HOW THE JAPANESE ARE TAUGHT PATRIOTISM

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1683, 1 June 1904, Page 18

HOW THE JAPANESE ARE TAUGHT PATRIOTISM

(""St. James’s Budget,” March 25 ) A Highland school board ex-chairman, who has recently been staying for some time in Japan, took much interest in their schools, and. while living at Hmaku a seaside place with a population of about 2000, paid a visit to the village school. It was a mixed one, with an average- attendance oi GOO, and though, some 50 had to iralk four miles daily from outlying fishing villages, the average attendance was over 75 per cem. of tho number on the roll. On the day of the visit the pupils were practising tho psalms of Jimmu Terno (who founded the present Imperial dynasty of Japan in 660 8.C.), in anticipation of the festival in commemoration of his accession, which they call Kigen Setsu, or Founaation Festival. He asked permission to attend the festival proceeding?, winch Avas freely given, on condition that ho Avould (as they did) bow to the phmo-. graphs of the present Emperor and Empress. He agreed to this, though they expected he would think it idolatrous- and refuse. At the festival the national anthem was sung. A rescript from toe Emneror was then read, exhorting all in eloquent language to practice loyalty, patriotism, filial piety. benevolence charity, industry, sobriety, chastity, and whatever went to the making of good citizens. Then all sang the psalms oi Jimmu Terno, after Avlnch came a tine address by the headmaster on the .subjects mentioned in tho rescript. All trie leading people of the town and district were present, and- after the ceremony visited an exhibition cf scholars’ work —writing (in Chinese character), drawing, sewing, etc. The head man of the town is ex-officio chairman of the School Board, and ivhen he and tlie headmaster Avere offered a pound to be spent in any way they wished for the good cf the school they accepted it with expressions of much thankfulness, .and asked time to consider how: they would spend it. Next day the headmaster called on him to say they 'would spend it in giving prizes for regular and punctual attendance, and he was assured it would last three years! They have provisions similar to ours for compelling regular attendance, but very seldom need to resort, to extreme measures. Corporal punishment is altogether unknown, and the children are well-behaved, exceedingly haupy, of joyous disposition, and content ivitK very little.