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Zeng, Kangmin : Dragon Gate: Competitive Examinations and their Consequences

London: Cassell, 1999 ISBN: 0304700150

First edition, near fine condition, no dust-jacket as publised, publisher's original illustrated laminated boards, 366 pages including index, -------------"In Japan, Korea and Taiwan the university entrance examination systems are the centrepiece of the educational structure, shaping the intellectual profile of both the future elite and the general population.The competitive pressures associated with these education structures have led to the rapid expansion of the 'cramming' industry. Another development has been the growing numbers of students looking to religion and spirituality for guidance and assistance - Against this backdrop, Dragon Gate examines such tragic and alarming issues as the increasing levels of youth suicides and the dramatic rise in levels of cheating, raising some fundamental questions about the current education systems.Entrance examinations are seen by East Asians as measures, not only of achievement and intelligence, but also of character, determination and the drive to succeed. In this light, the examination may be seen symbolically as representing a long journey of ordeal, with the belief that without pain, one cannot fully achieve, and that there can be no shortcuts.Based on completely new fieldwork at Stanford University's Asia/Pacific Research Centre and Stanford University Institute for International Studies, as well as work from Nagoya, Tokyo, Seoul National and Fu Jen Universities and the Taiwan Normal University, Dragon Gate provides thought-provoking and original material essential to the international discussion and appraisal of competitive examinations and their consequences.------------- Kangmin Zeng is at the School of Education, Stanford University, California, USA." In Japan, Korea and Taiwan the university entrance examination systems are the centrepiece of the educational structure, shaping the intellectual profile of both the future elite and the general population.The competitive pressures associated with these education structures have led to the rapid expansion of the 'cramming' industry. Another development has been the growing numbers of students looking to religion and spirituality for guidance and assistance- Against this backdrop, Dragon Gate examines such tragic and alarming issues as the increasing levels of youth suicides and the dramatic rise in levels of cheating, raising some fundamental questions about the current education systems.Entrance examinations are seen by East Asians as measures, not only of achievement and intelligence, but also of character, determination and the drive to succeed. In this light, the examination may be seen symbolically as representing a long journey of ordeal, with the belief that without pain, one cannot fully achieve, and that there can be no shortcuts.Based on completely new fieldwork at Stanford University's Asia/Pacific Research Centre and Stanford University Institute for International Studies, as well as work from Nagoya, Tokyo, Seoul National and Fu Jen Universities and the Taiwan Normal University, Dragon Gate provides thought-provoking and original material essential to the international discussion and appraisal of competitive examinations and their consequences.Kangmin Zeng is at the School of Education, Stanford University, California, USA. In Japan, Korea and Taiwan the university entrance examination systems are the centrepiece of the educational structure, shaping the intellectual profile of both the future elite and the general population.The competitive pressures associated with these education structures have led to the rapid expansion of the 'cramming' industry. Another development has been the growing numbers of students looking to religion and spirituality for guidance and assistance- Against this backdrop, Dragon Gate examines such tragic and alarming issues as the increasing levels of youth suicides and the dramatic rise in levels of cheating, raising some fundamental questions about the current education systems.Entrance examinations are seen by East Asians as measures, not only of achievement and intelligence, but also of character, determination and the drive to succeed. In this light, the examination may be seen symbolically as representing a long journey of ordeal, with the belief that without pain, one cannot fully achieve, and that there can be no shortcuts.Based on completely new fieldwork at Stanford University's Asia/Pacific Research Centre and Stanford University Institute for International Studies, as well as work from Nagoya, Tokyo, Seoul National and Fu Jen Universities and the Taiwan Normal University, Dragon Gate provides thought-provoking and original material essential to the international discussion and appraisal of competitive examinations and their consequences.Kangmin Zeng is at the School of Education, Stanford University, California, USA.

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