The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-09-05
Japan Pensions
School Teachers
BY Rev. Sydney Strong

hours in the Western Japan Educa-
tion exposition. organized by the
educational department of Osaka
city, with the president of the
school board as chairman Of the
committee.
The exposition reveals that in the
matter of popular education Japan
has taken hold with the same clever
and vigorous hand with which she
has organized her commerce. her in
dustry. her bygene, her army and
navy; so that in education she stands
to the front with the leading ma
tions of the world. Schools after
all are the best test of modern civil
ization.
Of all the children in Japan, IS
per cent IRE enrolled; this percent
age running as high as 81 per cent.
in the cities. For eight years at
tendance is compulsory. and effec-
lively so, for law in Japan is obey
ed. She is one of the most law abid-
ing nations in the world.
There is normal school in every
one of the forty-six prefectures
(which correspond to our states.)
About two thirds of the teachers
are men.
OF course, quality is the only
high test tor an educational system.
For forty years Japan has had in
vestigators visiting every civilized
couAtry to get the best in the world
for Japan. Anyone who knows the
japanese is quite prepared to be-
lieva that by their capacity for de-
tecting and absorbing the best. Ja-
pan could not but have an excellent
system of education. So far back
as l871-when the remarkable JOS
eph Heesima was student at Phil
lips academy, Mass. and was sum-
moned to Washington, D. c., to
assist the Japanese commissioner of
education, Tanak-Japan was visit
ing America, Germany, England.
Switzerland, France, looking for the
best. What is more. she is keeping
it up. More than a year ago she
sent committee to investigate the
Montesorri system in Italy. She
has today hundreds of students
abroad, notably in Germany. for
just now in public schools and uni
versities (and there are six imperial
universities) she is being influenced
from the outside. mostly by Ger
many.
Let me note two or three things
/ saw in this remarkable exposition
of the educational progress Of Japan
during the past century. In the
central court was fine waterfall
with a bit Of landscape gardening.
The whole thing was done by
the students Of the technical school.
In another place was an exhibit
showing the children being taught
to take care Of flowers; watering.
cultivating, cutting, arranging. etc.
Elsewhere is shown the pupils train
ed to care for the birds and other
animals. OF course, it is we'll
known that English is taught in all
the schools Of Japan. In conse-
uuence, thousands of japanese speak
some English. have met many
who converse quite we'll these
have never been outside OF Japan.
/ have an idea that a larger percent
age Of Japanese sreak and read
English than can be found in any
other non-English country. The
young men are eager to learn Eng
lish. A policeman in Karuizawa
stepped up to me and politely asked
me how to say ''Ihe waiting time
Of the train is. )" ETC.. and he hung
on until he learned it. The stew
ards Of our steamer ORGANIZED :
class in English. and asked my
daughter to teach them once day.
To know English Is one cf the roads
to preferment IN Japan and = recos.