Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-06
STUDENT IMMORTALITY IN JAPAN
CAUSING NATIONAL CONCERN.

I Japanese together with the creation OF
! the new educational system has largely
| altered the status and character of the
| mission schools. Whatever changes the
future brings it is evident, however, that
| from the mission schools Japan has re-
| ceived a tremendous educational impulse
| host of trained teachers, and a company
| of unself1sh counselors. Furthermore, ii
| must be admitted that at the present time
great service is being done by the mission
! schools, which are maintained throughout
! the empire by the various denominations
| In such numbers and variety that space
cannot be spared even to mention the score
| or more that l have personally visited.
The size and scope of these institutions
| of which the Doshisha at Kitto the Prot
eStant Episcopal, Presbyterian and joint
Methodist Episcopal schools at Toxic, the
German reformed school at Sendai and the
Southern Methodist school at Kobe, may
| be cited as conspicuous exampleS-is be-
yond the knowledge of the people of
America. That one country should con-
tribute such tremendous influences to the
upbuilding of another is certainly an evil
dence of the altruistic character of Chris
tan missions. While it is true that by far
the larger proportion of the graduates be-
come Christian it is also true that disin-
terested philanthropic work is done by
those schools in behalf of the Japanese.
At present there is need for all the schools
that can be established. The demand for
education is greater than the facilities. But
steadily the conditions are changing and
students will soon cease to attend mission
schools merely for the reason that they can
find room elsewhere. What, then, is to be
the future of the mission schools main
tanned at so great cost? The missionaries
| make prompt answer that it is needed to
provide the nation With Christian leaders
and teachers; if Christian colleges are
necessity In America, they say, much more
SO here.
But l find educational experts drawing
the deadly parallel. They declare that,
from an educational standpoint, the mission
nra llxy fnr TO fIocn
maintained by the government Even in
the study of English, a government exam
liner assured me, the mission schools de-
spite their high proportion of foreign teach
ers, are below the level of other schools.
Mission workers themselves say that all
persons who come out to be teachers should
be required to possess teachers certifi-
cate, as well as a college educat ion. / am
told that the Kobe College for Young Wo-
men, maintained by the Congrega tional
woman's board of missions of the interior,
Chicago and the Presbyterian School for
Young Women Toxic, still rank among the
| leading girls schools in JAPAN but even
these feel the changed conditions. On all
sides l hear that the Congregational Kin
dergarten and Training School for Kinder
gartners at Kobe, conducted by Miss Howe,
easily leads in this form of instruction, and
it would rank with the best Institutions of
similar nature at home.
In all fairness it should be said. however,
that after close inspection of many schools,
both government and missionary, of all
grades, 1 must pronounce in favor of the
latter in certain particulars. In the first
place, they are manifestly neater and
cleaner and more attractive to the eye.
They are designed with greater care for
comfort of the pupils-though all such mat
tiers as sanitation and hygiene, the amount
of floor space and air space per pupil, etc.
are regulated infinitely by the government.
There is a greater freedom and brightness
and individuality noticeable among mission
school pupils. In the government schools
the girls live so closely by rote and SO
greatly resemble automa tons, that one is
tempted to try the effect of the sudden in
| PRODUCTION of mouse. More important
yet, the mission schools, especially those
for girls, are unquestionably safer, and
! chosen by more careful parents for this
reason. Upon this point l shall write pres
emily; but first let me mention the greatest
present educational and missionary oppor-
| tunity in Japan.
l.
In conference with a score of Japanese
leaders, only two white men besides my
self being present, I bluntly asked what
Japan thinks of the missionaries, and what
form of mission work now needs doing BY
common consent their spokesman was a
man whose conspicuous work has won him
a decoration from the emperor and as his
judgment comedies with the views express
ed to me by other candid Japanese l
quote his opinion:
Japan most needs help in education and
philanthropy. If mission schools are to be
maintained, let them be first class as
schools. But If America really wants to help
us most effectually she should send teach
ers, strong, able, Christian teachers, to en-
ter the various middle and higher govern
ment schools throughout the empire
Every one of these would welcome such a
one to teach English. Then by his influence
WI ich
what counts for most he could do untold
good in shaping Christian character among
the students. japanese respect teachers and
especially foreign teachers; and such men
would have more weight than those whose
business 1t is to come out and try to make
Christians
This man had in mind something even
further advanced than the work of the
Young Mems Christian Association teach
ers. The latter are men selected by the in
ternatonal Y. NJ. c. A. with headoua rters
IN New York. These men receive no mis-
sion aid whatever; they have an absolutely
independent relation with the government
and are supported entirely by their sa laries
But by means of Bible classes, personal
conversation, the Introduction OF the stu
dents into their homes to learn foreign
ways and the creation of foreign literature
they are doing an Unreasonable service for
CHriStlanlty Japan is eager to increase the
NUMBER or these men, and, as one of the
teachers said to me. There is no hetter
place in the world for qualified American
VINO wants to do great educational work
than right here" A
Inc japanese whom l quoted above had
a larger thought than even this He would
like to see foreign teachers sent even to the
government schools that cannot afford To
pay their salaries in full, the latter coming
from mission boards at home. Thus one
teacher could serve several schools and
create clientele for Christian work which
ne would be in a position to utilize to the
utmost advantage. This, of course. would
be something new in Christian propaganda.
but am persuaded that in this general
direction lies the future field for foreign
mission work in Japan. The foreign prea Oh
er Will go; the foreign manager of church
work Will go; the foreign medical mission
airy has practically gone already; but in
Their place will come the foreign Christian
teachers and the trained executive for NH
ianthropic and eleemosynary enterprises.
The whole student problem in Japan must
be viewed from moral side. While morals
and ethics have place in the curricula Of
all higher schools. they have not an equal
place in the conduct of the young people
whom they are supposed to AFFECT The
minister Of education and other national
leaders are frankly alarmed over the sftu-
alton. and they have turned to the Young