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INTRODUCTION
TOPIC OF INTEREST
‘Greetings, fellow students attending Karakura Highschool and College. I know that I have been absent for quite some time, but I have no intention of disappointing you with this article - or the upcoming articles that I have written and will publish in the following weeks. Especially considering that I will likely have to write a sequel to this article, considering its importance. However, today we will be discussing the teaching of history, or lack thereof, in this town. I will primarily discuss the historical knowledge of the people attending the school and the faculty allegedly teaching the subject. Now, without further nonsense, allow me to elaborate on the topic.’
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INFORMATION
HISTORY MEANING
‘What is history? Well, it is the story of humanity, what we have done, how we have lived, and how our choices have shaped the world to what it is today. Many might consider it boring, as it can be quite ‘lame’ if you simply do not have common sense. However, without history, we would not be able to evolve, and we would not be able to grow. That is why it is vital that everyone remains educated. Remember everyone, uneducated is the worst kind of ‘educated’ to be!’
HISTORY OF EDUCATION: MEIJI PERIOD
‘Following 1868, Japanese leadership initiated a rapid modernization process. The Meiji government created a public education system to improve national development and align ‘Western standards’ - with delegations such as the Iwakura Mission studied educational models in Western countries and introduced concepts including decentralization, local school boards, and teacher autonomy. Implementation of these reforms encountered significant challenges. Ultimately, a new national education system was developed through various adjustments. Elementary school enrollment increased from approximately 30 percent of the school-age population in the 1870s to over 90 percent by 1900, despite widespread public opposition to school fees and costs.’
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‘After 1850, Japan adopted a modern concept of childhood as part of its engagement with Western societies. The policymakers assigned the state a central role in mobilizing individuals, including children, for national objectives. Western-style schools were introduced to achieve this goal of theirs! By the 1890s, educational institutions had made new attitudes toward childhood. After 1890, reformers, child development experts, magazine editors, and various mothers promoted a model of childhood emphasizing personal space, access to children's literature, educational toys, and significant time dedicated to homework. These practices quickly spread across all social classes after this.’
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‘And then, right after 1870, school textbooks based on ‘Confucian Ethics’ were replaced by westernized texts. However, by the 1890s, after earlier intensive distaste for Western, particularly American educational ideas, a more authoritative approach was imposed. Traditional Confucian and Shinto precepts were becoming the main focus once more, especially those concerning the hierarchical nature of the human relations there, service to the new state, the pursuit of learning, and also morality. These ideals, embodied in the 1890 Imperial Rescript on Education, along with highly centralized government control over education, largely led and influenced Japanese education until 1945, when they were massively disagreed with, also known as: repudiated.’
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INTERVIEWS
STUDENT OPINIONS
‘The following interviews are the ones I deemed most important to this article, as I have interviewed various different people, I had to make a selection as to what interviews would be best and most educating to post in this article today. If you were interviewed and not included in the final cut - do not take it personally. Or do, I will not pay attention to that.’
-,, ✦ Wayne Xin - College Student & Councillor ⸝⸝⸝
‘Would you say that teachers and professors should put more effort into teaching the history of this town, or do you think the students are at fault for lack of paying attention?’
- ‘When I do attend a history class, they’re normally never teaching anything about Karakura lore, they might touch base on American history or just general Japanese history. Soooo, definitely the teachers and professors.’
‘Do you think that it is vital for the students to know more, considering it is the land they are currently residing and learning on?’
- ‘I would think so? Especially around this time of the month. Plus it would make them respectful of certain areas if they actually paid attention to the history surrounding said place.’
‘For the final question: What advice would you give to the people that want to learn more, and do not know where or how to start educating themselves?’
- ‘Probably to actually stop by the public library sometime??? Or use their phone to read all the history the town posts about? It's really not that hard to find, you just need the motivation to do it, I guess.’
-,, ✦ Cindy Wong - College Student ⸝⸝⸝
‘How much do you know surrounding the history of Karakura, Japan?’
- ‘A moderate amount.’
‘Would you say that teachers and professors should put more effort into teaching the history of this town, or do you think the students are at fault for lack of paying attention?’
- ‘I think our professors and teachers have done what they can. I feel as though it’s the students who are not pushing harder to learn of the land.’
‘For the final question: What advice would you give to the people that want to learn more, and do not know where or how to start educating themselves?’
- ‘Hrrm. . Look to your peers, they may know more than you’d think. It’s usually the unsuspecting who carry the most knowledge.’
-,, ✦ Sachiko Saiky - College Student & Lifeguard ⸝⸝⸝
‘What do you know surrounding the history of Karakura, and the first families that resided here?’
- ‘Well, I think I’d like to assume I know a lot about… Them.. Considering I’m related to two of them..’
‘Would you say that teachers and professors should put more effort into teaching the history of this town, or do you think the students are at fault for lack of paying attention?’
- ‘Not really. There’s so much history that is just being lost.. People don’t know about the history of the Monastery, or about the families that keep it running.. Or about historical events that led to major changes in the town.’
‘For the final question: What advice would you give to the people that want to learn more, and do not know where or how to start educating themselves?’
- ‘Libraries. There are so many books to learn from. Search out people from those times that are willing to talk.. People who hold a lot of history wander the town and are willing to talk about it.’
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FINAL CONCLUSION
THE END
‘Now the question truly is, who do we blame? Who can we point the finger at? On one hand, the faculty could pay more attention to the education that the students receive. On the other hand, students should attempt to pay more attention and actually be willing to learn. Are the students at fault, or are the teachers and professors at fault? Or perhaps it is the higher power known as the senior leadership team that manages the faculty working?’
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‘Whilst history is important, most of the people I have spoken with and interviewed have all said that most people are uneducated, regardless of who is at fault. However, it is important to note that whilst the students lack the ability to pay attention to what is important, teachers and professors also appear to have given up on trying to find ways to continue teaching them. If we all want to point a finger, perhaps we should point it in both directions!’
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‘Alright, that will be it for this article. Thank you for reading my article. If you want to voice your opinion on it, or have scandals for me to write about in the future, feel free to approach me. This can be done by letter, or by an on-rain message. Farewell.’
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