuage and culture. We note mixed classes, a least for primary schools. I believe that the children were not allowed to speak Korean at school. There seem to have been separate schools for the Japanese who settled in Korea.

Liberation and Division (1945- )

This was followed by the independence period following World War II (1945). During this period Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union in the north and the United States in the south. Schools in the two areas developed along very different lines. South Korea has a very modern school system with high aschievement levels. The Korean schools have played a role in helping to create one of the most successful economies in the world. We know very little about North Korean schools.

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Created: 8:36 PM 11/6/2007
Last updated: 8:36 PM 11/6/2007