Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-13
INITIATIVE JAPAN.
|sNoW Wisely Modelling Her
Schools on Ours.
Dr.. Sdto Tells otCountTy's DeveI-
opment--- christianity Spreading.
Head Of the Japanese University
Studied with President Wilson.
(From the New York Times)


at fifteen American colleges as an ex
change professor for the Carnegie
Foundation for World Peace. He was
Il classmate of Woodrow Wilson at
Johns Hopkins University, and had an
interview with the President last Sat
urday in Washington.
Present-day education in Japan is
| largely shaped upon American lines,
according TO DR.. Sato, and Americans
had great deal to do with the
changes that were made some years
ago in the common school system. DR..
Sato is Christian. and he says that
| the opposition to Christianity which
was formerly encountered in the
japanese empire has now died away.
Modern education has caused many
young japanese to lose the faith of
their forefathers, and they feel the
need of religion. Therefore Chris
tianity is being studied, and many are
embracing that creed.
Il had the pleasure of being at
Johns Hopkins with President Wilson
between 1888 and 1885," said DR.. Sato.
recently. Il must tell you that at that
time / was convinced he would go far.
While l was in North Carolina last
week word came that the President
would see me the following Saturday,
and we had a very pleasant meeting.
| remarked to him that ] was fast get
ting bald, and he replied that he was
following suit but" added DR.. Sato,
with a rueful smile, he has still a
great deal of hair.
But. serious speaking, President
| 40 fna INN ci
Japan. We have full confidence in
him. The American ambassador in
Toxic, Mr. Guthrie, is a very able man,
and he has already become very popu-
lar"
Dr. Sato expects his lecture course
will be finished by the end of May.
He will then go to Washington TO
spend week or ten days, and soon
after sail for Europe. returning home
by the Trans-Siberian Railway.
This is my first visit to New York
since 1885," said DR.. Sato. "and. while
1t is easy enough to find my way
about downtown-for there l have
seen many familiar landmarks-in this
part of the city everything is strange.
Il may tell you that we now have a
fine system of common school educa-
ton in Japan. According to the latest
statistics we have 25,910 elementary
schools in which are employed 1901
teachers, and the pupils in these
schools number 6,S61,71S. That means
that 9S.2 per cent. of all the children
in Japan of school age are attending
school. Education is compulsory to
this extent-all children must be sent
to school at the age of six, and they
must attend school for six years. In
the graded schools they can be taken
care of for two years longer. but the
last two years attendance is not OBJ
ligatory.
Those who finish the six years of
obligatory attendance may enter the
high school. OF high schools we have
through the empire 81, with 5000 in
structors and 122.245 pupils. The
number is increasing fast every year.
Our graded schools are supported by
local taxation and the high schools by
prefecture, or, as you would term it,
state taxation. b.
I'VE have four Imperial universities
under the direct control of the Minis
ter of Education. The oldest is that
of Toxic, and the next is the Kioto.
The Tohoku University was estab-
lished about twelve years ago, and the
Kiushu University about the same
time.
Il was president of an agricultural
college which was incorporated into
the Tohoku University We ), have
about 1900 students in our institution.
In the four imperial universities there
are about 5000 students. and each year
we graduate about 1900. Besides the
Government universities we have a
number of high technical schools,
agricultural, commercial. industrial
and medical--under Government con-
troll, together with number of private
institutions of high standing. The
most important is the Waseda Uni
versity, which is under the presidency
of Count Okuma.. There they have
about 5000 students in their various
schools and they have lately built col
leges of science and of law, and are
about to put up a medical school.
English is now compulsory for five
years in the high schools, though no
other language is. We have an Ameri-
; can teacher of English from Cali
fornia, in our academic department,
and we have a German professor in
our stock breeding department. and a
Swiss professor who teaches German
in our fessoracademic courses. AS a
matter of fact, all our educated young
men in Japan nowadays know English.
If they cannot speak it with facility.
they at least can read 1t.
Interest in education is very wide
spread in Japan. The states spend
more money for education than for
any other purpose.
1T is a fact that the Japanese feel
more friendly toward the Americans
than toward any other people. 1t is
our hope that the California matter
will soon be Strengthened out. We have
confidence that the Administration
will accompany this. OF course the
fact is realized in Japan that your
! State governments have entire control