The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-01-02
Education, Guidance
Goals Of Macarthur

reconstruction OF Japan, following
a disastrous defeat. the Rescript
will be one OF the frst obstacles
TO be overcome. Because OF the
religious sanctions thrown about
II, the document itself. as we'll US
the ideas II contains, Is so deeply
rooted in the loyalty patterns OF
the people, as to make difficult, II
not impossible, a rsinterpretation
OF It, or the substitution In place
OF II OF another document OF a
more liberal content. In my opln-
ion, this can never be achieved
short OF a national uprising and the
formulation OF q genuine Magma
Charta Of the people.
only a revolution will be strong
enough to uproOt the Rescript and
all 1t denotes and connotes."
Abolishing the Rescript on Edu-
cation could spark a revolution on
a scale not known since the Meiji
Restoration clashes OF so years
ago.
A housekeeping In japanese edu-
cation must include the nearly one
thousand special agents Of the
Spiritual Cultural Institute, a sub
sidiary of the Education Ministry,
who were indoctrination propagan'
dists for 100000 teachers. Every
textbook in use since April, 1883,
and every teacher employed since
then must be removed to eliminate
fascist, extremist anti-foreignism
teachings. Further, General Mac.
Arthur should abolish the compul-
sorry spiritual obeisance at the i'm
perial portrait ceremonies. when
the photographs OF the emperor
and empress are worshiped in the
| schools.
So inspiring Is the event that In
a Christian mission school, Lamott
recalls, "a stained-glass window
bearing a representation OF Christ
would have to be covered with a
curtain throughout the portrait
worshiping ceremony"
The photographs, with the Re
script ARE kept in freproot vaults,
Everyone who passes the building
must make formal right angle
bow. The exalted Rescript is an
inscribed roll of white silk wrap
ped in purple silk, and kept in a
lacquered box. The teacher, when
reading II to the pupils, wears
white gloves, a black frock coat and
striped trousers. Not even a Japa
nese Christian" would challenge
the devout feeling to which he re
spends on hearing the reading.
The present information spokes
man for the Japanese government
Tatsuo Hawai-. once boosted Ia
some foreign correspondents IN
Tokyo that the Rescript on Educa
ton puts a healthy check on over
Jealous campaigners for liberty and
equality"
Professor Lamott describes the
Rescript as so holy that schoo
principals have been deprived o
their positions for mispronouncinl
one OF its sacred syl'ables. re
call one instance in which the exc
cutlve OF a school was denoted foI
using one OF two variant readingI
given in the dictionary. The dear
OF certain Japanese Christian uni
Yersity was forced to resign be
cause in the Rescript reading cere
mony the sacred document was no
read from the altar but from LEST
holy place In the chapel"
Briefly, and without burdeninl
my readers with the details OF thu
document, the Rescript IL a com
mand to proclaim the national mis-
sion OF Japan TO rule the world
II makes emperor worship obliga
tory upon all japanese. withou
making Shinto the state religion
and without violating constitution
al guarantees OF freedom OF relig
ious worship. II fosters a viciol5
fanatic patriotism and binds th'
Japanese to guard and maintain
the prosperity OF our Imperia
Throne, coeval with heaven anC
earth"