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DPJ must coordinate views on education
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 The
Diet is to take up for discussion amendment of the Fundamental Law
of Eduction for the first time since the law was established in
1947.
To nurture people who will lead this country in the future, what
should the vision and purpose of the nation's education be? Lawmakers
should discuss the revision bill earnestly.
The bill calls for fostering patriotism with such expressions as
"public spirit and respect for tradition" and "an
attitude that respects the nation and hometown," which are
not included in the current basic education law.
Cabinets under former Prime Ministers Ichiro Hatoyama, Hayato Ikeda
and Yasuhiro Nakasone sought to revise the law. But whenever they
tried to bring up the topic for discussion, opposition lawmakers
and the Japan Teachers' Union resisted, saying revising the law
would be tantamount to reviving militaristic eduction.
===
Govt must compile policies
Looking back at Japan's history as a pacifist country since the
end of World War II, it no longer makes sense to drag up the specter
of prewar Japan.
Schools are facing a number of problems, such as bullying, students
resorting to violence, and truancy. Students are committing crimes
at an increasingly young age. The number of self-centered children
is increasing. Young people's views about work are becoming seriously
skewed, symbolized by the increasing number of young NEETs (those
not in education, employment or training).
The bill calls for establishing a new article to define the role
of education at home. Reflecting that postwar education placed little
importance on the role of the family, the article stipulates that
parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their
children.
The bill also obligates the government to formulate basic plans
to promote education that should set out policy goals.
We wonder what kind of policies the government will come up with
to solve the problems the nation faces with its schooling. The public
has a great interest in such policies.
In parallel with Diet deliberations, the government should speedily
compile policies that meet the needs of the people.
The ruling camp of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito
hopes to set up a special committee at the House of Representatives
as a forum to discuss the bill.
But the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan opposes the idea
of establishing such a committee.
A special committee can hold discussions on an almost daily basis.
The DPJ's opposition suggests the party is not ready to tackle revision
of the basic education law.
===
DPJ shouldn't duck issue
A year ago, the DPJ compiled a report on revision of the basic law.
The report included both positive and negative views on the law's
revision. The positive view reads: "How many more years will
it take until Japan becomes a country in which use of the word 'patriotism'
is normal?" The negative view reads: "[The revision] will
lead to totalitarian education."
But after the compilation of the report, the party failed to discuss
revising the law.
The DPJ says it will soon compile a counterproposal for revising
the law. But it will be a tough task to forge a consensus from among
the divergent opinions in the party.
Claiming that the Fundamental Law of Education is as important
as the Constitution, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama has insisted
that deliberations on revision of the basic education law should
be held in tandem with discussions on amending the Constitution.
The DPJ secretary general's comment represents an attempt to postpone
revision of the basic education law. He probably is concerned that
Diet deliberations will highlight differences of opinion within
his party.
Because it is a very important issue, the DPJ must strive to narrow
down opinions within the party to a single view. That is an attitude
required for a political party that aims to take power.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20060429TDY04005.htm
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