The Virginia enterprise., 1907-06-28
.IMMORALlTYIN IN JAPAN
that a disinterested philanthropic
work is done by those schools in be-
half of the Jananeso

that a disinterested philanthropic
work is done by those schools in be-
half 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 condi-
tlons 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, maintained at so great cost?
The missionaries make prompt an
swer that it is needed to provide the
nation with Christian leaders anc
teachers; if Christian colleges are a
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 schools are
now generally Inferior to those main
tanned by the government. Even in
the study of English a government ex-
amlner assured me, the mission
schools, despite their high proportion
OF foreign teachers, are below tie
level OF other schools. Mission work
ers themselves say that all persons
VINO come out to be teachers should
be required to possess a teachers GER
tlt1cate, as well as college. educa.
ton. | am told that the Kobe college
for young women, maintained by the
Congregational 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 condi-
tions. On all sides I hear that the
congregational kindergarten and
training school for kindergartners at
Kobe, conducted by Miss Howe, cas-
lily leads in this form of instruction,
and 1t would rank with the best insti-
tutions of similar nature at home.
What Japan Wants from America.
In conference with score of Japa-
nese leaders, only two white men be-
sides myself being present, I bluntly
asked what Japan thinks of the mis-
sionaries, and what form of mission
work now needs doing By common
consent their spokesman was a man
whose conspicuous work has won him
decoration from the emperor, and as
his judgment comedies with the views
expressed to me by other candid JAP
anese, 1 quote his opinion:
Japan most needs help in educa-
tion and philanthropy. If mission
schools are to be maintained, let them
be first-class as schools. But if Amer
lea really wants to help US most .ef-
fectually she should send teachers.
strong, able, Christian teachers, ,nto
enter the various middle and higher
government schools throughout the
empire. Every one of these would
welcome such one to teach English.
Then by his influence and by person
al work, which after all is what
counts for most, he could do untold
good in shaping Christian character
among the students. Japanese re-
spect teachers, and especially foreign
teachers; and such men would have
more weight than those whose busi-
ness it 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 Associa-
ton teachers. The latter are men Sc
lected by the international Y. M. G..
A., with headquarters in New York.
These men receive no mission aid
Whatever; they have an absolutely
independent relation with the govern
ment and are supported entirely by
their salaries But by means of Bible
classes, personal conversation, the in
PRODUCTION of the students into their
homes to learn foreign ways and the
creation of foreign literature, they are
doing an immeasurable service for
Christianity. Japan is eager to in
crease the number of these men and.
as one of the teachers said to me,
There is no better place in the world
for qualified American who wants
to do a great educational work than
right here"
Student immortality,
The whole student problem in Janan
must be viewed from a moral side
While morals apd ethics have a 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 min
lister of education and other national
leaders are frankly alarmed over the
situation, and they have turned to the
Young Mems Christian association for
help. The latter with the Young
Women's Christian association. Is
erecting self-supporting dormitories
where many have safe homes. States.
men who are themselves arrant
rationalists declare that the students
must have some religious motive for
the desired morality.
Even the daily papers are wrestling
with the subject of student immorali.
ty-a contradiction of the statement
made by some leaders that the recent
shocking revelations have not caused
ripple of interest in Japan. The
immortality has centered largely about
the dormitories and student boarding
houses, the latter especially. It has
Deen shown that hundreds. If not
thousands, of girl students purchase
their education at price that would
seem Incredible to western ears. For
instance, it is admitted that nearly all