New education guideline calls for promoting patriotism at school

Friday 28th March, 06:56 AM JST

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Maruku at 10:24 PM JST - 28th March

I learned my National Anthem at school - where else would I have learned it? (Where did you learn yours?) My folks certainly didn't teach me, and I'm thinking that's a good thing! What's the fuss? I grew up, I forgot the words, I moved on. I hear it every now and then on the telly at sporting events (alas, not often enough, but my team have been going through a bad patch for too many years). I don't rush to arms, look for a wagon, or surf the net to see pics of my forefathers ... Points 1-4 above (c/o Hiko) are probably more important.
Hikozaemon at 10:31 PM JST - 28th March

Maruku, do you agree with point 1? That would let school boards pick right wing or left wing textbooks as they wanted. Remember all that fuss when a handful of private schools chose a rightwing textbook?

I think it is better to have too much freedom to choose however, than government directed brainwashing, in one way or another. Ironically, it seems many critics of Japan's textbook system want the LDP to exercise greater control over textbooks (specifically so it directs whatever content is included, and that this include Japan's WWII misdeeds). I suspect that allowing them to do so would exaccerbate tensions with neighbors, with textbooks made in the name of fostering "patriotism".

Peace
Maruku at 11:26 PM JST - 28th March

Hiko, I agree with point 1. Absolutely. And you have a good point because this goes both ways i.e the subtlety of freedom to decide vs. a top-down government approach (very against the latter but this is an interesting take). Without getting too pie-in-the-sky...

Parents who send their kids to right wing schools are going to reinforce that belief at home anyway. Kids that grow up in centre-to-left or left (is there such a thing? I'm guessing it's more a case of being apathetic) homes probably won't. You know the story ... you take what you want/need and you axe the rest when you get older. More to the point, kids don't fight wars, old men direct younger men to fight wars.

As a real-life example - looking at my mates - I'd say that despite the right or center-right education they received, they are pretty apathetic, some are even apologetic. I'd say that the textbooks had no effect in engendering a spirit of the sun will rise again.

It doesn't mean the content of textbooks doesn't matter, it does. But, I think your points still stand. 1 is philosophical, the rest are more practicable. All need attention.

The only potentially fuzzy one I'd add (because you asked) is to make topics offered in the national history syllabus, electives. Although who gets to write them would be the next issue, but maybe a step in the right direction. I'm not sure. It probably won't happen (and why should it?). The Government will decide. They were elected after all (that's the pie in the sky part). The people trust them, and if they don't, then the issue is about more than just education.
Maruku at 11:40 PM JST - 28th March

More on topic, check out this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofextinct_languages

and then check out this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofnational_anthems

and see how many peoples they forgot to pay respect or acknowledge in the credits. :)

(sorry it's all Wiki)

Later
Desiderata1967 at 12:09 AM JST - 29th March

Moral education shall be aimed at nurturing respect for Japan’s tradition and culture, and sentiment of loving our country and our homeland that have cultivated them...and at cultivating morality.

How do you 'nurture respect' for something when you're force feeding it to people?

And I'm sorry Japan...but 'morality'? - don't make me laugh! Japan has ZERO morality left anymore, and force feeding the minds of young kids in school before they grow up knowing their country is being run by a crooked government, is akin to North Korean brainwashing!

Sure, it's good to be patriotic - but MAKING people patriotic leads to dissidence...don't you think there's already enough of that in Japan?

Someone needs to remove these old farts from office and bring Japan into the modern era.
Nessie at 12:11 AM JST - 29th March

Desiderata wrote -- "How do you ‘nurture respect’ for something when you’re force feeding it to people?"

You've heard of foie gras. Use your imagination.
natsukomitsuki at 12:43 AM JST - 29th March

I'm not Japanese or nor I live in Japan but honestly there are far more issues in their schooling system that needs improvements rather than make the kids show patriotism. This is going too far into the ways of the Americans. For example, history textbooks should be left for the education ministry to look over and what not, not the government.
kimigano at 02:35 AM JST - 29th March

Hiko,

More blind parroting of the united states.

It has nothing to do with the United States. remember that the US suppressed us. The Emperor is God. He must be worshiped as such by the entire nation.

When we can finally free ourselves of US bondage, we will again be able to worship The Emperor, His Holiness.

US patriotism pales in comparison.
Desiderata1967 at 03:26 AM JST - 29th March

natsukomitsuki - absolutely...there are MANY issues WAY MORE important that need sorting out in Japanese education before patriotism. Unfortunately, the Japanese government is run by morons, so fat chance of any improvements within the next five years!
al2phat at 06:54 AM JST - 29th March

The Emperor is God?

I thought that role was for Jesus?
tresbien at 07:25 AM JST - 29th March

Yeah, and then you get these pathetic Japanese "accusing" China of promoting patriotism in China.

Such double standard! Japan is a land of hypocrites.
Hikozaemon at 07:11 PM JST - 29th March

Kimigano - if "we" are Japanese, then "I" am a chicken.

His holiness...

Tresbien - thank you, your comments are a veritable bundle of sunshine on these boards.

Peace
DanManjt at 11:08 PM JST - 29th March
Hiko

First, its nice to see you working to make the new JT just as good as the old old one. I trust you are doing well, and please send my regards to the B&G fellas.

As for this thread:

I think your suggestions for improving education is a good start to an important discussion. Starting from the most important:
1. Class sizes should be reduced.
Overcrowding of classrooms prevents individual expression, chalk and talk teaching, and over-worked teachers. The simple mechanics of instruction, maintaining class discipline, and grading leads to shut up and sit down -- which I think is just as much a result of as a contributor to the primacy ofmaintaining social order (harmony).

JR and SR high schools is where Japanese really become socialized as Japanese.

As for

"[The British ] did many things every bit as bad, and by many measures much worse than the Japanese empire ever did to their colonies."

Back to the ol' moral equivalency argument, I see.

The thing is, every time we go down that road, you end up leaving the field -- only to reemmerge the next time Japan's Imperialism comes up,

Saying the same ol' thing.
DanManjt at 11:27 PM JST - 29th March

woops

Overcrowding of classrooms prevents individual expression, and inevitably leads to chalk and talk teaching, and over-worked teachers
Hikozaemon at 11:03 AM JST - 1st April

DanMan - long time no see dude. Good to see you're still alive and ticking.

I'll admit it is a reflex, not intended to defend Japan but to attack people who criticize one nation's nationalism while speaking in exactly the same manner as those that they are attacking - the ol' moral equivalency argument is simply meant to shine a light on something I see as hypocrisy. There again, I'm very much of the self-flagellatory school of history teaching.

I don't know that it is necessarily the same ol' thing (have trouble with our 'd's?) - I guess I stick to themes, of going after nationalists attacking people for being nationalists of different countries, but I like to think I keep it funky and fresh with constructive aspects, to blend with barnyard metaphors and the occasional kneecapping for consistency.

Peace