The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-06-25
JAPAN'S SCHOOL SYSTEM.
It Is a Carefully Organized Composite
of the Systems of Other Euro
pean Nations.

The main features Of the japanese
system Of public education have beet
} borrowed from western nations-frOm
Germany, from the United States, anC
, particularly from France-but in com
bining these detached parts the govern.
ment has shown the same genius for or
gantZatiOn and direction as In the crea-
tlon and control OF its army and navy.
Thus, says Education, the superior
council Of education, which plays an
important part in the administration of
that interest, is modelled on the French
superior council; but unlike the latter,
It's membership includes the chiefs of
other administrative bureaus, so that
education is directed in full view of the
interests OF the commerce. of the agri-
culture and the Internal economy of he
Kingdom. So also in respect to manual
training. which has great recognition in
Japan; though the general idea and
melhod are copied from the west. there
Is no serYiie imitation in respect either
to the tools employed or the exercises
Followed. Only that is taken which can
be sEiiifully adapted to native conditions
ana demands. The system of education
IS thoroughly organized and carefully
supervised. The minister makes fire.
quent inspection tours for the purpose
Oh seeing for himself the manner in
"hlch the education laws are carried ont
and specialists from the Toxic nniyer.
Billy, the higher normal schools etc ara
from time to time sent out to report
upon the name In which their sDecial
SUBJECTS are taught, and to suggest i'm
pfoPelnentS in the methods or standards |
lheSe tours are quite i~ndependenf of the
regular inspection service. which is in
trusted to men of approved qualification
ana distinguished rank, who are held 10
strict account for the discharge of their
duties.
Education is compulsory for children
between the ages Of 6 and IA years. or nm
III a prescribed course of study is COM
pIeted, which may be done in four wears
Following this limited course of the
ordinary elementary school" which in
morals, the Japanese language.
arithmetic and gymnastics, with a
cholce OF one or mor subjects-drawing
singing, manual work flor girls. sew
hS)-~according to local conditions
mere Is a higher elementary school
extending over two or three or
our years. The total number of e1e-
hehtafy schools reported for 1902 was
s',VIV, the number of teachers emnloved
Il 'hem y ZOO, and the number of pupils
.hroIIed 4,9SO,604. AS the total number
children of legal school age was
'To"'I'9, II Will be seen that the enroll !
neht was equivalent to G7 per cent. of !
school population. For the traininp !
l teachers for the elementary schools :
ne government maintains 81 normal r
'hooIs, having in 1902 1.032 teachers
M lt9S2 students, and two higher nor
lai schools, having l1S teachers and $50 a
tudents. 4
"hlIe the government has been Tins
.eaalIy extending the means of popular
lucatlon, it has made liberal provision I,
II higher education, including under d
lat term the very ample provision for
'heFai culture and research in two i'm n
rial universities, and in special schools lie
'ehded to prepare experts for the sery-
e OF the state. There are eight of these re
hooIs supported by the government 81
10 under the charge of the minister of III
ioilc instruction of Which five are
Of medicine, and the remainder
loIIoWs: The Toxic foreign lam Of
age school, the Toxic fine arts schoo1 Al
d the Toxic academy of music. Be ID
les the government special schools ~,
ere are four public and 455 private ro
OF similar character. The Uni on
rslty of Toxic includes all the faciI. as
recognized in western universities
cept theology, The college of science lol
q engineering has ample eouipmont LEI
instruction in chemistry, pure and DO
Piled; in mining and metallurpy in
II, mechanical and electrical on !
.eerlng. The nine technical schools tn;
'poFteu by the government include {
~Sapphoro agricultural school, the
her commercial school and three in !
,utes for the training Of technical !
cheers. lad
is worthy Of note that whereas 25 5
RS ago Japan depended almost en- c
ly upon foreign countries for it's sun arc
OF professors and teachers, it is now yor
e to recruit the teaching service from
I've scholars. The number of foreign
reported in government. ="
oois in 1902 was G6. of whom tbe a
led states furnished u. England II "
nee D, Germany 20 and Russia rha ,,rt
lai expenditure by the government afr,
euueation in 1902 was GEES, 900 yen cou
out $5.7S3, 000).