Conservatism into the Classroom

The third graders will learn English. Disputed Takeshima and Senkaku Islands are inherited territory of Japan. Spirits for public interest will be engraved. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology published new curriculum guidelines for elementary or mid-school on Tuesday. It indicates that education policy of Shinzo Abe administration is getting intolerant of diversity of values.

The Japanese are the people who are the weakest in English language, because of great difference of their native language from English in terms of grammar, pronunciation or everything. New guideline introduces English class from the third grade, two year earlier from current system. The third graders will learn English mainly in listening and speaking for once every week. The fifth graders will have two English classes a week, including reading and writing. It is not sure, anyway, whether school kids make good English users through introducing English language in their mind before they build up the skill of Japanese language.

As seen in Japanese students or businessmen, the Japanese are not good at handling question without clear answer. Knowledge-based education in schools has made Japanese student focus on searching answer without taking care of idea, logic or capability of presentation. New guidelines does not care what to learn so much, but what can be done. Teachers will no longer give their students as much knowledge as they can, but let them actively search solution through discussion or group activity.

Fundamental purpose of education is enhancing children’s power to live. New guideline lists abilities of student to raise: knowledge, skill, thought, decision, expression, positive mind and humanity. By introducing a concept of “curriculum management,” the Ministry demands schools to have sophisticated education plan. Getting rid of popular concept for teachers, “active learning,” the guidelines require improvement of every class in “programming.” It is not sure whether every teacher understands what the Ministry is saying.

Nationalism is firmly injected into curriculum. In social study of the fifth grade, the guideline requires the teachers to refer to Takeshima, Northern Territory and Senkaku Islands as inherited territory of Japan. Mid-school teachers will explain that territorial issue does not exist over Senkaku Islands, for which China claims its ownership. The aim of social study is defined as cultivating identity as a member of nation or local community. Pride and love for local community or love for homeland and history becomes precious in public education. Conservatism is spreading in education under political leadership.