A School in Every Village

“This is the first study to utilize local county-level archives to examine the origins and development of modern schooling in China. As such, it affords previously unseen local perspective on the subject, which effectively challenges much of the conventional wisdom on how ‘modern’ schooling took root in China’s villages. Subsequent scholarship on this subject will have to respond to the arguments presented in VanderVen’s compelling book.”

Ronald Suleski, author of Civil Government in Warlord China: Tradition, Modernization and Manchuria:

“It is a pleasure to read such a well-organized, thoroughly documented, and clearly presented study. VanderVen helps bring to life the village schools of Haicheng County in Northeast China after the imperial Qing fell and the new republic was born. Her book will stand up to the best in our field.”