Evening journal., 1918-08-06
BY BURTON KNIsELy
Copyright, 1918. Newspaper Enterprise


Assoclatlon.)
NARA, Japan, Aug. 6-Japan has
compulsory education.
But only one out Of every 30 ele-
mentary school graduates goes on to
4 get a higher education"
Only one OF every 300 elementary
school graduates ever receives a d.
ploma from a university Of recognized
standing
There abe only eight official govern
ment high schools and they turn out
only one graduate for every 600 elemen-
tary school graduates.
There is a little learning for all In
Japan, but only a llttle-and that little
usually is not free.
Attendance through the six-year ele-
mentary school course is compulsory
ueon all Japanese girls and boys. But
even In many OF the elementary schools
the pupil pays a tuition fee-though
the fee is nominal, amounting in the
lower grades TO cents a month
Japanese schools are at their best
Of the bottom and at the top. Il is
In the middle, in the great gap be-
tween elementary school and univer-
sity. thai the system is weakest.
America is fighting a world war for
democracy. American regard free
public schools as the foundation stone
Of democratic citizenship. Therefore
Americans are interested IN knOwlu-
what kind Of a citizen factory the
schools OF Japan are, and what kind
Of material for citizenship they are
turning out.
II may be summed up by saying that
Japan has come a long way in the com
paratlvely short period Of 40 years in
which she has had an educational sys-
TEN, that she still has a long way Il
go before she will reach the American
level, and that she realizes her prob
lens and Is attempting TO solve them
as rapidly as Strengthened finances will
permit.
The pupils were at morning recess
At the village school Of Ebaragun-kinu
tamura Their dress was odd, their
shouts were unintelllgible and the large
school was a frame structure, like
most Of the village schools in Japan.
Otherwise an American onlOoker might
have fancied himself in the playground
OF any American grammar school at
EtEteS lllllEs DdctUdll hlu AdNf NAlAA-
hoods games and chlldhood's laughter, /
quarrels and friendships SchOoldays /
are schooldays the world over, for all
boys and girls-eastern or western
are the same under the skin.
Only-in one corner OF the school |
yard while the pupils played teacher |
played a little organ and another teach !
er sang And, one thing more when /
a. Nd fe
remained behind for calisthenlcs in the /
playground while the others troOped /
in 10 recitation, the gymnastic drill |
that followed was built upon a mill
tary foundation, included a great deal
Of marching. and was given by an in |
structor with military training.
Afierward the classroom scenes would /
hase made any AEicricsn teacher, tour /
ing japan on vacation. homesick /
Though Japapese homes are charles. /
there were the same old seats and ]
desks, the samo ink wells, the same
blackboards. half erased.
The teachers posture as he stood on
his raised platform. the intonation Of
his voice. the look Of his face and eyes.
his gestures with the ruler. they were /
all the same Only the language was .
different. and IL was hardly necessary |
10 understand japanese TO know that .
he was saving. as he flourished his
pointer toward the map hanging on
the wall-"Now who can name the
largest town between the Ural noun
tairys and VladivostOk along the line 'of
the Siberian railway
The sight that followed would have
nlled with pride the heart Of any Amer
lean teacher who had stood, as this
teacher stood. in the presence Of the
mayor Of his town and a visitor from
the other side Of the world, putting his
puprs through their PAGES and hoping
thev would "do themselves proud.
A score Of hands shot into the air.
Eager faces grew more eager and bright
ewes brighter until It seemed they
,youId ten the answer. And Kotaro
you may answer said the
teacher. And Katoro katanabe did
coming proudly TO his feet and looking =
and acting as much like an American