HOW THE JAPANESE ARE TAUGHT PATRIOTISM

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 15

HOW THE JAPANESE ARE TAUGHT PATRIOTISM

■ \ ("St. James’s Budget.” March 23.) • 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 Him aku, a seaside plage with a population of about 2000, paid a visit to the village school. It was a mixed one, with an average attendance of 600, and though some 50 had to walk- four miles daily from outlying fishing villages, the averago attendance was over 7E per cent, of the number on the roll. On the, day of the visit the pupils .were practising the psalms of Jinimu Torno (who founded the present Imperial dynasty of Japan in 660 n-O.). in anticipation of the festival in commemoration of his accession, which they cal! Kigen Sotsu, or Founda- ■ tion Festival. Ho asked permission to I attend the festival proceedings, which was freely given, on condition that ho ! would (as they did) bow to the photographs of the present Emperor and Empress. Ho agreed to this, though they expected he would think it idolatrous and refuse. At the festival the national anthem was sung. A rescript from the Emperor 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 of i jimmu Terno, after which came a fine I address by the headmaster on the subjects mentioned in the rescript. All the leading people of the town and district were present, and after the ceremony visited an exhibition of scholars’ work —writing (in Chinese character), drawing, sewing, etc. The head man of the town is ex-oflioio chairman of the School Board, and when he and the headmaster were offered a pound to be spent in any way they wished for the good of the school they accepted it with expressions of much thankfulness, and asked time to consider how they wonld spend it. Next day the headmaster called on him to say they would spend it in giving prizes for regular and punctual attendance, and ho was assured it would last three years! They have provisions similar to onrs for compelling regular attendance, hut very seldom need to resort to extreme measures. Corporal punishment is altogether unknown, and the children are well-behaved, exceedingly hanoy, of ioyous disposition, and content with very little.