Reformatory - Kyogoin

A child welfare facility that admits and protects children under 18 who have committed or are at risk of committing delinquent acts. It was first established in 1884 (Meiji 17) as a Shinto prayer hall in Osaka by Ikegami Yukie. It was renamed a reformatory or a juvenile training home as new laws were enacted, but became a training home in 1947 (Showa 22) when the Child Welfare Law was enacted. From its origins, it is operated not for the purpose of punishing delinquent juveniles, but for the purpose of educating and protecting them. Prefectural governors admit children to a training home upon a report from the head of a child consultation center or a decision by a family court to refer a child to a training home. The staff includes a teacher, a godmother, and a career instructor, and care is taken to treat the children in a home-like atmosphere as much as possible. It is also mandatory to install facilities necessary for the daily life of children, and for providing lifestyle guidance, learning guidance, and career guidance for children. Life guidance aims to promote healthy physical and mental development and the acquisition of regular living habits through daily life. Academic guidance is provided in accordance with elementary and junior high school education in order to restore basic academic ability, and graduation certificates and other certificates issued by the director of the training center have the same legal effect as those issued by the school principal. Vocational guidance is provided within the scope of the technical and home economics courses in the compulsory education curriculum, and junior high school graduates are instructed in farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, civil engineering, etc. However, rather than acquiring skills, the emphasis is on improving motivation to work and experiencing the joy of productive activities. Each prefecture and city designated by government ordinance is required to establish such centers. Following the revision of the Child Welfare Act in June 1997, these centers were renamed "Children's Independence Support Facilities" in April 1998, and are now open to children who require life guidance due to their home environment or other reasons, as well as to day-care children.

[Shuichi Susuki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

不良行為をなし、または、なすおそれのある18歳に満たない児童を入院させて、これを教護することを目的とする児童福祉施設。1884年（明治17）池上(いけがみ)雪枝が大阪に設立した神道祈祷(きとう)所を先駆けとする。各新法制定により、感化院、少年教護院と名称をかえてきたが、1947年（昭和22）児童福祉法の制定により教護院となった。その沿革から、不良行為を行う少年の懲罰が目的ではなく、教育・保護を目的として運営される。都道府県知事は、児童相談所長からの報告、または家庭裁判所の教護院送致決定を受けて、当該児童を入院させる。職員として教護、教母、職業指導員を置き、できるだけ家庭的な雰囲気のもとで処遇するよう配慮されている。また、児童の日常生活、児童に対する生活指導、学習指導および職業指導に必要な設備の設置が義務づけられている。生活指導は、日常生活を通して心身の健全な発達と規則正しい生活習慣の習得を目ざす。学科指導は、基礎学力を回復するため、小・中学校の教育に準じて実施され、教護院長の発行する卒業証書その他の証明書は、学校長が発行するものと法律上同等の効力を有する。職業指導は、義務教育課程の技術・家庭科の範囲で実施し、中学校卒業者に対しては農耕・園芸・畜産・土木などの指導を行う。しかし、技術の習得よりは、勤労意欲の向上、生産活動の喜びの体得に重点がある。各都道府県と政令指定都市には設置が義務づけられている。なお、1997年6月の児童福祉法改正に伴い、98年4月より「児童自立支援施設」に改称され、家庭環境その他の理由により生活指導等を要する児童も対象に加え、通所者も受け入れることになった。

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