The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-09-11
CHIEF FORCE
so COLONEL COCkERlLL DESCRIBES
HER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

Coeducation a Feature of the system-An
Must Attend School Up to the Age of
Fourteen--The Subjects Taught-Teach-
ers' Qualifications.
The common school system of Japan
is i'll my opinion the chief support OF
the empire and the promise Of the fu-
ture. There are only two grades Of
schools-the ordinary and the higher
Children Of both sexes, between the
ages Of 6 and 10, attend the former.
Children between the ages Of and IA
are eligible to the higher grade schools.
Every municipality, township, village, |
town and city is required TO build a |
schOOlhOusc or schOolhorses, according |
to the census returns of children of |
school age. The houses are constructed |
according to the capacity and require |
ments of the school division. In the |
cities the school buildings are quite
commodious and pretentious, though all |
are seemingly overcrowded. In the
country many of them are poor wooden
structures. 1t is obhgator for all chill
dren between 6 and IA years of age to
attend a common school until the course
is finished. The law is not rigidly en-
forced because Of the poverty Of the
country and the absolute necessity for
children to aid their parents by some
kind of labcr. But where children are
permitted TO attend school there is no
trouble about the attendance. There is
no such thing i'll Japan as a schoolboy
v1xr fN
school They go trotting to school
with happy faces. They all wear "a black
or white cap with leather visor, and
they carry their books in leather
satchel. The majority of them are stu
dious and fond of books. Children of
nOtoriously bad character or who are
\. constitutiorally disqualified for recelv
ing instruction are not admitted to the
schools.
In tho ordinary or lower grade school
the subjects taueht are reading, com
position, caligraphy, arithmetic and
gymnastics. The latter is optional, ac
cording to the character of the locality.
One or more Of tho following subjects
are also taught III addition to the above: !:
Japanese geography, Japanese history,
drawing. singing and handiwork. For
girls sewing may be added. In the high
er grade school the curriculum embraces
moral lessons, reading, composition,
caligraphy, arithmetic, Japanese geog-
raphy, Japanese history, foreign geog-
raphy, science, drawing, singing and
gymnastics. For girls sewing may be
added. Foreign geography and singing
no oil tnl nr 0f a
following subjects may be added. ac-
cording to requirement: Elements Of
geometry. a foreign language, lessons in
agriculture, commerce and manual
training. In all the schools great stress
is laid on essay writing Every class is
trained in calisthenics. Where singing
is taught, the children enter into it with
- great zeal, and they make themselves
Y heard for q considerable distance. In
the common schools the summer vaca-
tion lasts from two to six weeks and
the winter vacation from one to five
weeks. The number Of holidays shall
not exceed 90 i'll any one >year. In
schools of the ordinary grade military
drill is left optional In the higher
grade the military training of the male
pupils is obligatory. To this branch
great attention is given and every boy
who leaves school at the age Of l6 ha:
in him all the clements of the soldier
save perhaps efficiency in the mamma
and use of arms. They are made fam!l
lar with the highest forms of discipline
Teachers in the schools must have du'
qualifications They are selected and ap
pointed by the governor Of the prefec
ture or the city in which they are t
teach. These teachers are regarded a
government officials, and a small pen
sion is provided for them when they ar
incapacitated by age or permanent III
ness Their salaries are small ranging
from 10 yen to 25 yen per month. Text
books arc chosen from those authorize
by tho minister of education, and ar
selected by the governor of the distriC
upon the report Of a committee selecte
by him. Last year Japan expended o
common schools the sum Of 9,O55, 9S
yen. The government maintains nun
ber of high grade schools, and the coul
try is well supplied with excellent pr
vate schools and colleges, which al
maintained by tuition fees, and in som
\ cases by government contributions
~ cover deficits. Last year the number (
children educated in Japan at publ
expense was $3.50. .452, and the averaf
daily attendance was 2,489,657 pupil
John A. Cockerill in New York He
aid.