SCHOOLING IN JAPAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 95, 19 October 1938, Page 24

SCHOOLING IN JAPAN

YOUNG ARISTOCRATS

SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS

Japan has two schools specially designed for the training of young aristocrats: the Peers' School for boys, and the Peeresses' School for girls, writes W. H. Chamberlain from Tokio to the "Christian Science Monitor." It is here that the Imperial Princes and Princesses are educated. As the name's indicate, admission is largely, although not exclusively, reserved for sons and daughters of the aristocracy. In the Peeresses' School, which I recently visited, there are 761 students, of whom 291 are not of titled families. These are daughters of senior military and naval officers and civil officials, of outstanding members of the liberal professions, and of old established merchant families'. The Peeresses' School is located in the heart of Tokio; but, as,the school building is surrounded by a large garden and spacious grounds,' one feels far away from the bustle and din of a large city. The low two-storeyed wooden school building is ratlier old and lacks some of the conveniences of more modern Japanese schools. So, although also every • class-room commands an attractive view of the garden, with its old trees, shrubs, and flowers, there is no school dining-room. The aristocratic pupils eat their "bento" (as the Japanese cold lunch is called) out of boxes in the last room where a recitation has been held before the lunch hour. The lunches are of the same simple pattern that one often sees travellers consuming on Japanese railway trains; a glutinous mass of cold rice, flavoured with pickled vegetables and seaweed and accompanied by stray bits of meat or fish. THE MARKS OF CLASS. One of the most up-to-date departments of the school is the gymnasium. It contains all sorts of modern equip-

ment for physical training. Watching the girls at play one could recognise the class nature of the school; oval and delicate features were the rule; one did not see many of the round faces, with strongly marked, even coarse features that would be found in an ordinary group of Japanese girls.

Attached to the Peeresses' School is a preparatory kindergarten, to which only children of the nobility are admitted. The regular school course is divided into three periods, the first two of four years each, the last of three years. During these eleven years of study the girls cover approximately the work which would be done in an American elementary school and high school. The curriculum includes reading, writing, arithmetic, natural sciences, geography, history, foreign languages, physical training, drawing, cooking, music, etiquette, and housekeeping.

After the basic course there is an advanced course of two years, offering such subjects as foreign languages, physics, psychology, economics, and law. The dual character of Japanese life is reflected in the cooking courses, which are given only to older children. /One week the children try their hands at foreign food, the next at Japanese. On the day of my visit it was the turn of foreign dishes, and the girls were preparing roast pork, boiled fish, and cucumber salad.

WORK DOjJte SKILFULLY,

All the food was handled with large wooden chopsticks which tile girls manipulated quite skilfully, anti the food looked very .appetising. The same rule was followed in the sewing classes. One week the Peeresses learn to sew kimonos and other articles of Japanese clothing; then they darn socks and make simple foreign frocks.

The teachefs in the Peeresses' School, half of vvhom afe men and half Women, are better paid and enjoy mote privileges than teachers in the general school system. They, are invited to attend the imperial Garden Parties which are held twice a year, with several thousand leading civilian, diplomatic, military, and naval officials and; officers as guests The teachers are very!

: carefully selected, with regard both to •■ scholastic and to personal qualifica- . tions. The tuition fees run from 33 to 5 yen (from £2 to £3) a- year, and are purposely kept low so that even quite impoverished noble families may send their daughters to the | school, which is. incidentally, under the management not of the Ministry of Education, but of the Imperial Household Ministry. All the girls in the school must wear a standard unilorm, which consists of a simple dark blue-pleated skirt and middy blouse, with a cherry j blossom (the emblem of the school) embroidered on it. Besides imparting a thorough education the school , unmistakably aims to develop" whatj would be generally regarded as the; desired typfe of Japanese lady. ; j

Much stress is laid on Japanese traditions and etiquette and also on such arts as drawing, sketching, colour painting. In every classroom one notices an atmosphere of reserve, poise, and calm ; dignity. Neither the teacher nor the pupil ever spoke above a lowpitched tone. Even during a Very lively and hotly contested game of basketball one heard no loud cries and a single blow Of. the referee's whistle always commanded instant obedience.